Library Leadership Podcast

What a pleasure it was having the opportunity to talk with Wanda Brown.

2019-2020 American Library Association President. She is the Director of Library Services at the C.G. O’Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. She’s been an ALA member for over 30 years, and held multiple positions within many divisions of the organization, including governance in the Black Caucus which recognized her in 2015 with their Award for Excellence. She shared with me her vision for her presidential year, how all of us can lead from any position, some secrets for success, and what she’s seeing out in the field that is inspiring her. Tune in for this motivating message.

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When you interact with someone in the workplace do you ever stop to think about the position you’re coming from being an influence on your interactions? Just as in language and grammar, when we use, “I, You, and They,” the positions of first-person, second-person, and third-person can change the outcomes in our dealings.

On today’s show, I talk with Pat Wagner who, along her husband Leif Smith, owns Pattern Research, Inc., a research, consulting, and training business in Denver. Most of her work for the last 40+ years has been for libraries, higher ed, local government, and small businesses.  She talks with me about why it is important to understand positions in our libraries, how we operate within those, and how we can learn to change positions for best results. 

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There are two types of leadership, Adaptive and Technical. Adaptive Leadership hits people in the heart. It takes long-lasting and sustained effort to affect change in this area. Technical Leadership is work that can be done with the head, thinking through steps to fix a situation, and then you’re done. 

Are you ready to determine which one you’re dealing with in your organization and then use knowledge of yourself and ways to engage others to benefit your library? You will be after listening to Robin Newell, Director of the Emporia Public Library in Kansas, as she teaches us leadership principles based on work she’s done with the Kansas Leadership Center.

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Have you ever wanted to push the envelope on implementing digital resources in your library, and in particular Virtual Reality? On today’s show we have a fantastic guest to help us lead the way in this area of service as I talk with Pete Schreiner, Research Librarian for Design at North Carolina State University Libraries and a 2019 Library Journal Mover & Shaker.

He helps us understand some of the intricacies of incorporating VR into our libraries. From breaking down barriers, to evaluating tech gadgets for ease of use, to developing step-by-step guides for users – he aids us in leading our organizations in this continually evolving and fast-paced realm. 

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Have you ever felt a twinge of nervousness when it came to hiring personnel? While hiring may sound easy on paper, in practice, it can be daunting to find the right employee for the right position. With proper implementation, an effective hiring process can save us time and money, as well as set our employees and our organizations up for success.

On today’s show, I talk with Kelly Skovbjerg, Director of the Patrick Heath Public Library in Texas, to gain insights about the best practices for bringing on employees. Whether you’re new to hiring, a seasoned professional, or someone who simply wants to learn more about what it takes to employ people as one of our most important assets – this information will help take the anxiety out of hiring. 

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Have you ever had someone in your career that has shown compassion and joy in the way they lead and asked yourself how you can grow in similar characteristics? I have, and know that working in an environment that embraces these values feels truly inspiring.

Today’s guest shares with us how we can cultivate a practice of wholehearted librarianship to create an atmosphere in which others feel empowered and supported. Dr. Michael Stephens is an Associate Professor in the School of Information at San Jose State University and author of the book called WholeheartedLibrarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance.

On this show he shares how we can have a profession that is compassionate, kind, and joyful – and find ways to develop a support network of kindred spirits to mentor new librarians in embracing this motivating style.

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