A little about Amanda

Amanda Hunt—widely known as TheNextGenLibrarian—is a dedicated middle school library media specialist serving grades 6–8 in Texas. With over 15 years of experience as a school librarian across both elementary and secondary campuses and over 20 years in education, Amanda brings a deep background in education and social work to her practice.

Amanda is actively involved in professional leadership and advocacy, currently serving as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Texas Library Association's (TLA) Leadership Round Table. She is the incoming Young Adult Round Table Chair beginning in the spring of 2026. Amanda is the co-chair of the TxASL Social Media Committee, a past Councilor for the Texas Association of School Librarians, and a past member of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards Committee, contributing to the 2nd edition published in 2025.

Amanda has served on numerous state and national reading and award committees, including the Cybil Awards Reading Committee for YA Speculative Fiction, the Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee (YALSA) and was both a committee member and Chair of the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Committee. She is also the Chair of the Amazing Audiobooks Committee 2027 through YALSA. Her innovative work has earned her recognition as a TLA TxASL Media and Visual Presence (MVP) Honoree in 2021 and 2023, as well as a three-time winner of the TLA Branding Iron Award (2022, 2024, 2025). She was the first-ever District Librarian of the Year in 2025.

An accomplished speaker and trainer, Amanda has keynoted the New Hampshire School Librarians Conference, the Georgia Library Media Association Conference and the Alabama School Librarian Conference. She is the featured speaker for the Kansas School Librarian Summer Institute in July 2026. She is a Google Certified Trainer, Apple Teacher, and Adobe Creative Educator & Innovator who is passionate about empowering educators and students through technology, literacy, and creativity.

Badges, Ambassadorships, Edtech certifications

I’m passionate about earning microcredentials because they allow me to stay current in the fast-paced world of educational technology. As a library media specialist, it’s essential to know which tools, apps, and websites are most effective in the classroom. Each badge or certification represents hands-on training and a deeper understanding of a specific tool, which not only builds my own expertise but also empowers me to support colleagues who notice these credentials in my email signature or social media posts. Microcredentials keep librarianship relevant, spark meaningful collaboration with teachers, and ultimately enhance student learning.