Staff spotlight: Joanna Franco
In each TLA Staff Spotlight, we highlight a different Texas Library Association staff member. It’s part of our effort to make sure you know who the TLA staff is, so you’re more familiar with us when you need to contact us. We love to hear from members!
Name: Joanna Franco
Position: Member Services Coordinator
What are your job responsibilities at TLA?
I’m here to provide TLA Members with guidance and support about their membership benefits. If members have questions about event registration, membership renewal, or the TLA website I can help with that!
Tell us three things about yourself.
- Since I was a little girl, reading stories and folk tales was a passion of mine. This passion drove me to earn a B.A. in Spanish Literature from the University of Texas at Austin.
- During the pandemic, my husband and I adopted an energetic puppy named Lucas. A week into adopting him, we found out he was suffering from parvovirus. Fortunately, Lucas is a warrior and survived!
- Some of my hobbies include singing karaoke, dancing the night away, and exploring new cities! My favorite city so far has been Seattle.
What’s a book, movie, album or podcast you enjoyed recently that you’d recommend and why?
I recently discovered the book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. I would recommend this book because it helped me realize that we all can be creative as long as we connect to our inner artist. And connecting with our inner artist helps us connect with ourselves. The book is filled with exercises that help promote creativity, my favorite being the “morning pages” exercise. A fun fact about this book is that it inspired author Elizabeth Gilbert to take her life-changing trip that eventually led her to write her famous memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. Fascinating, right?
What’s your favorite place in Texas?
Austin! When my family decided to move to Austin, Texas from Lima, Peru, I did not know what to expect. But, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Austin was filled with greenery, beautiful hiking trails, and friendly people. I feel very lucky that my immediate family lives in Austin, as it allows us to spend quality time together while enjoying a delicious and authentic Peruvian meal.
What would you like to share with members about TLA that they might not know?
The TLA team is always looking for innovative ideas to better serve our members. I encourage our newer members to reach us if they have any questions or if they would like to be involved in our volunteer opportunities. Everyone at TLA would be eager to assist you!