Library Exchange Podcast

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

For more information about the Gwinnett County Public Schools Book Mobile program or information about how you can provide a monetary donation, visit http://gcpsbookmobile.org.

For information on this year's Book Mobile 5K held every year on the last Saturday in October in Suwanee, GA, visit http://bookmobile5K.com.

Episode Description:

In this episode Julie and Jan talk with Mary Barbee, the founder of Gwinnett County Public Schools Book Mobile, about launching and sustaining a full-size bookmobile to get books into kids’ hands. They cover the program’s origins, funding and logistics, driver training, community partnerships, and the decision to give children brand-new books to take home.

Listeners will hear heartwarming student stories, program impact numbers, and ways to support or replicate the GCPS Book Mobile through fundraising and cross-department collaboration.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

For US listeners, get 20% off professional development books for school librarians using code LIBRARYEXCHANGE20 at bloomsbury.com/BLU

School Library Journal Course: Shh Happens: Behavior Management for the Real Elementary Library: https://course.libraryjournal.com/products/shh-happens 

*Discount code is good for any session of the course through the end of 2027. 

Follow Melanie Wood on Instagram and TikTok @melanie_in_the_library

Episode Description:

Elementary librarian Melanie Wood shares practical, classroom-tested strategies for managing student behavior in the library. Drawing on her ISTE certification and experience leading professional learning, Melanie focuses on a three-part approach: intentional space design, tight routines and transitions, and purposeful relationship-building.

Key takeaways include using color-coding and clear sightlines to promote independence, routines for smooth transitions and checkout, and building rapport through lunch duty, morning and afternoon duties, library ambassadors, and teacher collaboration. Follow Melanie at @Melanie_in_the_library and explore her School Library Journal course for deeper strategies.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Follow Crissi Brandhuber @itty_bitty_librarian

Follow Heather Kindschy @dickersonmsllc

Example Impact Reports:

Dickerson Middle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SB1I6AS5jbQgjli_S6TBdqQkxkgV9un8/view?usp=drive_link 

Eastside Elementary: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1148KuU-ifMrmMNnfP-hl8qA9loX5gY9H/view?usp=drive_link 

Neosho Middle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gdf33O1Jjj2aSeg_PbIUMvAqi4MIc4vr/view?usp=drive_link 

Episode Description:

In this episode of Library Exchange, three school librarians, Crissi, Rachelle, and Heather, share practical ways they use data to set goals, increase circulation, build partnerships, and advocate for their programs.

Hear concrete examples: a schedule change that doubled checkouts and raised ELA scores, a Breakfast Club and digital check-in that boosted learning activities, and aligning library services with curriculum changes. Learn simple tips for creating a Library Impact Report to make your library’s value visible.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Follow Rachael Welsh on Instagram @RachaelReads and TikTok @RachaelReads_

Episode Description:

Hosts Julie and Jan interview middle school librarian Rachael Welsh about practical strategies for building a visible, schoolwide reading culture. Rachael describes easy, low-cost ideas like using digital photo frames for student book graphics, a Post‑it recommendation wall, an Adopt‑a‑Shelf display program, and teacher book‑cover signs that encourage peer recommendations and student ownership.

The conversation also covers motivation and competition through Beanstack and themed incentives, a campus and district Battle of the Books, and two inclusive book clubs (one bilingual) that deepen community connections across students and staff.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Follow Alyssa on Instagram @international.school.librarian 

Episode Description:

Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson interview Alyssa Trommler, an international school librarian in Germany, about revitalizing a K–12 library with no budget. Alyssa shares practical strategies: Instagram wishlists, used-book sales, GoFundMe, community partnerships, repurposing furniture, and makerspace planning. Strategies that add high-interest books and create a welcoming space for students from 30+ countries.

This episode highlights creative fundraising, a summer reading incentive with local restaurants, eco-friendly solutions for refurbishing furniture, and advice to persistently pursue funding and community support to improve student library services.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Episode Description:

Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson explore how school librarians can claim leadership in their buildings and beyond. They share concrete strategies, running an active library media committee, sharing instructional partnerships, using proactive advocacy, and increasing visibility through presentations and community partnerships.

Guest Tiki Love discusses her own path from classroom teacher to district and state leadership, offering examples of saying “yes,” presenting at conferences, mentoring peers, and building coalitions that help librarians be recognized as instructional leaders.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Episode Description:

Julie and Jan interview Craig Coleman about selecting and maintaining school library collections. They discuss district selection and reconsideration policies, the collection life cycle, collaborating with teachers and library media committees, and practical steps front office staff should follow when concerns arise.

The episode walks through realistic scenarios and offers clear communication strategies and escalation paths so librarians can confidently manage purchases, respond to concerns, and maintain high quality book collections.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

For US listeners, get 20% off professional development books for school librarians using code LIBRARYEXCHANGE20 at bloomsbury.com/BLU

Episode Description:

In this episode Julie and Jan talk with former Super Bowl champion Malcolm about his personal journey from a sports-focused childhood to becoming a passionate literacy advocate. Malcolm shares how he learned to read as a young adult, founded the Share the Magic Foundation, and created Read with Malcolm programs, including the global Read Bowl challenge that reaches classrooms in multiple countries.

The conversation highlights why school librarians must be welcoming, culturally relevant, and actively pursuing reluctant readers while making books accessible for every child.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

To learn more about the studies discussed in this episode visit LibSlide.org or KeithCurryLance.com. 

Episode Description:

Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson speak with researcher Dr. Keith Curry Lance about how school librarians influence student achievement, the importance of leadership and technology integration, and the critical role of information literacy. The episode highlights decades of research, the SLIDE data tools, and practical strategies for advocacy.

Listeners are directed to resources like LibSlide.org and KeithCurryLance.com to explore staffing trends and research findings and learn how to use data to demonstrate library impact.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com 

Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com 

Follow Amanda Hunt on Instagram or TikTok @thenextgenlibrarian.

Episode Description:

In this episode Julie and Jan talk with Amanda Hunt (The NextGen Librarian) about her work on the AASL standards, strategies for middle school collection development, and practical ways to reignite student reading using tools like Beanstack and social media.

They discuss balancing professional reviews with knowledge of your student community, partnering with teachers, leveraging equitable ed-tech like Adobe Express, and Amanda’s plan for moving to the high school level to build a culture of reading.