Unbound from Northeast Kansas Library System

Cadie Maas and Brenda Hough join Dan and Anna to talk about a one day conference they recently held at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

A curated slice of Focus On: , our monthly interview series with Kansas librarians in school, public, and academic roles. From playful programs to serious research, these conversations show the surprising, essential ways libraries shape their communities.

School librarian, Fallon Farokhi, has worked in primary schools as librarian and teacher, and has now transitioned to running the highschool library. She joins Dan and Anna from California to chat about her path, her work with professional organizations, and a trove of resources for the school librarian.

Lisa Wells, Executive Director of the Pioneer Library System in Oklahoma, joins Anna and Dan to talk about her 35-year journey in librarianship and what it takes to lead a system recognized for innovation and community impact. Lisa shares how staff empowerment and a forward-looking mindset have shaped PLS’s approach—from 24-hour library kiosks to data-informed services and creative community partn...

Lissa Staley, a Library Journal Mover and Shaker joins the podcast to talk about her career path as a community connections librarian at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Tune to hear about her recent award and what it’s like to be a community embedded librarian.

In this episode Anna and Dan chat with Gina Millsap, retired CEO of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Earlier this year Gina facilitated our annual NEKLS Trustee Training for our member public libraries. Listen along as we engage in big ideas for library trustees.

In this episode, Dan and Anna reflect on the NEKLS 2024 Spring Directors Institute with expert presenter Dr. Beth Wahler. Beth explores the 3 Es of Trauma, the rise of burnout in public services, and the importance of community-based program development. A special thanks to Beth for guiding us in addressing mental wellness in public libraries.

In this episode, Anna and Dan get to catch up with Derrick Larcom. Derrick is the Technology Specialist for Ottawa Library, the public library in Ottawa, Kansas. In 2023, on behalf of the library, Derrick submitted a proposal for the NEKLS Innovation Awards, a competitive grant program designed to help fund innovative approaches to library services and programming. Tune into to hear about the robo...

Anna and Dan are back for a season 4 of the Northeast Kansas Library System podcast. In this episode we take a look at passive programming and interactive displays. Our guest, Liz Karstadt uses these "self-directed" programs to entice patrons to come to the library, and stay a while, even when there aren't big in-person programs going on.

In the season finale, Anna and Dan do their first clip show! Dan captured audio from the 2023 KLA Conference in Wichita, Kansas in early November, and today the Unbound hosts talk about some of the highlights. Thanks to Dawn Krause, Terri Wojtalewicz, Shanna Smith-Ritterhouse, April Hernandez, Jason Robb, Ollie the Robot, Erin Downey Howerton, Valarie Lamoreaux, Erin Verbick, and all of the KLA Co...

Tonganoxie public library director, Max Wirestone, tells Anna and Dan about his foray into podcasting this past summer. In this episode, we also talk about mysteries, reading, and interviewing authors. Check out Max's podcast here: https://www.onebookmanyneighbors.org/blog

Anna and Dan chat with Dawn La Valle, Dawn is is the Director of the Division of Library Development for the Connecticut State Library and a Certified Strategic Foresight Practitioner. In October 2023, Dawn facilitated a workshop for NEKLS and our members on using Natural Foresight in libraries and in this episode we revisit this practice. Check out the LibGuide Dawn shares with us here: https://l...

Anna and Dan pick up some storytelling tips from the best, Priscilla Howe! Priscilla is a former academic and youth services librarian who answered the calling to be a professional storyteller. Today we talk about Zoom, being an international storyteller, and, of course, libraries. Be sure to check out Priscilla's website to learn more: https://www.priscillahowe.com/.

Anna and Dan are joined by the former Emporia Public Library Director, Robin Newell. Today, Robin talks about library director and board relations, leadership training, and different avenues of learning and collaboration that professional organizations can provide.

Dan welcomes Lacie Griffin, Johnson County Library Collection Development Manager, and we get to learn about how collection development works in a large multi-branch library system. Also, Lacie lends her informed perspective on digital content, and how streaming services are problematic; you cannot borrow the Mandalorian from your library (though considering how season 3 is playing out, you may no...

This time on Unbound, Anna and Dan chat with Autum Friedli, Public Services Supervisor at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Listen in to hear about the difference between reader engagement and readers' advisory, witches imprisoning librarians, knowing the collection "front, back, and sideways", community partnerships, NoveList, and TSCPL's The Bookmark podcast. Also, be...

Unbound is back for a new season. In this episode we talk to librarian Alyssa LaRue, she does a little bit of everything at the Derby Public Library, teen services, marketing, yoga, and now adult services too! Tune in to hear about the awesomeness that is Alyssa.

Anna and Dan wrap up season two of the Unbound podcast and also the continuing education series on creating introvert-friendly libraries with best selling author and global speaker on introversion, Jennifer Kahnweiler, PhD. In this episode, our guest talks about the work she has done with introversion inclusion and how this might directly apply to libraries. We were not surprised to learn, in our...

Anna and Dan talk to Savannah Ball, librarian and independent consultant, about some of her favorite training topics like servant leadership and dealing with ambiguity. Thanks to Savannah for presenting at our 2022 Fall Directors Institute and joining us for this episode. Learn more about Savannah at peoplefirstlibraries.com . Savannah Ball has worked in libraries for 18 years. She has served in v...

Today on Unbound Anna and Dan meet with Scarlett Fisher-Herreman to learn more about the role of technical services in a large (for Kansas) urban public library. Yes, we talk about Covid and resources that Scarlett uses in her role. But we also get to talk about zoos and having a neighborhood beat. Scarlett is cool, your cool, let's spend another twenty minutes being cool together. Scarlett Fisher...

Anna and Dan discuss early literacy and early childhood education with longtime educator and consultant Beth Fredericks. Beth will be the facilitator for the Kansas Early Literacy Symposium on Friday, April 14, 2023, a day long workshop for "childhood educators and library and museum professionals who work with  families of children aged birth through Kindergarten and their families" focusing...

Anna and Dan are at it again, and this time they are interviewing Bonnie McKewon from the State Library of Iowa. Bonnie provides a plethora of tips and resources that support the continuing development of public library trustees. Learn more about Bonnie below, and thanks Bonnie for being on Unbound! Bonnie McKewon is a consultant with the State Library of Iowa (Northwest District office in Sioux C...

Anna and Dan learn more about data visualization from library consultant, Linda Hofschire. In this episode we get to know Linda, and talk about strategies and tactics to make reports and strategic plans tell the library's story with attention grabbing graphs and imagery. Pro-tip for libraries: start taking and saving photos at library programs with good lighting , and then use these in your market...

In this episode Anna and Dan dive into librarianship from the MLS professor's perspective. Keith presented at the NEKLS 2022 Spring Directors Institute on performing a community assessment.  Keith Rocci is an academic librarian with three advanced degrees. Keith is the Distance Education Library Department Head at Pima Community College. He has been in a library leadership role  since Ju...

Anna and Dan meet up with two former NEKLS librarians to hear about the process they recently used to develop a new strategic plan for the Basehor Community Library. Update: Brenda is now the Staff Development Coordinator and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. https://basehorlibrary.com/ https://elucidarelearning.wordpress.com/ https://www.nekls.org/