Between the Lines: June Member Spotlight
Brandon Hodge
Library Director
Lone Star College – North Harris
1. What inspired you to become a librarian?
The moment I got my first library job, I felt I was being planted in fertile soil. Since then, I have been nurtured, tended to and given water and sunshine by so many wonderful people throughout my career. They have inspired me to be an advocate for Libraries and library workers.
2. What is an innovative practice at your library/organization (current or former) that you would like to share with others?
I’m proud of the work we’ve done to develop tailored work portfolios for library staff that highlight their unique talents and skills, allowing them to take ownership of their professional practice. It has created a more engaged, empowered team, and it’s been a meaningful way to align individual strengths with institutional goals.
3. If you could have dinner with three authors (living or dead), who would they be and why?
Dinner with the following would be a treat:
- Christopher Hitchens, to witness his famous wit and solicit his insight on current events
- Ginny Clarke, for wisdom and guidance in personal and professional life
- David Sedaris, because who doesn’t enjoy being enthralled by a great story?
4. What are you reading right now?
Game Face: A Media Training Playbook by Bodine Williams, which has been illuminating and hilarious in equal measure, and Blacksad by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido—a beautifully illustrated crime noir graphic novel that is all the things I love about fiction wrapped up in a tiny package.
5. What is your most memorable Texas Library Association Experience?
TALL Texans, without question. It was an awakening. The program gave me the space and tools for deep introspection and self-discovery. I found my inner leader there.
6. Advice to new librarians?
A career in librarianship is a marathon, not a sprint. Find work within it that brings you joy; That work will be the foundation of your career, and the joy will sustain you through challenging times.
7. Share your hobbies, hidden talents, or anything people might not know about you.
I’m an inveterate collector of old things—fountain pens, pocketknives, wristwatches, and more, but I’m learning to be more selective these days. I also enjoy a good game of chess, hiking, and downhill skiing when I can get away.
8. Please finish this sentence. “I am a TLA member because…”
TLA is the mothership. As library workers we are doing hard, sometimes grueling work in our institutions and communities and once a year, we return to the mothership to refuel, recharge, reconnect with each other, and to rediscover our why. Beyond this, I am a member of TLA because it unites our voices so that when we speak and act as a collective, people listen, and positive change can occur.