Hi Friends!

This past week/month has been very busy but very productive! If you’ve been following BL lately, you’ll have heard that my library has a new director. It’s been about a month in, and spoilers: he’s pretty awesome. Not to be confused with spoilers for the new Avengers movie. I’ve been avoiding spoilers like the PLAGUE. I’m watching it on Sunday, don’t nobody ruin it for me!

Surely, you don’t take it that seriously, Justin!

I have been off Facebook for NINE days. I’m in social media withdrawal, but it’s worth not knowing.

Game of Thrones, ruin away. Avengers, leave me be.

I was fortunate enough to attend the annual Texas Library Association (TLA) conference. It usually jumps around the state each year; this year, it was in Austin! WHOO, fun times!

I attended several sessions, but here are some of my favorites:

• Embrace your Inner Superhero: Self Compassion and Self Care
• Managing Harassment in the Library Environment
• Podcasting for N00bs
• Blind Spots and Brain Tricks
• Library Support Staff
• Fight the Good Fight Against Fake News in a Post-Truth Society
• Succeeding in Crucial Conversations
• Get to Yes: Branding Public Library Customer Service

I could keep going, but I’ll stop there. The self care session was probably one of my favorites. So often, we and our staff don’t take time to appreciate ourselves or one another. Whether it’s a kind word, or even something tangible like a Thank You card, we all need to stop and take a moment. So, yes – I will take an hour long shower! Yes, I will drink my ice-cold boujee raspberry water in the shower!

Just kidding, it was water with some Mio in it. (But it felt boujee in the shower, what can I say?)

This year, TLA hosted what they called “After Hours”. Normally, most conferences end around 5 or 6 pm. Not in Austin, baby! After Hours started at 7 and ran to 11, featuring “Book Buzzed” with free drinks and free books, “Author Lip Sync Battle” where authors lip synced like their life depended on it, and much more.

I got to see some old friends, both librarians and vendors. My friend Yaika over at Glasses Attached was in attendance, as were some of my favorite peeps from Envisionware and make some new ones, both librarians and vendors alike. I’m looking at you, Danna!

As always, I’m happy to answer any questions non-library people have about TLA. There’s so much to talk about, it’s sometimes hard to figure out where to start and what people want to know. Feel free to ask below or reach me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for the newest stuff. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian