Fyi: The Public Libraries Podcast

This podcast is sponsored by Craft & Hobby. Visit https://go .CraftandHobby.com/ALA to access over 4,000 hours of content across 20 different creative disciplines. Unlock the Creative Potential at Your Library with Craft and Hobby. On this episode we are talking about STORIES BEYOND BORDERS, a booklist created by the Chinese American Librarians Association to commemorate their 50th anniversary. Stories Beyond Borders features children's, middle grade, and young adult books centering Chinese American and diasporic voices. This celebratory reading list was formed through a collaboration between the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) and the Young Adult Services Association (YALSA) in consultation with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Our guests Crystal Chen and Melody Leung were both members of the task force to create the list.

The latest edition of “The Black Librarian in America” the seminal Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) publication, published by Rowman & Littlefield, is the first to be wholly edited by Black women, including Shauntee Burns-Simpson, Nichelle M. Hayes, Dr. Ana Ndumu, and Dr.Shaundra Walker—and it also features a foreword by the Librarianof Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden. This reflective and celebratory edition marks the 50th anniversary of both the first edition, edited by Dr. E. J. Josey, and the founding of the BCALA. The editors have gathered a wealth of wisdom and lived experience from the stories represented in this volume, which are invaluable to understanding the challenges, opportunities, and ongoing work of Black librarians in America. Inthis episode of FYI: The Public Libraries Podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with one of the editors of this important and timely book—Shauntee Burns- Simpson, Associate Director, Center for Educators and Schools, The New York Public Library.

On this episode, we discuss the history of library segregation in the Jim Crow south and the fight for desegregation. Our guests, Suzanne LaPierre and Chris Babuschak are librarians at the Fairfax County Library in Virginia and the authors of "Desegregation in Northern Virginia Libraries," Their book sheds light on the libraries in Northern Virginia during the era of segregation and the civil rights activists who fought for change. Join us as we gain valuable insights into this important part of library history.

In this episode, we chat with Jenn McKague, an Outreach Services Librarian at the Salt Lake County Library, who is dedicated to serving persons who are incarcerated and those who have been incarcerated. Jenn shares her background, the services she provides, the challenges she faces, and more in a candid and informative conversation. Tune in to learn about Jenn's work and the impact she's making in the lives of these often overlooked communities.

In this episode are joined by Dr. Maria Taesil Hudson McCauley, the current president of the Public Library Association for the 2022-2023 term. Dr. McCauley is also the director of the Cambridge Public Library in Massachusetts. In this episode, we ask Dr. McCauley about her background and involvement with the Public Library Association, her experience as President-Elect and President of the PLA, and her thoughts on the increasing role of libraries in their communities. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for public libraries in this moment, as well as Dr. McCauley's priorities during her presidential year. Finally, we dive into the recent update of the PLA strategic plan and what Dr. McCauley is most excited about as both the PLA President and a public library director.

In this episode we discuss Public Libraries and Digital Literacy, including PLA’s DigitalLearn and how a recent grant from AT & T of over one million dollars, has enabled PLA to empower more libraries to reach more people around the country with Digital Literacy training. Our guests are: Samantha Lopez, Manager, Marketing & Membership, PLA Joy Osuna Benfante, Senior Program Manager, AT &T Mary Clare Bietila, Program Manager, Programming Initiatives, PLA

In this episode our guests, Larra Clark, Deputy Director Public Library Association & ALA Public Policy & Advocacy and Natalie Ruppert, Manager, Career & Job Services Division at Kenton County (KY) Public Library, discuss PLA initiatives around workforce development including the concept of career navigators and new research examining the role U.S. public libraries play in supporting workforce and small business development. The research, conducted by Measures that Matter, an initiative of COSLA in cooperation with IMLS, provides an increased understanding of current library practices and how they intersect with existing workforce systems and identifies challenges to data collection and outcome measurement.

In this episode we are talking about the Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework, which was approved by the boards of directors of the four partner organizations, the American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), during summer of 2022. Our guests for this episode are Christina Fuller Gregory, Assistant Director of Libraries South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities and Kristin Lahurd, Deputy Director, Conference Content and Engagement. American Library Association.

Today our guest is Lindsay Trammell, Youth Services Librarian at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Florida. We talk about how to start a book subscription box for teens: including finding resources for it, building the framework, and putting it all together. Book subscription boxes can Discover the impact this program can have—particularly on book desert communities—and imagine a new way to cultivate relationships with underserved populations. Lindsay also provides scaled options for how to institute a book subscription box, tips on how to design materials for the program, and points to consider when tailoring the program to your library’s unique situation and resources.

