How to Participate in Read Across Texas
Join us for the inside scoop on how to participate in this year’s statewide community read on the theme of Recovery.

Read Across Texas - encourages communities to engage in challenging, insightful, and transformative conversations. We invite libraries and organizations across Texas to participate in this effort by using books to open dialogue and explore the 2021 theme of Recovery and what that might mean within their communities. During this #TXBookChat we will offer detailed information on how individuals and entities may participate in this year’s statewide community read. This conversation will take place between Mark Smith, the Director and State Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and Rebekah Manley, the Coordinator for the Texas Center for the Book.

Mark Smith has over 35 years of experience in the library field in three states and in a variety of library settings. Since November 2013, Mark has served his home state of Texas as Director and State Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.  One of Mark’s proudest accomplishments as State Librarian is to bring the Center for the Book to TSLAC to be able to promote a love of books, reading, and literacy for all Texans.

Rebekah Manley accepted her dream job in 2015. She serves as the Coordinator for the Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Under the umbrella of the Center for the Book National at the Library of Congress, she works to celebrate the written word and encourage literacy, reading, and library use in the Lone Star State.

Rebekah is also an author and holds her Master of Fine Arts in Children’s Literature from Hollins University. Her debut book, Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates: A Picture Book Parody for Adults was released in the fall of 2020. She lives in Austin, Texas, and is fueled by swimming, queso, and good conversation.

Read more at her website: www.rebekahmanley.com. Feel free to connect on Twitter and Instagram: @RebekahAManley. Please check out all the Texas Center for the Book initiatives at www.tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.
 

Past #TXBookChat Discussions