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The Black Caucus Round Table (BCRT) seeks to contribute to library service by promoting services to African Americans and opening channels of communication among African American librarians in all TLA divisions, round tables, and discussion groups.
Additionally, we’re home to the esteemed Ashley Bryan Award and a host to wonderfully unique librarians from all parts of our library ecosystem. If you’d like to volunteer to be a part of our round table, then please click on the link provided to join.
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Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
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News You Can Use
Stay connected with these general timely updates, quick announcements, and helpful tidbits pertaining to the BCRT activity. From opportunities and reminders to resources and community notes, this catchall section keeps you informed and connected with what matters to BCRT members and supporters.
Check back often—you never know what useful news you’ll find!
In honor of the upcoming holiday, we invite you to revisit this powerful and thought-provoking performance from black-ish. In the Season 4 premiere, the legendary hip-hop group The Roots presents “I Am Slave,” a satirical musical reenactment that traces the history surrounding the end of slavery in the United States.
Blending humor, music, and historical commentary, this segment offers a memorable reflection on the significance of Juneteenth and the ongoing importance of understanding Black history.
BCRT is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Ashley Bryan Award.
Established in 2023, the honors excellence in children’s literature by Black authors. In odd-numbered years, the award recognizes an author for their distinguished body of work; whereas, in even-numbered years, it celebrates an emerging Black author’s debut work. The award acknowledges contributions that center humanity, diversity, culture, and community in children’s literature.
The recipient is selected based on their outstanding literary contributions that uplift people of color, foster community, and expand opportunities to see our shared humanity reflected in literature. The award includes a $1,000 honorarium and a commemorative plaque.
The 2027 Ashley Bryan Award will recognize a Black author for their body of work and be presented at the TLA 2027 Annual Conference in San Antonio.
BCRT invites current members to submit one nomination for an outstanding author who has published at least seven books within the past ten years. Each nomination must include a brief justification.
Nomination Period: March 29 – June 30, 2026
For additional details and submission guidelines, please visit the award webpage.
BCRT celebrates Star Wars Day by honoring the power of storytelling, imagination, and—most importantly—representation across galaxies near and far.
“Representation is about demanding that we’re all seen and affirming that we all matter.” —WeHaveStories.org
From rebels to leaders, every story matters. Let’s continue to uplift voices that ensure everyone can see themselves as the hero.
Looking for Star Wars reads with Black representation to connect with your community? Then, check out this curated list of titles.
We’re excited to expand our online presence and create more ways to connect, share resources, highlight important work, and keep you updated on events and initiatives.
Join us on Facebook to stay informed and be part of the conversation. Let’s continue building community together—both online and beyond.
BCRT at Annual Conference
Stay connected with BCRT at this year’s Annual Conference! Under the conference theme, “Cultivating Community: Thriving Together,” we are proud to host and participate in a range of programs, gatherings, and opportunities that celebrate connection, advocacy, and professional growth. Explore this section for updates on our conference sessions, special events, and ways to engage with BCRT as we come together to learn, share, and strengthen our library community.
Let’s connect!
Thank you to Karyn Parsons and Keenan Jones
BCRT extends our deepest gratitude to Karyn Parsons and 2026 Ashley Bryan Award Recipient Keenan Jones for joining us as distinguished special guests at our signature programs during the 2026 Texas Library Association Annual Conference.
Ms. Parsons, your remarkable ability to illuminate untold histories through storytelling and your steadfast commitment to inspiring young readers and communities made your presence truly extraordinary. From your celebrated work as an actor to your meaningful contributions as an author and founder of Sweet Blackberry, your voice brought depth, reflection, and inspiration to our author brunch.
Mr. Jones, your compelling presence, dynamic storytelling, and engaging spirit brought energy and connection to the reception in a way that resonated deeply with all who attended. Your words and artistry left a lasting impression and reminded us of the power of stories to build community and spark meaningful conversation.
Thank you both for sharing your time, your insight, and your creativity with us. Your contributions made our signature programs truly memorable and deeply meaningful.
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BCRT’s annual Author Brunch is a signature event held during Annual Conference, bringing together librarians, authors, and literary advocates to celebrate Black literature and storytelling. The program features a distinguished guest author who shares insights into their work and creative journey, while also honoring the Ashley Bryan Award winner for outstanding contributions to children’s literature that highlight themes of culture, humanity, diversity, and community. Together, these elements create a meaningful space for recognition, inspiration, and connection within the library field.
Bi-monthly Meetings
Stay connected, inspired, and informed with the BCRT’s bi-monthly General Meetings and Learning Sessions. Held on the third Thursday at 6:30 PM in June, August, October, December, February, and April, these gatherings offer members and supporters opportunities to learn from leaders in the field, share updates, and build community. We invite you to join us throughout the year as we highlight important work, explore new ideas, and strengthen our collective impact.
Member Spotlight
The Black Caucus Round Table (BCRT) is to host a Member Spotlight series as a way to highlight and celebrate the amazing work, accomplishments, and impact of our members across our community! These spotlights will be featured on our website and in our social media to showcase the impact of BCRT members everywhere.
By completing our Member Spotlight Form, you too can easily share your accomplishments, contributions, and celebrations in the library world. Then, we’ll take care of the rest.
Enjoy Yasmeen’s full interview below to learn more about her inspiring journey, her impact on students, and her commitment to building a culture where every child is seen, celebrated, and empowered.
How are you making an impact in the library world or your community, particularly in advancing diversity, equity, and representation for Black voices? My mission is to ensure that every student on our diverse campus feels seen, heard, and celebrated. I achieve this through a curriculum that I created called ‘Story Trails’. These are literacy journeys that coincide with cultural heritage celebrations throughout the year. By highlighting authors of color and stories from around the world at the center of these ‘trails’, I am advancing representation in a way that is accessible and community-oriented. I believe that when we celebrate our specific heritages, we strengthen our entire community. These trails serve as a constant reminder to my students that their stories are worthy of being told, shared, and celebrated.
Share a fun fact about yourself! Outside of the library, I have a social media platform called ‘The Trekking Teacher’. I am an avid mountain climber who believes that every peak has a story worth sharing. My global expeditions have taken me to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, through the Andes in Peru, across the Alps (France, Italy, and Switzerland), and into the Lost City in Colombia. Whether I’m trekking across Iceland or walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, I am always collecting stories and perspectives to share with my students, proving that Black women belong in these outdoor spaces and that there are no limits to where our curiosity (and our feet) can take us!
Interested in being in the spotlight?! By completing our Member Spotlight Form, you can easily share your accomplishments, contributions, and celebrations in the library world. Then, we’ll take care of the rest.
TLA is now accepting session proposals for our 2027 Annual Conference; submit your ideas by June 24 to share practical insights with colleagues across Texas.
You can help support Texas libraries summer reading programs and other initiatives through donations made at H-E-B checkstands from June 3 – 30, 2026.
