By Priscilla K. Delgado, PhD Student at St. John’s University, TLA Reading List Coordinating Committee Co-Chair, TxASL Talks Member
The Texas Library Association has ten reading lists for readers ages 2 to 102 ranging from fiction to non-fiction, Spanish titles, and graphic novels. These lists are determined by dedicated TLA members who are selected to serve on a reading list committee. It’s like a special book club!
How does someone go about applying and serving on a reading list committee? Here’s everything you need to know:
The TLA reading lists are under 3 umbrellas:
Children’s Round Table (CRT)
2x2
Little Maverick
Bluebonnet (jointly sponsored with TASL)
Young Adult Round Table (YART)
Lone Star Reading List
Spirit of Texas
TAYSHAS
Maverick
TLA
Tejas Star
Topaz
Lariat
Each umbrella group and Bluebonnet has its own application with its own deadlines.
CRT application - deadline pending, but get those applications in ASAP!
TLA application - deadline October 16
YART application - deadline October 18
Bluebonnet application - deadline November 1
Some reading list committees have prerequisites. For example, some committees require that you be actively providing library services to children for the duration of your appointment. Tejas Star requires members to be able to read in Spanish. Check each reading list’s website for details.
The respective group leader(s) will review the applications and make appointments, usually in the fall. Notification and finalization of committees usually happen in January. Terms for new committee members will begin at a time decided on by the reading list chair and/or umbrella group leader.
Terms are usually for 3 years. Meetings are typically held in-person and/or online at Annual Assembly and throughout the year. Reading list committee members usually do at least one program at Annual Conference, presenting content related to their latest reading list.
Serving on a reading list calls for A LOT of reading! Publishers often send books to committee members to review. It’s helpful to have a designated space to keep all your books and to set aside time to prioritize reading. (Note: sometimes publishers aren’t always able to send books, which may require members to seek out the books themselves.)
Communication is key! Committee members should have a reliable email address, check it daily, and participate in the function of the committee. It’s a lot of fun but also a lot of work.
Each reading list committee has a chair and either an administrative assistant or vice-chair. The chair is responsible for setting up meetings, communicating with committee members and with their umbrella group leaders, and to facilitate all business matters pertaining to the committee. The administrative assistant/vice-chair usually is the point of contact for publishers.
In addition to reading, reading list committee members often create content for activity guides and reproducible materials, social media posts, and other projects to promote the reading list.
Being appointed to a reading list committee can be a competitive, selective process. If you are accepted, woohooo!! If you don’t get accepted, please consider applying again the following year!
Still have questions? Feel free to get in touch with the respective reading list committee chair or with the Reading List Coordinating Committee co-chairs, Kate DiPronio and me at rlcc@members.txla.org. We will be happy to help in any way that we can.
Good luck and happy reading!
