The Library Pros

In this installment, the fellas were lucky enough to have Aaron Whitfield on the podcast. Aaron spoke about all Aaron has accomplished in his time in Libraryland along with being a BIPOC and what that is like in todays world. He also talks about the importance of “MU FA LI” in his life, his writing and music. Aaron talks about the power of positive work culture, his love of Mark Lomax II he even shares something about his famous babysitter!

Joining Chris and Bob is David Ecker from Stony Brook University. Dave is a repeat guest and its always great to speak to him. Dave spoke about being library “technologists”, time management for managers, how AI can help makerspaces and that dirty world in Libraryland “CHANGE”. Dave has a new book out entitled Leadership Takes Courage: How to Master Leadership and how to foster entrepreneurship in students!

Joining Chris and Bob on the pod is Temara Hajjat Gastroenterologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and co host of the Bowel Sounds Podcast. Temara spoke with the fellas about what its like to go to medical school, the spark that started the podcast, the targeted listenership, the formula for the pod along with talking about Harvard Medical School’s certificate program in Media and Medicine. So sit back and relax and listen to lots of laughs with Temara!!!

This is really cool LOCAL episode for our friends on Long Island but also a great inspirational episode for everyone. Joining the podcast is Lilly Kiel from the Cutchogue/New Suffolk Free Library, Steven Alcalde from the Rogers Memorial Library and Anthony Giansante from the John Jermain Memorial Library to talk about the tech challenges working on the “East End” of Long Island (get your maps out for this one!). This episode is so inspiring because our guests talk about the combination of seasonal patrons while working in a rural community, Association Libraries and how the technologies offered are the same and varied from their colleagues “Up Island”. So sit back and get inspired by these technology professionals tell their stories!!

In part 2 of this special episode, Chris and Bob were joined by Alice Knapp, Director of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut, Scott Jarzombek, Director of the Fairfield Library in Fairfield, Connecticut, Kate Byroade Director of the Cragin Colchester Library in Colchester, Connecticut and Scott Brill, Director of the Derby Public Library, in Derby Connecticut. The discussion continues with Alice and Scott from the large library perspective of imposter syndrome. how you should not be the smartest person in the room, learning from your staff without intimidation, being a Husker Du fan and talk about the “secret sauce”. Then Kate and Scott come in and talk about the view from the small library perspective. They talk about communicating with staff to lower anxiety, knowing policy so it empowers the librarians, new tech communications with those that are not tech inclined, how “fines free” lowers the temperature between staff and patrons and patron shame. Thanks to the Connecticut Library Association for inviting the podcast to their conference!!!

In this 2 part episode, Chris and Bob travel to Groton Connecticut at the invitation of the Connecticut Library Association to speak during their conference lunch period about mental health and wellbeing in the library profession. The fellas were joined by Doug Lord, Director of the C. H. Booth Public Library in Newtown, Connecticut and President of the Association. Topics range from work/life balance, how the profession cares too much, how libraries are part of the hospitality industry and how its ok to take a mental health day. Doug also explores how to send a positive email to staff, dealing with the stress of difficult patrons and how to have the right attitude in the field to be a good librarian.

Joining Chris for this episode is Meghan Volcheko, Manager, Public Library Collection Development at OverDrive, Meghan talks about how she and her team assist libraries and library systems with collection development with Overdrive. Yes, this is also the Libby App and also Kanopy and Sora for schools. Meghan talks about the relationships she has built with member libraries and systems, Overdrive’s 15 year history and humble beginnings and draws comparisons between managing a physical collection and a digital collection. There is also a chat about living in Northeast Ohio and even how local authors can submit their work to the platform! Special “Shout Out” to Kent District Library as well!!

In our 100th Episode, we have asked Alumni Carol Ann Tack from the podcast Top Shelf at the Merrick Library to return to talk about her podcast, readers advisory, her book discussions (which are the thing of legend on Long Island) and how tech can sometimes help and sometimes get in the way of getting to where you need to be in Libraryland.

Chris journeyed to Saratoga Springs New York for the annual New York Library Association Conference and Trade Show! This year Chris spoke to old friends Jill Hurst Wahl, Cameron Tidd and Melissa Tidd from Goshen Libraryhttps://www.floridapubliclibrary.org and Barron Angell from the Florida Public Library. Jill spoke about the conference, what it is like to be the Board President of the Onondaga County Library, sharing info about her hometown of Syracuse New York and re-inventing ethnic library services.

Melissa, Cameron and Barron joined the podcast catching up on the happenings at their libraries, Cameron’s new endeavor with Brainspace and they even give a shout out to their friend who runs the podcast Flip the Table!

The fellas were asked to podcast a the Long Island Library Resource Council’s 31st annual Conference on Libraries and the Future. There were many great speakers and the podcast had an opportunity to speak with Dr. James Neal who spoke to Chris about the nature of leadership and how it is defined along with the concept “you can’t count the apple from its seeds”, whether leadership is a science or art, how important the informal leadership is to the formal organizational chart and even delves into good chaos within an organization because it will develop innovation.

After a short break Chris speaks with Syntychia Kendrick-Samuel, the Assistant Director of the Uniondale Public Library. This is Syntchia’s 4th appearance on the podcast and she talks about collaboration at various levels between libraries, how at the end of the day the “buck stops” at the directors desk both from the community and the board, and we have a great discussion about Dr. James Neal’s leadership types. Syntychia also advocates for teen services to continue to evolve into departments separate from a youth services climate and thinks EVERY LIBRARY should have a gardening program!!