Bringing Literacy to Life in Johnson County

Hometown Heroes Lisa Lintner & Tiffany Lauderdale Phillips

Two women are at the forefront of keeping literacy alive in Franklin and Johnson County. Lisa Lintner is Johnson County Public Library’s director, and Tiffany Lauderdale Phillips is the owner of Wild Geese Bookshop in Franklin.

Both women are passionate about reading and inviting the community to not only read books, but to become immersed in the bookish world through author events, book clubs, podcasts, advocacy and outreach. JCPL and Wild Geese Bookshop have proven to be great community partners. They have brought authors from all over the world to various venues in the community. These events are well attended, proving that the written word is still alive and well. They both are creative beings who have truly brought the reading world a visible and viable entity to Franklin and Johnson County.

Lisa Lintner

Lintner grew up in Northwest Indiana with aspirations of becoming an actress. In high school, she took a career class that opened her eyes to the realities of making it as an actor. One day, she happened to overhear a children’s librarian reading a story with animation in her voice, and a lightbulb moment occurred. It was then she began exploring careers in the library field.

After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in theater and English, she obtained her Master of Library Science from Indiana University Indianapolis. She then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, as a paraprofessional with the Louisville Free Public Library. She spent 17 years in Louisville in different management positions. In 2015, she became director for JCPL and proclaims it as her dream job.

“My job is easier because I am surrounded by fantastic people,” Lintner says.

Lintner has two grown children and lives in Franklin with her husband, Nick Valenzuela. Lintner is a life member of The Jane Austen Society of North America. She loves baking, hosting afternoon teas, collecting costume jewelry — and wearing it — traveling, thrifting and, of course, reading.

Lintner describes herself as a voracious reader. She recalled her fourth-grade teacher reading aloud an entire chapter in a book. She says it was a pivotal experience in her reading life. Captivated by the story that formed in her mind as the teacher read aloud, she discovered a love for books.

Lintner likes to read fantasy and science fiction books. Asked whether the book was better, Lintner says she loved both the book and movie adaptation of “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir. Lintner explained that she was able to discuss the movie adaptation with her son, and that provided quality time with him. She expressed that exploring movie adaptations can often bridge generational gaps.

Lintner says these days she tends to use audiobooks most often. Two of her favorite reads are “Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast” and “The Hero and the Crown,” both by Robin McKinley. She also strives to reread a classic novel on a quarterly basis.

When asked what message she wants readers to know, she says she wants readers to know the backstory of a story. She enjoys listening to podcasts that dive deeper into a book.

Johnson County Public Library is the 10th-largest library in the state out of 223 total districts. It ranks third in the state in attendance at programs, including festivals, story times, author events and arts events. In 2025, 1.3 million items were checked out from the library. Additionally, 380,000 people visited the library last year.

Lintner says every success of JCPL is because of the staff. She also wants the community to know the importance of the library. More than books can be found inside the library. Patrons can stream and download audiobooks, e-books, movies and TV shows through Hoopla. Online programs and events are ongoing, and a seasonal library guide is available at local branch offices describing classes, events, book sales, book clubs and additional resources. (www.PageAfterPage.org)

The Library of Things also offers the loan of items such as microscopes, baking kits, blood pressure monitors, board games and experience passes that include places such as Franklin Family Aquatic Center and the Indiana State Museum.

“Advocacy has become a major part of my job,” Lintner says.

Making sure the public can freely enjoy all books, Lintner has become one of the state’s leading voices for intellectual freedom and equal access to information. Due to recent state legislation, JCPL is at risk of losing more than 40% of its funding in the coming years.

Lintner says there are three main things the public can do to help:

Use the library often.

Check out materials.

Sign up to be an advocate. (Jcplf.org/advocacy)

Lintner was recently recognized in Indianapolis Monthly magazine in a feature story outlining her dedication to the right to read.

Tiffany Lauderdale Phillips

Phillips grew up in Kentucky and went to college in South Carolina, where she studied literature and international relations. She then went on to law school in Georgia before returning to Kentucky to practice law. She and her family lived in Kentucky until they relocated to Franklin for her husband’s job.

While she maintains her Indiana and Kentucky law licenses, she has spent the past few years focusing on Wild Geese Bookshop. Phillips opened the bookstore in 2016 in a very small space on Water Street in Franklin. After five years at that location, she moved to 40 E. Madison St., across from the Willard patio. (wildgeesebookshop.com)

The bookshop has an expansive front porch that aligns with its motto: “Everyone is welcome on the porch!”

Stepping across the threshold of the store, patrons are greeted by welcoming staff and find themselves surrounded by a charming store that warms any reader’s heart. The children’s room is full of carefully chosen books and stocked with specific customers in mind. As Phillips has gotten to know the community, she has found it easier to curate the space.

When asked about her thoughts on the trending popularity of graphic novels, Phillips says, “I don’t think graphic novels will replace other types of books, but they can help get people reading. We’re a more visual culture, and all reading is good.”

Phillips and Lintner both agree that there is a resurgence of reading right now.

“Screen fatigue is real, and it’s comforting to return to the escape of a story told at your own pace,” Phillips says.

Author events have proven to be exceptionally popular. Both JCPL and Wild Geese Bookshop have offered opportunities for the public to engage in a deeper understanding of what goes into writing a book by attending sessions and hearing the author in conversation with the interviewer. These events draw people from other states, and Phillips says her favorite part is seeing people meet new book friends at these events.

Phillips’ bookshop also offers readers a Summer Camp for Grown-Ups in July, which includes events and activities that can be signed up for through the bookstore website.

The “Fill Your Cup” podcast is also a way to invite listeners to sit down with booksellers over a cup of coffee or tea and talk books. Kara Simon and Emily Hone host the podcast, reaching readers with recommendations, trends and thoughtful discussions about upcoming events.

A monthly book club made a revival in January 2026 after a few years’ hiatus. Using various genres each month, the club normally meets on the last Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Coffeehouse Five in Franklin.

Phillips says she gravitates toward literary fiction, essays and memoirs.

“I am a paperback reader. I bend the cover back — I know, cringe — and I tend to read quickly, pen in hand, so that I can underline my favorite lines. I listen to audiobooks when pulling weeds and doing laundry. I am not an e-reader person unless it’s necessary to prep for an event conversation and the print copy is not yet available. There’s so much online that I must do to run the business. I crave screen breaks whenever possible.”

When asked what book she has read so far in 2026 that she especially enjoyed and why, she says she adored “Why Women Grow” by Alice Vincent, about what draws women to growing things. “Counterweights” by Indiana author Shannon Martine is about how to hold joy alongside difficulty. She would love to see this little-known book hit the big time.

Phillips says the book is selling well, but it’s really something that should be getting more attention. She also named “On Witness and Respairs” by Jesmyn Ward as a stunning essay collection. Phillips thinks Ward is one of the greatest living writers of our time.

In April 2025, Phillips established a fund through the Johnson County Community Foundation called Read, Grow, Fly, with hopes of sponsoring author visits and their books for readers. The goal is to support and encourage reading throughout Johnson County.

So far, they have donated 1,500 books to students across six schools and brought New York Times bestselling authors to their buildings.

“We love Imagination Library of Johnson County and how they gift books from birth to kindergarten. Our first year of events has focused on carrying the baton forward, hosting events for kindergarteners through high school. We have many goals for the future, and fundraising is the key,” Phillips says.