In this episode, we chat with Jenn McKague, an Outreach Services Librarian at the Salt Lake County Library, who is dedicated to serving persons who are incarcerated and those who have been incarcerated. Jenn shares her background, the services she provides, the challenges she faces, and more in a candid and informative conversation. Tune in to learn about Jenn's work and the impact she's making in the lives of these often overlooked communities.

In this episode are joined by Dr. Maria Taesil Hudson McCauley, the current president of the Public Library Association for the 2022-2023 term. Dr. McCauley is also the director of the Cambridge Public Library in Massachusetts. In this episode, we ask Dr. McCauley about her background and involvement with the Public Library Association, her experience as President-Elect and President of the PLA, and her thoughts on the increasing role of libraries in their communities. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for public libraries in this moment, as well as Dr. McCauley's priorities during her presidential year. Finally, we dive into the recent update of the PLA strategic plan and what Dr. McCauley is most excited about as both the PLA President and a public library director.

In this episode we discuss Public Libraries and Digital Literacy, including PLA’s DigitalLearn and how a recent grant from AT & T of over one million dollars, has enabled PLA to empower more libraries to reach more people around the country with Digital Literacy training.

Our guests are:

Samantha Lopez, Manager, Marketing & Membership, PLA

Joy Osuna Benfante, Senior Program Manager, AT &T

Mary Clare Bietila, Program Manager, Programming Initiatives, PLA

In this episode our guests, Larra Clark, Deputy Director Public Library Association & ALA Public Policy & Advocacy and Natalie Ruppert, Manager, Career & Job Services Division at Kenton County (KY) Public Library, discuss PLA initiatives around workforce development including the concept of career navigators and new research examining the role U.S. public libraries play in supporting workforce and small business development. The research, conducted by Measures that Matter, an initiative of COSLA in cooperation with IMLS, provides an increased understanding of current library practices and how they intersect with existing workforce systems and identifies challenges to data collection and outcome measurement.

In this episode we are talking about the Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework, which was approved by the boards of directors of the four partner organizations, the American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), during summer of 2022. Our guests for this episode are Christina Fuller Gregory, Assistant Director of Libraries South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities and Kristin Lahurd, Deputy Director, Conference Content and Engagement. American Library Association.

Today our guest is Lindsay Trammell, Youth Services Librarian at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Florida. We talk about how to start a book subscription box for teens: including finding resources for it, building the framework, and putting it all together. Book subscription boxes can Discover the impact this program can have—particularly on book desert communities—and imagine a new way to cultivate relationships with underserved populations. Lindsay also provides scaled options for how to institute a book subscription box, tips on how to design materials for the program, and points to consider when tailoring the program to your library’s unique situation and resources.

In this episode we discuss the results of the Public Library Association's 2021 Public Library Staff and Diversity Survey and the current 2022 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey. Our guests are: Sara Goek: Project Manager, Data and Research, at PLA; Dan Hensley: Co-chair of PLA’s Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Committee (aka MEAC) and Coordinator of Adult Learning at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; and Katina Jones: Program Manager, Evaluation and Assessment, at PLA and former member of MEAC

Job seekers with a criminal record face an enormous barrier to employment. While legal service providers can assist with the expungement process, often at little or no cost, they are predominantly located in urban centers, making access difficult for those in rural areas. In this episode Elena Coelho, Adult Program Manager, Worcester County (MD) Library; and Marshall Shord, Assistant Branch Manager, Worcester County (MD) Library will share their experience starting and running a bi-monthly expungement clinic in an area with few pro bono legal resources. The hybrid model they use, in partnership with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, allows participants to virtually connect with lawyers in other parts of the state through library-provided laptops in a semi-private meeting room.

Welcome Elena and Marshall

From leadership and management matters to current public library hot topics to strategic planning, capital projects, collection development, program planning, and so much more, the Directors Dialogue episodes aim to share ideas, best practices, and lessons learned.

For this inaugural effort, our guests are:

Doug Crane, Director of the Palm Beach County (FL) Public Library

And

Kent Oliver, Director of the Nashville (TN) Public Library

Both are also members of the PLA Leadership Development Committee and the idea for the Library Directors Conversation series came out of their committee discussions.

Want to learn how more public libraries in your state can participate in National Voter Registration Day? NVRD is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy, planned for Tuesday, September 20, 2022. In this episode we talk with Lynda Reynolds, Public Library Management Consultant, State Library of North Carolina; and Lauren Clossey, Continuing Education Consultant, State Library of North Carolina, about their experience hosting a statewide initiative inviting all North Carolina libraries to participate in NVRD.