Check out our full information page here! Programming in libraries is the tool we use to connect our services with our community members. All libraries and archives do some level of programming, and for most of us doing more is better. But finding time to develop programs our community members want and need, advertising it … Continue reading Episode 214: Programming →

Check out our full information page for all the material we discuss here, and some bonus links! Check out our Books & Beverages Podcast book group for different genre discussions every week! Reference work is what most people think of when they think about a library. Take a moment to picture it in your heads: … Continue reading Episode 213: Reference →

This is Open Access week, and we are celebrating with a podcast! (Check out our full information page here!) This is a topic with a lot of passion involved, and lots of big feelings on all sides of the discussion. Today we are just going to walk through some of the basics of how OA … Continue reading Episode 212: Open Access →

Contents of our information page: Introduction Background A Few Technology Training Resources Books We are Reading Conclusion Today we are talking about one of the biggies in the world of library work: Technology training. We all know it’s tough to keep up with the tech we need to use, and it can be even more … Continue reading Episode 211: Technology Training for Library Staff →

Contents of our information page: Introduction Background The Basics A Few Stories from the Front Lines! Books We are Reading Conclusion This week we are talking customer service in your library: the good, the bad! Patrons, customers, or whatever you call those people who use your services, are the heart of it all – … Continue reading Episode 210 Customer Service →

This week we are talking about professional conferences: attending them and presenting at them. This is your chance to meet other people who do what you do, who like the same things you like, and who are experiencing some of the same challenges you are facing! In our system, made up of all types and … Continue reading Episode 209: Conferences – Attending and Presenting →

Today’s podcast is kind of a Part Two to last week’s podcast on Strategic Planning. In any kind of planning process, you want to know how things are going – and that’s evaluation! Does your library do regular evaluation? If you are like many, or most, libraries – probably not. It seems like a lot … Continue reading Episode 208: Evaluation →

This week we are talking about Strategic Planning. Did everyone panic a little bit there? No need! Strategic Planning is one of those things that sounds scary and hard and like it will take you a huge amount of time. But really, it’s just thinking about the future and what you want to do in … Continue reading Episode 207 Strategic Planning →

Usually we talk about how wonderful libraries are – and they are! And we talk about cheery, happy, fun things in libraries – and there are tons of them! But today we are talking about a much more uncomfortable topic, but important in libraries: Conflict. We are all about Minnesota Nice here, and it … Continue reading Episode 206 Conflict Management →

This week we are talking about Staff Development, and we have a Guest Host: Elizabeth Proell, from St. Cloud Public Library. You know that to do any job in a library means you have to keep building and honing your skills. Everything we do changes, develops, and evolves – and this will never stop.  If … Continue reading Episode 205 Staff Development →