You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine and Stories Episode 211: The Beginner's Mindset: Finding Clarity in Library Values 

Episode Summary: 

Kieran Hixon, CSL's Small and Rural Library Senior Consultant, has a conversation with Sharon Morris focusing on the concept of the "beginner's mindset" and how core library values are learned and sometimes conflict. 

Outline:

00:19 Who is Sharon Morris?  

01:21 The Beginner’s Mindset & "Aha" Moments 

03:32 Learning Core Values: Privacy vs. Service 

06:37 Structure and Responsibility 

07:37 Defining Moments & Conflicting Values 

10:20 Values Conflict: Consistency vs. Service 

14:39 Practicing the Beginner's Mindset 

17:25 Déjà Vu and Library Excellence 

19:15 Growth from Frustration ("Fertilizer") 

21:48 Closing 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine and Stories Episode 210: Weeding Together: The Collection Crew Approach with Len Bryan 

Episode Summary: 

Join Suzi Tonini as she talks with Len Bryan, Partner of Library Services at Cherry Creek Schools, about transforming weeding from a dreaded solo task into an empowering collaborative experience. Len shares his innovative "collection crew" model, the "ugly weed" method for visual weeding, and why building relationships should come before touching a single book in a new library.   

Outline: 

00:56 - Why weeding creates "The Great Library Divide" 

06:23 - The collection crew concept: collaborative weeding  

10:01 - The "ugly weed" method: visual scanning techniques  

14:20 - Logistics that matter 

21:03 - Communication strategies 

25:20 - Why new librarians should focus on relationships first  

28:18 - Weeding wins 

Resources:
Collection Crew Invitation for Principals (Cherry Creek Schools Library Services) 

Collection Crew Process (Cherry Creek Schools Library Services) 

Curate Shared Foundations Book (book available from ALA) 

FAQs for Weeding Libraries (Cherry Creek Schools Library Services) 

Weeding: Essential Library Collection Maintenance (slide deck presentation) 

Weeding: Essential Library Best Practices (Cherry Creek Schools slide deck presentation)  

"Weeding: The Great Library Divide, Embracing Collection Maintenance with Enthusiasm"  (Knowledge Quest blog post) 

The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-by-Shelf Guide, Second Edition (book available from ALA) 

Contact Len Bryan: [email protected] 

Follow Len on Bluesky 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine and Stories Episode 209 Nursery Rhymes and Reason with Mary Lanni 

Episode Summary: 
Kate Compton chats with Mary Lanni, the Youth Literacy and Outreach Specialist from Douglas County Libraries. Mary shares insights from her upcoming book on nursery rhymes in storytime, exploring their historical roots, cultural implications, and why they matter for early literacy. They dive into questions about inclusivity, evolving trends, and practical tips for creating welcoming storytimes in today’s diverse communities. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation as a way to reflect on your own storytime offerings.  

Outline:  

00:19 - Meet Mary
01:22 - Why we need a closer look
02:51 - Common themes
07:25 - Why we sing nursery rhymes  
09:28 – New trends
14:25 – Resources  
14:14 - What's next?
21:54 - Closing  

Resources:  

CLEL
Everychildreadytoread.org
www.imaginationlibrarycolorado.org
www.maryrlanni.com
YouTube and Spotify (@MaryLanniReads)
Storytime Solidarity 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine and Stories Episode 208: I'm on the Library's Board, Now What!?

Episode Summary:  
Polly Gallagher sits down with trustees Scarlett Ponton, President of Nederland Community Library Board & recipient of the 2025 CAL Outstanding Library Trustee Award, and Jennifer Tibbets, Grand County Library District Trustee, as they reflect on what the role of a library trustee is in a Colorado public library. They reflect on what that first board meeting is like, how to prepare, and what the role of a trustee is and projects to oversee.   

