Library Leadership Podcast

By now, you may have heard about a new American Library Association initiative called ALA Forward, but have you wondered how it will be used to reinvigorate the organization? On this show, Dan Montgomery, Executive Director of the American Library Association, shares details about ALA Forward, an initiative designed to unite and strengthen the work of libraries, and he explains how all of us can get involved.

Have you ever thought of your professional life as a series of highways and backroads, and wondered how to navigate? On this show, Sam Passey, Associate Dean of Library Services at Colorado Mountain College, shares his model for navigating organizational stoplights and roundabouts to better avoid congestion and ensure smooth progress.

Have you ever had an incident at your library and wondered how you could do more afterwards than just try to shake it off? On this show, Mary Graham, Service Delivery Manager, and Becky Potter, Library Experience Supervisor, with Calgary Public Library, talk about Debriefing After Challenging Situations. Timely and flexible debriefing can help staff deal with challenging situations. On this show, you'll hear why and how.

As librarians, how do we create effective communication campaigns that achieve our goals and craft messages that encourage people to engage with all we have to offer? On this show, Dr. Stevie Munz, Co-Owner and Consultant at Summit Communication Consulting, discusses how libraries are well-positioned to achieve strategic and effective messages.

Have you wondered how you can support neurodivergent staff and volunteers in the workplace? On this show, Renee Grassi (she/her), Librarian and Accessibility Consultant, discusses cultivating an inclusive work environment for neurodivergent team members, including accessible communication and promoting neurodiversity in our organizations.

How can data help us transform our libraries? On this show, Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore County Public Library and Past-President of the Public Library Association, discusses transforming the library with data-driven decisions. This valuable information can help us challenge our assumptions, optimize resources, and create impact.

Have you ever wondered how you can best serve older adults in your library? On this show, Suzanne LaPierre, Virginiana Specialist Librarian for the Fairfax County Public Library, discusses ways to serve older adults and provide exemplary access as our communities age.

How do you make your case to potential donors for your library? On this show Craig Palmer, Fund Development Manager for Sonoma County Library, returns to the podcast to expound on what he shared last year about Building Strong Library Foundations. Here, he talks about case statements—what they are, how they work, and their critical role in helping donors understand how our cause can be their cause.

In your organization, are there ways to share negative viewpoints or emotions, and is it helpful to do so? On this show Carrie Rogers-Whitehead - author, library consultant, and Founder of Digital Responsibility - talks about The Glass Half Empty: the Positives of Negative Emotions. She shares how not allowing for negative emotions can hold back our teams and what we can do about it.

Have you ever wondered about the extent of sexual harassment of librarians in the workplace? On this show, Candice Benjes-Small, Head of Research at William and Mary Libraries, and Jennifer Resor-Whicker, University Librarian at Radford University, discuss their research on this topic. It's a conversation that opens the door for broader work on what can be done to combat sexual harassment in our field.