Library Leadership Podcast

How do we engage in work that is intentional and makes the best use of our limited time and energy? On this show Rebekah Cummings, Digital Matters Interim Director at the University of Utah Marriott Library, talks about Selecting Your Yes with Intention in order to do good things in our communities while also taking care of ourselves and engaging in work that best utilizes our capacities.

Have you ever wondered how to help customers navigate information in an age of so many people making so many claims? On today's show Heath Stanfield, Manager of the McAlester Public Library in Oklahoma, takes us back to basics to examine classical models of  logical  fallacies that can help us help our customers find high-quality information.

In leading our libraries towards success how can  emotional   intelligence  play a role? On this show Jen Nelson, State Librarian of New Jersey, shares how our capacity to know ourselves, appropriately express our  emotions , and handle our work relationships with empathy makes us more effective - and how this is accessible to everyone.

How do we provide supportive management for people with disabilities in our workplaces? On this show Katie Manwiller, Education Librarian & Assistant Professor at West Chester University Libraries in Pennsylvania, Sammy Peter, Chair of Research and Instruction at the University of Wyoming, and Kiyomi Deards, Chair of the Libraries Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln talk about what we ne...

What benefits might we see working on projects and supporting teams if we are able to decenter ourselves and empower others? On this show Erin Leach, Head of Administrative Projects and Organizational Effectiveness at University of Georgia Libraries, talks about what it takes to be an effective leader who puts others forward to create successful outcomes.

What do we do when things are changing around us but we are not the ones in charge? On this show Catherine Soehner, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah, talks about the dynamics of change and how we can react according to our roles, all the while influencing the change process for better results.

How can we successfully manage volunteers in our libraries? On this show Maggie Rose, PR & Marketing Associate at the Barberton Public Library in Ohio, shares strategies for success on how to recruit, integrate, and recognize volunteers and even thoughts on what to do if something goes wrong.

How can we operate effectively in the workplace without overextending? On this show Kiyomi Deards, Chair of the Libraries Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Leo Lo, Dean and Professor at the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences at the University of New Mexico, talk about how to be generous without being a doormat. Thinking about ways to align actions with appropria...

How often do we think to ourselves that if we only had time for wellness we could do so much better in our careers? On this show Laura Summers - Associate Clinical Professor and Program Leader for Leadership in the P-12 Libraries Program at the University of Colorado, Denver - talks about the  8   Dimensions  of Wellness for Librarians. A commitment to taking care of ourselves truly can benefit us...

What knowledge do library directors need to be effective? On this show Michele Stricker, Deputy State Librarian of Library Development in New Jersey, shares the essentials of library director training developed through her agency to provide effective leadership support in her state. She talks about the essentials that library directors need to know in managing staff, working with boards, influenci...

What effect does worker engagement have on the success of our organizations and what can be done to increase it? On this show, Elaina Norlin, Professional Development Coordinator for the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries and author of The Six Step Guide to Worker Engagement, talks about what it means when people are disengaged in the workplace. She shares the elements that increase th...

Have you ever been asked a question at the library and suddenly didn't know what to say? On this show Brittany Davis and Kevin Jones, Librarians at Eastern Kentucky University Libraries, share ways that comedy and improv can help. By knowing and practicing improvisational techniques librarians can be prepared to think outside the box when faced with the unexpected. It's a lighthearted way to enhan...

How do we deal with the current climate of censorship facing libraries? On this show Alison Macrina, Director of Library Freedom Project, talks about the state of censorship in the US as coordinated efforts take place to remove materials from the shelves of libraries. She shares what we need to understand about those actively opposing materials in our libraries, how to respond to protect ourselves...

What do  you  do when  you  apply for a position and don' t   get  it? On this show Sarah O'Shea, Head of Youth Services at the Tompkins Public Library in New York, shares how though this can feel like a set-back there are ways to move forward that allow for self-care, regrouping, and coming back with new focus and strength.

How often do you find yourself feeling out of your depth in the workplace? On this show Erin Collier-Plummer, Youth Services Manager at the Winter Park Library in Florida, talks about  Imposter  Syndrome – what it is and isn't, how it can affect careers, and what to do about it.

Why is it important for you to engage your community in voter and civic engagement and how can your library do this? On this show Kian Flynn, Geography and Global Studies Librarian at the University of Washington in Seattle, talks about National Voter Registration Day and the opportunity it provides each September for libraries to help strengthen our democracy. He includes a myriad of resources th...

What do you do if you want your strategic plan to grow with your organization? On this show Amanda Standerfer, Consultant at Fast Forward Libraries, and Gerry Vogel, Assistant Director at Avon Lake Public Library, talk about how we can make our strategic plans learn. Just having a plan doesn't mean success. We can use the information in this podcast to implement plans that are learning-focused.

Have you ever thought that the time spent  planning  took away from actually getting things done? On this show Anya Feltreuter, Director of the Mjölby Public Library in Sweden, shares how  less   planning  and more action took her team out into the field to get things done. Doing this they were able to succeed at getting people to start using the library, building relationships, and getting her or...

Have you ever wondered if there was a way you could  slow  down in your professional life while engaging in more meaningful work? On this show Meredith Farkas, Faculty Librarian at Portland Community College, shares how we can do this using  slow  librarianship - a concept with the characteristics of being good, humane, and thoughtful. It's not about creating mediocrity. It's about engaging in our...

How do we navigate the role of  middle  management that so many of us find ourselves in at one time or another in libraries? On this show Amanda Scull, Head of Education and Information Services at Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries, shares why this can be a tough spot to be in and ways to handle the dual position of day-to-day operations plus administrative responsibilities. This conversation...

What does it take to achieve successful job searches? On this show Bill Humbert, Chair of the Park City Library Board in Utah, shares inside knowledge from 40+ years as a national recruiter. With so many changes taking place in the current job market this is invaluable information.

If you could find a way to support others in your organization, increase engagement, and improve performance and commitment all while deepening levels of understanding would you do it? On this show Vera Keown, Organizational Development Librarian at the University of Manitoba, talks about  Coaching  in the  Workplace  and what we can do to successfully implement skills that make these kinds of ben...

How can we manage change when it is so frequent in libraries? On this show Lynn Hoffman, Director of Operations at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey, shares the brain-based reason why when we are asked to change, then change more, then change again we can feel a high level of resistance. While it can be an exciting time as libraries reimagine ourselves, this episode teaches us how t...

What can you do to create a  winning   team   culture  in your organization? On this show Amy Stalker, Associate Department Head at the Dunwoody Campus Library at Georgia State University, talks about ways we can develop a  team   culture  that helps us want to go to work and helps make work a place where our teams want to be.

Have you ever wondered what the application of kindness can do in our library practices? On this show Dr. Sarah Clark, Dean & University Librarian at La Salle University and Founder of the  Kind   Leadership  Guild and the  Kind   Leadership  Challenge Podcast, opens up about how a crisis in her own  leadership  caused her to do a deep dive into  kind   leadership , what it is, and how we can all...