Outline 

00:00 – Introduction
03:13 – Role of the board
03:58 – Key concerns of the board
07:39 – Board projects
09:22 – Everyone is not an expert
11:34 – Meeting preparation
13:09 – Preparing to be a trustee
15:43 – Asking questions
18:27 – Ongoing professional development
20:21 – Beyond the local
22:24 – Why volunteer for your library board
24:17 – Closing  

Resources: 

Public Library Leadership  (CSL) resource page 

Colorado Public Library Board & Trustee Handbook 

Colorado Public Library Standards: 

          Administration & Governance 

          Budget & Finance 

         Community Engagement 

         Evaluation & Planning 

Is your library board of trustees seeking in-person trustee training on Governance & Administration, strategic planning support, or other support? The Colorado State Library Leadership Team provides these services and more at no cost to your library! Find out more today.  

Contact Polly at [email protected] or (720) 879-1549 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine and Stories Episode 207: Library Joy at the Colorado Talking Book Library 

Episode Summary:  
Kate Compton chats with Lorrie Spoering, the wonderfully passionate Reader Advisor Librarian from the Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL). Lorrie shares how CTBL keeps the joy of reading alive for folks who can’t access traditional print—whether due to vision loss, dyslexia, or even paper allergies (yes, that’s a thing!). With a national connection and a treasure trove of audiobooks, players, Braille, and large print, CTBL is like a magical book genie—minus the lamp. And the best part? It’s all free! 

Outline:  

00:18 - Meet Lorrie Spoering  
01:43 - What is CTBL?  
03:57 - Helping someone get signed up
06:15 - What do patrons receive?  
07:23 - What are patrons looking for?
10:27 - What else should we know?  
14:14 - Outreach  
15:30 - Closing  

Resources:  

Colorado Talking Book Library 

CTBL Application 

To reach Lorrie Spoering with any questions about CTBL’s services, please email [email protected]. 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine & Stories Episode 206: Unearthing CSLP Summer Program Resources

Episode Summary:  
The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s 2026 program manual is now live! So the Kates chat about all things summer from toolkits, printables and all that CSLP has to offer to fun ways to interpret this summer’s theme of “Unearth a Story” and the America 250 - Colorado 150 celebrations.  

Outline 

00:00 – Introduction
00:28 – What is CSLP?
01:28 – Tools  
03:33 - Access
05:29 - Learning Opportunities   
08:19 – Rules of Use
11:32 – The Theme and Program ideas
19:13 – Another take? 150/250
25:04 – Closing  

Resources: 

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)

CSLP Professional Development - Summer Symposium and other webinars

CSLP Official Summer Library Programming Group (Facebook)

Colorado Youth Services Library Network mailing list

Where to See the Dinosaurs of Colorado 

History Colorado: America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission

America250 

Colorado Tourism Office - Colorado Passport

CO State Library's "Stories of Colorado" collection

"Reimagining School Readiness: Dinosaurs" (CSL Kit) 

Colorado folks, for access to CSLP's 2026 "Unearth a Story" program manual, please contact Kate Brunner at [email protected]. For all other states and territories, please reach out to your CSLP Representative. 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government.  

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine & Stories Episode 205: Compassionate Makerspace Projects

Episode Summary: 
Suzi Tonini chats with Carin Barrett, Teacher Librarian at Berthoud High School, about implementing compassionate makerspace projects that connect students with their community through service. Learn how Carin's students create items like fleece blankets, stuffed animals, birthday cards, and port pillows for organizations ranging from sex trafficking victim support groups to Meals on Wheels. Discover practical strategies for funding projects through Donors Choose, recruiting student volunteers, finding community partners, and balancing makerspace activities with everyday library responsibilities while building empathy and providing meaningful volunteer opportunities for students.

00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Carin’s inspiration for compassionate making
02:29 - Carin’s first compassionate makerspace project
03:54 - Logistics: finding funding for materials and getting students involved   
09:53 - Strategies for learning about community needs/finding project ideas
15:00 - Tips for getting started with compassionate making
19:22 - Examples of student impact 

Resources:
Carin Barrett, Teacher Librarian at Berthoud High School: [email protected]  

Compassionate Making Pinterest Board 

Donors Choose project examples:
Don’t Just Make, Make for Good!
Make More for Good!
Cards From the Heart
Serging Forward with Service 

Student Making that Makes a Difference, CCIRA presentation by Carin Barrett 

 Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government.  

