About the Manual Authors

Four members of the Texas Teens Read! Advisory Committee, Deban Becker, WyLaina Hildreth, Amanda Hipp, and Kendra Perkins, collaborated to write the eight programs in the Texas Teens Read! manual. Christine McNew, Manager of Texas Teens Read! for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, edited the manual and contributed many ideas to the programs.

Deban Becker is a youth services librarian at the W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library in the Plano Public Library System. Ms. Becker previously worked as a Teen Librarian in a Michael and Susan Dell Foundation Wired for Youth Center at the Austin Public Library. Ms. Becker received her MLS from the University of North Texas.

WyLaina Hildreth is a teen librarian at the Forth Worth Public Library. She previously worked at the Denton Public Library and the Great Northwest Branch of the San Antonio Public Library. Ms. Hildreth received her MLS from the University of North Texas. She was a co-author of the young adult and celebrations chapters of the 2007 Texas Reading Club manual.

Amanda Hipp is currently the senior librarian over Irving Public Library's Public Information Office. Ms. Hipp was previously the system's teen librarian for three years. She obtained her MLS degree from the University of North Texas.

Christine McNew is the Youth Services Consultant for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and Manager of Texas Teens Read! She initiated the Texas Teens Read! program and the Texas Teens Read! Advisory Committee and serves as liaison to that Committee. Ms. McNew graduated from the University of Texas in 1989 and worked as a children’s librarian for ten years before coming to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Kendra Perkins is currently the Chair of the Texas Teens Read! Advisory Committee. Ms. Perkins is a youth services librarian at the Larry J. Ringer Public Library in the Bryan + College Station Public Library System. She received her MLS from Texas Woman’s University.