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Friends Board Members

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Terry Barksdale, President, joined the board in 2006. She has lived in Austin, the city where her husband was born, since 2000 and currently works as a digital librarian for UT TeleCampus. She obtained a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston in 1983, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of South Carolina in 1994. In her spare time, she is the proud mother of a beautiful daughter, Brooke. Contact: friends@austinlibrary.org

Marta Hubbard, Secretary, became a member of the board in April 2008.  She retired from The University of Texas System in January 2008 after working more than 30 years for various offices in the UT System, The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Marta moved to Austin in 1974 and received her B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.  She served as Secretary, President-Elect, and President of the Texas Distance Learning Association.  She currently is pursuing gardening projects and is exploring many fields of interest.

Frank Gonzalez, Treasurer, joined the Friends of the Austin Public Library in April 2007. After serving in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, he returned to Austin in 1985 and worked in higher education until his retirement from The University of Texas System in September 2006. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College in New York , and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently a realtor with Keller Williams Realty.

Native Austinite Rebecca Johnson, Publicity Chair, joined the Board in 2008. She received a master’s degree in science journalism from Texas A&M University in 1999, and bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English literature from The University of Texas at Austin in 1996 and 1997. Johnson’s local literacy experience includes two years as a volunteer press officer for Literacy Austin and countless weekends sorting thousands of books for that organization’s yearly fundraiser book sale. In her day job, Johnson is Editor of StarDate magazine, published by The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory. She also handles media relations for the Observatory.

Kim Lindros was originally elected to the board in 2000, served as secretary from 2001 to 2004, and president from 2004 through May 2006. She has a B.S. degree in biology from the University of Minnesota. She has lived in the Austin area since 1993 and runs Gracie Editorial, an educational content development business.

Ethel Tarleton joined the board in 2006. She moved to Austin from Kenner, LA in September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. She joined the Friends of the Jefferson Public Library in 1993, served as president in 1998 and 1999, was book sale chairman from 1996 until 2001, and after that served on the book sale committee. Ethel is a 25-year member of the Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community (LVFC) and served as the president from 2003 to 2005. Ethel also served on the Jefferson Parish 4-H Foundation Board, 2001-2003. She is currently a member of the Travis Extension Education Association's Oak Hill Club and the Austin Newcomers Club.