Best Biennial Bazaar
Austin Archives Bazaar
Neither quiet, dusty, nor dry, these Central Texas archivists and librarians collaborate to curate a bigger and better gathering every even-numbered year. The Austin Archives Bazaar is a noisy and well-lubricated social affair, with speaker presentations punctuating the browsing of more than 25 booths. History starts with yesterday, and thus you'll find zine archives and podcast hosts alongside genealogy resources and the LBJ Library's booth. Unusually specific collections are featured (did you know Texas A&M’s libraries include LGBTQ and George R.R. Martin archives?), but the bazaar also provides ways to capture oral histories, do a deep dive on ranchero family claims on Spanish land grants, and preserve family archives. This outreach effort moves well past any "stern librarian" cliches by broadening the definitions and inclusivity of what it means to be Texan.
