Ke’ara Hunt (she/her) joined TDL in September 2023 as the Outreach and Member Engagement Coordinator.
Where did you go to school?
I received a BS in Radio-Television-Film and BA in English at The University of Texas at Austin. Then I received an MS in Television (Producing & Management) from Boston University.
Where is your hometown?
I recently moved back home to Houston after living in Austin for about five years.
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
This may not be a surprise, but I love going to the movies and reading comic books!
Ke’ara at the University of Texas at Austin
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
My first impression of TDL was that the staff and extended community was doing a great job in communicating and providing a wide range of digital services and access that allow Texas institutions to provide extensive information that is relevant to their core users and that could be shared to new users, across institutions.
What has surprised you most about working with Texas Digital Library?
The most surprising thing so far has been the large number of higher education institutions who are members of TDL. I recently attended my first user group meeting and it was incredible to meet the extended TDL community. Everyone has been so welcoming and knowledgeable and I cannot wait to dive more into the work that we do.
Ke’ara as an elf at The Ellen Degeneres Show
What do you find most challenging about working in higher education?
I’ve been an adjunct film professor for the past two years and one of the most challenging parts of teaching is outlining all aspects of information that is accessible, whether it be for research purposes or creative ventures, and communicating where to find reputable resources to appropriately utilize them. I learned that libraries provide an amazing selection of films, journals, recorded interviews and more, covering historical and contemporary topics.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working with Texas Digital Library?
Everyone has been so welcoming! I am excited to be a part of this community and to get to know my colleagues better as we work on upcoming projects together.
Ke’ara at Boston University
The interest in digital libraries and digital archives seems to be growing. Why do you think that is?
Most of us are online these days as technology provides a way to communicate, record-keep, and share information. Beyond that, being able to access books, articles, data, photographs, videos, recordings, art, textiles, etc. deeply impacts the evolution of society. Digital libraries and digital archives are the natural progression of how we provide and access information.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital collections, special collections, and broadening access?
My personal philosophy is rather simple: Knowledge is power and accessibility to information shapes modern-day lifestyles, education, and decision-making. If you want to learn about public information, you should be able to easily access the resources online.