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, and how to prepare for this issue with staff, boards, and other stakeholders.
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 that all of us can use for planning and implementing successful voter and civic engagement activities for the benefit of all.
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 organization seen in a new light. You can, too.
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 best and most meaningful work.
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 gives practical steps that all of us can use for navigating middle management.
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 benefits possible.