Thankful

Kara Baker • November 25, 2025

Things to be Thankful for

As we reflect upon this season and all of the things we are grateful for, it seems fitting to acknowledge the amazing team here at Curated Consulting, LLC. We have worked very hard preparing for compliance with the legislative changes in regards to libraries and are excited to share our knowledge, expedience, and expertise with others wanting to serve their library communities while meeting the demands of current legislature. 


Marcy Sparks is dedicated to building bridges between various stakeholders in education to make sure that libraries stay relevant in the conversations and decisions being made. The amount of time she spends doing research, consulting with experts, and creating training platforms is impressive and reflected in the success of the libraries she represents.  She is no stranger to hard work and takes her title of Library Services Coordinator very seriously as the scores of librarians under her directions can attest.  Marcy has been the visionary and catalyst for this company and we are very thankful she is ours.


Carolyn Del Rio is a curriculum expert who has spent many years honing her skills in both the classroom and the library. She has a wealth of understanding surrounding the nuances of young learners and how important the foundation of reading is to creating not only successful students but also people beyond the wall of our schools. Carolyn is very task and detailed oriented and her tried methods of success are appreciated by her peers. She has been integral in helping new librarians adapt to challenging and changing roles on campuses. These same ideas have been utilized by veteran librarians moving to new campuses, shifting grade levels, managing changes in administrators, and helping with shifting compliance. Carolyn is incredibly talented and versatile and we are thankful she is ours.


Kara Baker has spent the entirety of her education career in high schools but has a passion for picture books and creating storytelling settings for all students. Not only does she spend a great deal of time learning about the changes in the laws regarding libraries and education in general, but she also uses her knowledge to help create better lines of communication and relationships between teachers, administrators, parents, staff and community members.  Kara loves to teach research skills and create collaborative lessons with various contents and we are thankful she is ours.


Logan Sparks is a strong supporter of truth who uses his many talents to keep us focused and on target with our goals of helping others create best practice libraries that are compliant with the ever-shifting landscape of libraries. He is our first line of contact when people want information about who we are and what we do. He is an excellent face for us and we are thankful he is ours.   

Simple chart comparing the easy way vs the strategic way based on the content of the article.
By Marcy Sparks January 12, 2026
Is your district falling for the "Software Trap"? Learn why AI and vendor tools aren't enough for SB 13 compliance and how to build a defensible Fortress Library.
By Kara Baker January 12, 2026
2025 was hard for a lot of reasons. Among those was the changes the Texas government made to the laws governing public education as a whole and public school library collections in specific. To say that SB13 has dominated my time and mind for this school year is an understatement. Using a dedicated time/task tracker has proven beyond doubt with concrete data just how much my library program has changed. For instance, by the mid-year mark I normally would have met with two classes a week on average doing various lessons, projects, and research topics. Last semester I saw one class about every two weeks. This change is upsetting because it feels so unnecessary. Students on my campus are actively being denied access to library time in their classes so I can dedicate large swaths of my time to ensuring that my campus is not the reason my school district is out of compliance with the law. Unnecessary because we do have strong collection development policies that we hold to and we are all trained education professionals who know our communities and have built solid collections that serve and maintain both. So, the resolutions. What can I do to be more positive and proactive this year within the confines of these new laws? Here are the three things I have decided on: Be informed and aware of the laws and potential changes on the horizon. Take an active role in helping others understand these laws and how to comply and serve stakeholders. To advocate on behalf of libraries and librarians to show all the awesome ways we serve all of our patrons. Curated Consulting is here to help you make resolutions about your own libraries. Please reach out to us to schedule consultations or trainings. Here’s to a happy and productive 2026!