TLA Welcomes New Interim Executive Director

The Texas Library Association (TLA) is pleased to announce that Joe Dahlstrom will serve as interim executive director while the search for a new executive director takes place. His first day is Monday, June 24, 2019.

Dahlstrom, who joined TLA in 1973, has been an extremely active member, serving as TLA President from 1987 – 1988. He held many leadership positions over the years  including chair or co-chair of the association’s College and University Libraries Division (CULD); Legislative Committee; Bylaws Committee; Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; and Conference Local Arrangements Committee.

Dahlstrom has served as library director for University of Houston-Victoria and Victoria College since 1988 and will retire July 31. Prior to that, he worked at Hardin-Simmons University and the San Antonio Public Library.

His other library-related professional activities include chair of the Council of Academic Libraries, member of the ALA Chapter Relations Committee, chair of the Library Task Force for the Summerlee Commission on Texas History, and member of 20 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges site visits and off-site review committees.

“Joe’s more than four decades as a librarian, his extensive management experience, and comprehensive TLA knowledge will be invaluable during this transition,” said TLA President Cecilia Barham, director, North Richland Hills Library. “We are so fortunate that he has agreed to share his time and talents with the association as interim executive director.”

The TLA Executive Board is appointing an Executive Director Search Task Force which is expected to be in place by the TLA Annual Assembly July 8 – 11. If you have any questions regarding the Executive Director search, please contact Cecilia Barham at 817-427-6812 or via email.