Former Baylor Libraries Student Assistant Appointed Texas State Librarian

On September 1, Baylor Museum Studies graduate (BA, 1990) and former Armstrong Browning Library & Museum student assistant Gloria Meraz began her tenure as Texas state librarian and director of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Meraz is the first person of color and the first Hispanic woman to serve as State Librarian of Texas since the position was created in 1909.

Meraz has served since August 2016 as the Assistant State Librarian at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Previously, she served for 17 years as the Director of Communications for the Texas Library Association. Meraz, a native of El Paso, holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin in addition to her Baylor undergraduate degree.

“It is the professional honor of a lifetime to have the opportunity to serve as the Director and Librarian at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission,” said Meraz. “The agency provides vital information services to our partners in libraries, archives, educational institutions, and state and local government. I can think of no finer mission, and I look forward to working with the talented TSLAC staff, the agency’s many dedicated constituencies, and our commission in this new role as we serve the people of Texas.”

“The commission congratulates Director Meraz on her new position and looks forward to working with her to continue the outstanding work of this agency in service to the people of Texas,” said Commission Chair Martha Wong.

“I am thrilled to have Gloria succeed me as Director and Librarian,” said Mark Smith, who proceeded Meraz in this role at the Commission. “Gloria is a brilliant communicator with a deep understanding of TSLAC’s work and more than 20 years of dedicated service to the libraries and archives of Texas.”

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic, and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.