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine & Stories Episode 204: “Health access should never depend on your Zip Code.”:  Telehealth and Rural Communities 

Episode Summary:  
Kieran Hixon chats with Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera and Ashley Heathfield from the Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) about the "Connect to Health at Your Library" project in Colorado. This initiative establishes telehealth hubs in rural libraries to provide a private, safe, and free way for rural residents to connect with healthcare providers and other online services. Lieutenant Governor Primavera discusses the importance of health access regardless of location, and Ashley Heathfield emphasizes how this project leverages existing library infrastructure and provides critical funding to these community pillars, while also building digital literacy skills that benefit users far beyond just medical visits. 

00:00 – Introduction
00:49 – Joy in Work
06:29 – The Telehealth/Library Partnership and Impact
08:19 - Visiting Julesburg and Future Hopes
10:05 - Patron Impact Stories  
11:19 – Closing 

Resources: 

Connect to Health @Your Library (https://telehealth.cvlsites.org/) 

Office of eHealth Innovation (https://oehi.colorado.gov/) 

For more about the Connect to Health @Your Library project, contact Kieran Hixon, Rural and Small Library Senior Consultant - [email protected] 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode.  

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government.  

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine & Stories Episode 203: Trends in Colorado Public and School Libraries 

Episode Summary:  

Sit down with Polly Gallagher, Kieran Hixon, Suzi Tonini, Kate Brunner, and Kate Compton, members of CSL’s Library Development Team, as they share trends they are noting around our libraries in Colorado and consider the impact on services, resources, and governance. 

00:00 – Introduction
01:06– Why we look at trends
02:26 – Staff
08:30 – Digital world
10:50 – How we read
15:09 – Removing barriers
19:40 – Legalities and censorship
23:37 – Public value
26:41 – Closing  

Resources: 

Library Research Services 

Colorado Education Initiative AI Roadmap 

Healthy Kids Colorado 

Valuable Initiatives in Early Learning that Work Successfully (VIEWS2) 

SB24-216  Standards for Decisions Regarding Library Resources 

SB25-063 Library Resource Decision Standards for Public Schools 

Contact the CSL Library Development team at [email protected]

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode. 

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government. 

You can now use the survey link below AND text us your feedback via Buzzsprout with this link right here!!

Sunshine & Stories Episode 202: Creating Autism-Friendly Libraries Through Sensory Audits 

Episode Summary: 

Kate Compton and Suzi Tonini chat with Gloria Perez Alvarez and Terri Faulkner from Jefferson County Public Library about their innovative sensory audit process for creating autism-friendly library spaces. Discover how they're partnering with local autism organizations to evaluate everything from parking lots to programming, and learn practical tips for making your own library more welcoming to neurodivergent patrons. 

00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Inspiration for conducting sensory audits
05:09 - How to conduct a sensory audit
08:52- Lessons learned from sensory audits
13:06 - Ideas for low-cost and/or easy-to-implement accommodations
15:30 - How to build staff’s awareness of the need for sensory accommodations
18:42 - Feedback from patrons about sensory-friendly improvements
24:02 - Advice for librarians on how to get started with creating a sensory-friendly library

Resources:
Autism Community Store 

Autism Is Welcome Here: The Access Approach to Inclusion (webinar) 

Autism Society of Colorado 

Bridges Learning Systems (curriculum for neurodivergent youth) 

Firefly Autism 

Sensory Friendly Space Checklist (Bridges Learning System) 

Sensory Accessibility Checklist (Association of Children’s Museums) 

Sensory Accessibility Checklist (Autism Community Store) 

Sensory materials toolkit 

Tell us what you think!
If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a short feedback survey for this episode. 

CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado State Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the U.S. Government.