About the TAYSHAS List

Tayshas Committee

The object of the Tayshas project is to motivate young adults to become lifelong readers and to participate in the community of readers in Texas. The Tayshas High School Reading List Committee coordinates activities associated with the Tayshas program, a reading incentive program designed for young adults in Texas, grades 9-12, who are encouraged to read books for pleasure from a selected reading list prepared by the Tayshas Committee.

The History of the Tayshas List

The original idea for what would develop into the Tayshas Reading list came from Dallas area librarians, Gracelyn Shea, YART Chair, and Monta Skaggs, YART Chair-Elect. They knew they wanted a high school reading list for the State of Texas and they knew just the man to get the job done. In 1996, they approached San Antonio librarian, Jack Alton Strawn and asked him to bring their idea to life. Mr. Strawn was given just a couple of months to create the program, develop guidelines, design a logo, name the program, and find committee members. In fact, he was even given the daunting task of selecting the first list by himself so it would be ready to feature at that year’s conference.