Library Leadership Podcast

We have all heard a lot lately about the waves of book bannings happening across our country, reaching levels not seen in decades. What exactly is the American Library Association seeing out in the field? On this show Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, shares what is driving these efforts at book banning, what materials are being most challenged, why reporting ...

What does your organization need to do to prepare for  succession   planning ? On this show Carolyn Schubert, Director of Research and Education Services at James Madison University Libraries, shares ways we can prepare for organizational change and why now is the time to begin thinking about this. 

Do you prepare for handling  ethics  situations in your  library  before they arise? On this show Gail Santy, Maribeth Shafer, and Patty Collins from the Central Kansas  Library  System share why this is a good idea and how to do it. When you are faced with a situation that challenges core policies and  library   ethics  you will be ready if you apply the practical advice offered in this conversat...

On this show Jamie LaRue, CEO and Founder of LaRue and Associates, shares a distinctive way our organizations can move from being library-centric to being community-centric by cataloging the community. It's a way we can take the classic library skills of cataloging, reference interviews, and database creation to the next level to create a powerful way to serve our communities.  

Why does  customer   service  matter? On this show Asti Ogletree, Operations Manager at the East Central Arkansas Regional Library at the Cross County Branch, jumps right into this topic to explore just why  customer   service   matters  and how we can help our library teams make it happen. You won't want to miss this conversation on what to do when we feel like scattering when a difficult patron...

What are effective ways we can implement staff development on any budget? On this show  Tiffany   Hayes , Director of Library Development at the South Carolina State Library shares thoughts on this topic. All libraries have staff learning needs that can benefit from this conversation. From effective learning design to developing a plan for our own library with clear objectives and outcomes, the id...

What do we do in libraries when patrons  sexually  harass staff? On this show, I speak with Katie McLain Horner, Head of Circulation and Reference at the Lake Bluff Public Library. She shares why personal experiences dealing with this issue led her to think and write about ways to support staff who experience this troubling problem. On this episode we learn how  not  to respond to  sexual   harass...

What are policies of yes and how might they help us serve our user groups? On this show Jennie Garner, Director of the North Liberty Library, shares what it means to think about policies in a way that creates flexibility, inclusion, empathy, and allyship with those we serve while including staff in policy development and training in a way that gets everyone to yes. 

How can we overcome the feeling of  being  overwhelmed and intimidated when moving into a new role of  being  in  charge ? On this show Suzanne Macaulay, Deputy Director of the Pioneer Library System in New York, talks about ways to overcome these feelings as well as how to avoid some common mistakes of new leadership. She shares the importance of support networks and professional development, and...

Are there ideas that libraries can take from the business world to create success? On this show I speak with  Elektra  Greer, Director of the Nederland Community Library in Colorado, about Shark Tank lessons for libraries. She discusses what it might look like to pitch our ideas for funding and support using lessons from entrepreneurs that add value, help develop services, and bolster marketing te...

What causes low morale in libraries? On this show I talk with Kaetrena Davis Kendrick. She's a researcher, facilitator, and leader in libraries who was recognized in 2019 as the ACRL Academic Research Librarian of the Year. Her findings revealed a disturbing level of abuse in libraries and a lack of institutional support to resolve these situations. She shares with us important insights from her w...

How does trauma impact the lives of those we serve in libraries? On this show I speak with Tiffany Russell. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in libraries delivering trauma-informed service. She shares what a trauma-informed approach can look like in assisting people and creating safe spaces for everyone - along with what resources, partnerships, and advocacy we need to do thi...

How do we implement award-winning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training in our libraries? On this show Rosy  Wagner, Lifelong Learning Librarian for the Burlington County Library System, shares what her organization did to win the EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award to do just this. It's something from which we all can learn.

Have you ever experienced stress and  burnout  in the workplace? These can take a huge toll on all of us, yet we don't often take the time to work on ways to overcome this. On this show Amanda Moore, Library Stress and Management Consultant, shares ways we can  beat   burnout . It's an important topic that I hope everyone in libraries will tune in for. Enjoy the show!

What are the benefits of developing your professional reputation in libraries? On this show, Megan Hodge, Head of Teaching and Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University, shares ways that we can get our work and names out in the profession along with how this can help our careers.

How do we ensure our libraries perform well and make informed decisions about strategic direction? On this show, Dr.  Larry  Nash  White , Executive Director of the Metropolitan Library in Oklahoma City, discusses how organizational performance information successfully guides the accomplishment of our mission, vision, and goals. 

On this show we get tips from  Sunnie  Scarpa - Library Director of the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library in Madison, Connecticut - who shares ways to talk so your boss will listen with dos and don'ts, how to prepare for conversations, how to create fresh starts - and even tips for the bosses themselves.

So, you want to be a  manager ? Or, maybe you already are a  manager  and want to do the best job possible in your management practice. Then this show is for you. On this episode of Library Leadership Podcast I speak with Austina Jordan, Head of Access Services at the University of North Georgia, who helps us explore the essentials of management including ways to integrate adaptive leadership, set...

The Library Code of  Ethics  - it's foundational to our profession. Yet, how often do we stop to think about what those are, how they affect staff, and ways that we create our policies and procedures using these  ethics ? On this episode we do just that speaking with Annie Gaines, Continuing Education Consultant for the Idaho Commission for Libraries. She shares all of this plus information on a n...

What is User Experience and how can it help us support our communities? On this show I speak with Lauren Stara, Library Building Specialist for the State of Massachusetts. She shares what is behind the User Experience movement and how getting out of our own heads and into those of our users can lead us to advancements that will take our libraries with fresh eyes into the future.

It is the email you hope to never get. Your library funding is on the chopping block. What are we to do when something like this happens in our library? On this episode I speak with Jennifer Heneke, Chief Engagement Officer at St. Joseph Public Library in Indiana. She shares what happened when this scenario came to pass in her organization and how they fought back, plus the lessons that were learn...

We are rebuilding from Covid-19. Given all that we have been through, how do we prepare for the future together with our Friends of the Library? On this show I speak with  Krista   Riggs , Director of the Madera County Library in California. She shares the ways we can create a sense of alignment between the Library and the Friends of the Library, and how being intentional in the development of thi...

What is the role of libraries in dismantling disinformation? Libraries have long held public trust and been cornerstones for providing reliable information sources. On this show I speak with Barbara Alvarez, instructor and author of  Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian . She shares the importance of libraries leading the way in dismantling disinformation by describing what it...

How do we effectively engage in grant writing as librarians? On this show, I speak with Julie Edwards, Librarian and Instructional Designer with Niche Academy. She shares practical steps and strategies for our libraries for writing grants, and even what to do when you don't get one.

We all know that strategic planning is important. But how do we do it effectively? On this show I speak with Stu Wilson, Principal Consultant with Library Strategies Consulting Group. He shares insights on strategic  planning and what it does for our organizations. We talk about why the process of writing a strategic plan is important and how to have success while avoiding missteps.