In this episode we discuss the results of the Public Library Association's 2021 Public Library Staff and Diversity Survey and the current 2022 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey. Our guests are: Sara Goek: Project Manager, Data and Research, at PLA; Dan Hensley: Co-chair of PLA’s Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Committee (aka MEAC) and Coordinator of Adult Learning at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; and Katina Jones: Program Manager, Evaluation and Assessment, at PLA and former member of MEAC

Job seekers with a criminal record face an enormous barrier to employment. While legal service providers can assist with the expungement process, often at little or no cost, they are predominantly located in urban centers, making access difficult for those in rural areas. In this episode Elena Coelho, Adult Program Manager, Worcester County (MD) Library; and Marshall Shord, Assistant Branch Manager, Worcester County (MD) Library will share their experience starting and running a bi-monthly expungement clinic in an area with few pro bono legal resources. The hybrid model they use, in partnership with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, allows participants to virtually connect with lawyers in other parts of the state through library-provided laptops in a semi-private meeting room. Welcome Elena and Marshall

From leadership and management matters to current public library hot topics to strategic planning, capital projects, collection development, program planning, and so much more, the Directors Dialogue episodes aim to share ideas, best practices, and lessons learned. For this inaugural effort, our guests are: Doug Crane, Director of the Palm Beach County (FL) Public Library And Kent Oliver, Director of the Nashville (TN) Public Library Both are also members of the PLA Leadership Development Committee and the idea for the Library Directors Conversation series came out of their committee discussions.

Want to learn how more public libraries in your state can participate in National Voter Registration Day? NVRD is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy, planned for Tuesday, September 20, 2022. In this episode we talk with Lynda Reynolds, Public Library Management Consultant, State Library of North Carolina; and Lauren Clossey, Continuing Education Consultant, State Library of North Carolina, about their experience hosting a statewide initiative inviting all North Carolina libraries to participate in NVRD.

In this episode our guest is Lecia Michelle. Lecia is a long-time librarian, activist, and author. Her forthcoming book “THE WHITE ALLIES HANDBOOK: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women” (published by Kensington Books) will be on sale July 26, 2022). The book is a practical, actionable, explicit guide for people looking to not just "start a conversation" but to take concrete steps toward equality.

In this episode we talk with Debra Keane and Margaret Ann Paauw, members of the Public Library Association Social Work Task Force (SWTF), about the emerging field of public library social work and the SWTF's new book (available from ALA in April of 2021) "A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons."

We talk with Cindy Khatri, Public Relations Manager, and Van McGary, Adult and Teen Services Assistant Manager, Downers Grove (IL) Public Library (DGPL) about the Anti-Hate Statements that the library releases in response to current events. The library believes that through the use of Anti-Hate Statements they are openly condemning hate and violence against historically marginalized groups. So Far, DGPL has released the following Anti-Hate Statements: 12/20/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees and Director: A Statement in Solidarity of the LGBTQ+ Community 6/10/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees and Director: A Message Against Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia 4/16/2021: From the Director: An Updated Message in Support of Black and Brown Lives 3/24/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees: A Message on Anti-Asian Racism 6/2/2020: From the Director: A Message on Anti-Racism and Free Speech You can see the statements and read more about the library's EDISJ efforts at https://dglibrary.org/edi/. Khatri

Sara Goek, Program Manager at the Public Library Association and Linda Hofschire, Director of the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) discuss the 2021 Public Library Staff & Diversity Survey and "Benchmark: Library Metrics and Trends," the latest evolution in PLA’s data-driven initiatives and tools for libraries.

In this episode, Stesha Brandon, Literature and Humanities Program Manager at the Seattle Public Library (SPL) shares how the library successfully moved author programming to a digital format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in for tips on hosting robust digital author events.

This episode is about misinformation. Whether it is lies about the election, or COVID-19, or conspiracy theories, we have seen just how insidious the spread of misinformation can be. Our guest is Suzanne LaPierre, the Virginiana Librarian at Fairfax County Public Library in Virginia. Suzanne has researched and written on misinformation and disinformation. You can find her work over at Public Libraries Online (www.publiclibrariesonline.org) and be sure to check out her article (along with co-author Vanessa Kitzie) "Lots of Questions about Fake News: How Public Libraries Have Addressed Media Literacy 2016-2018" which appeared in the Oct/Dec 2019 issue of Public Library Quarterly

How often do you catch yourself feeling like you are in ‘over your head’ at work? Imposter syndrome – the sense that you are inadequate for the task in front of you despite past proof of your ability – can wreak havoc on your career and keep you from taking on new challenges. It can also prevent you from sharing your unique talents and skills in ways that benefit you and your organization. But imposter syndrome need not derail your career. Those feelings of being a "fraud" can be turned into a springboard to propel you forward in your career and in your life. Join Public Libraries magazine editor, Kathleen Hughes and Youth Services Librarian Erin Collier Plummer, Seminole County (FL) Public Library, in a discussion of this phenomenon.