Call Number with American Libraries Podcast: Recent Episodes
Call Number with American Libraries Podcast
Call Number is the popular podcast series from American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association. Each month, your host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart will be your guide to conversations with librarians, authors, thinkers, and scholars about topics from the library world and beyond.
As 2024 comes to a close and we look ahead, Call Number with American Libraries reflects on the important work of librarians and our beloved institutions.In Episode 99, the Call Number team presents exclusive clips from conversations with authors we interviewed this past year, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Kwame Alexander, Connie Chung, Kate DiCamillo, Max Greenfield, Vashti Harrison, Maggie Nichols, and Jesús Trejo. In these clips, they share the role that books, libraries, and library workers have played in their lives.
Small and rural libraries don’t always have the same resources and opportunities that urban libraries do. But they still have big ideas about how to serve their communities—and, as we hear in Episode 98, they find ways to realize them.At Burlingame (Kans.) Community Library, sensory spaces and a new loanable resource collection are improving the lives of patrons with disabilities and their families. Meanwhile, at North Liberty (Iowa) Library, staffers are moderating discussions on hot-button topics that are getting community members to open up, listen to one another, and connect.Both libraries have received funding from the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) grant program.Learn more about LTC grant-funded projects throughout the US in “Libraries Transforming Communities, One Year Later,” published in the November/December 2024 issue of American Libraries.
Books flying off the shelves. Shadowy figures roaming the hallways. Unexplained sounds.What’s going on at Peoria (Ill.) Public Library? Is the building possessed by spirits hovering above cursed ground? Or are these apparitions just a sign that librarians have been spending too much time in the stacks?Do not attempt to adjust your audio. In this rebroadcast of Episode 31, “The Haunting of Peoria Public Library,” past-host Phil Morehart road-trips to Central Illinois to get to the bottom of these strange happenings.Along the way, he enlists the advice of professionals—including award-winning nonfiction author and well-known debunker Mary Roach (Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife) and paranormal writer and speaker John B. Kachuba (Ghosthunting Illinois)—and interviews staffers at Peoria Public Library and Bradley University Library about their otherworldly encounters.
Libraries are so much more than their physical collections. They offer digital resources, innovative programs, essential services, new technologies, and opportunities to socialize. But not everyone knows this. That’s why OverDrive has started Check Out Your Library, an initiative that aims to reintroduce communities to their local libraries.In this bonus episode, sponsored by OverDrive, we learn more about Check Out Your Library and the campaign’s Fiction and Film Tour. American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Jen Leitman, chief marketing officer of OverDrive, about how the program is building public awareness and helping libraries fulfill their missions.For more information on Check Out Your Library—and how you can get involved—visit checkoutyourlibrary.com. And for marketing tools, trainings, and more, visit OverDrive’s Resource Center at resources.overdrive.com.
The recent wave of book bans and other censorship attempts have threatened democracy, restricting access and the rights of many readers. In Episode 87, Call Number looks at how libraries and library workers are on the front lines defending intellectual freedom. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Peter Coyl, immediate past president of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and director and CEO of Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library. They talk about FTRF’s recent work in support of intellectual freedom and library workers. They’re joined by Sukrit Goswami, current president of FTRF and director at Haverford (Penn.) Free Township Library, who shares his presidential goals. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Martha Hickson, media specialist at North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, New Jersey. They discuss Hickson’s efforts to fight book bans and protect children’s right to read, including recruiting the help of author David Levithan, despite the personal attacks she has faced from community members. And finally, Kim Crutcher, a licensed mental health counselor who was onsite at ALA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition’s Community of Care room, offers a special guided meditation—a good reminder for all to prioritize our wellbeing.
As any library staffer who has gone through a building renovation knows, significant behind-the-scenes work goes into updating or overhauling a facility. From working with architects to communicating with committees to soliciting community feedback, rethinking a library doesn’t happen overnight. On Episode 75, the podcast team focuses on library design and architecture.First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Michael Haddock, associate dean for research, education, and engagement at Kansas State University Libraries in Manhattan. They talk about the fire that damaged Hale Library in 2018, the flagship library of K-State, and how staffers have rallied around a rebuild. Then, former Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Amelia Anderson, assistant professor at Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and Abigail Phillips, assistant professor at the School of Information Studies at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. They discuss how to create public library makerspaces that are accessible for all.
Summer is in full swing. This means getting outside, soaking up some sunshine, and listening to our favorite tunes—from oldies-but-goodies to today’s hits. In Episode 97, Call Number covers music.Some libraries offered programs, hosted listening parties, and transformed into mini concert venues to celebrate their favorite musician’s latest release. American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Kafi-Ayanna Allah, adult services program coordinator at Orange County (N.C.) Public Library; Yesenia Baltierra, assistant library director at Placentia (Calif.) Library District; and Lizbeth Gamez, public service specialist at Dallas Public Library, about events they organized for local patrons who love Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and K-Pop.Then, library workers at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego share memories from the first concert they attended.Finally, American Libraries editor-at-large Anne Ford speaks with librarian and Grammy Award–winning French horn player Joy Worland. Worland is the consultant for continuing education and small and rural libraries at the Vermont Department of Libraries. She has performed regularly with a number of professional orchestras and chamber music groups, including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, where she earned multiple Grammy Awards as associate principal horn. They discuss her illustrious career as a librarian and musician and how the worlds connected.
Next week, we’re on route to San Diego for the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition. In Episode 96, Call Number explores “America’s Finest City” through the lens of local librarians. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Tim Tully, instruction and outreach librarian for San Diego State University’s Surf and Skate Studies Collaborative. He shares the origins of these local subcultures, how they have evolved, and where to go if you want to catch waves or hit a kickflip. Then, librarians from the area recommend their favorite spots to grab a taco. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett chats with Kelley Woolley, who oversees the library for San Diego Zoo Safari Park. They discuss notable items in the zoo’s library and the role the city’s 52-year-old institution plays in animal conservation. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome your feedback.
In Episode 95, Call Number highlights ways libraries are practicing and promoting sustainability. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski pays a visit to the Sulzer Regional branch of Chicago Public Library, which hosts a repair café every month. At these events, participants bring household items in need of mending to the library. Volunteers with toolkits fix the items, sparing them from the landfill. Next, members of ALA’s Sustainability Round Table share what their libraries do to help the environment. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Dan Wilson, deputy director of Claude Moore Health Sciences Library at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They discuss one-page disaster plans—what they are and why your library might need one. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome your feedback.
In Episode 94, Call Number celebrates Preservation Week, this year held April 28–May 4. With the theme of “Preserving Identities,” the week’s events aim to raise awareness of the role libraries and cultural institutions play in protecting historic and culturally significant collections. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Indigenous author Traci Sorell, the honorary chair of this year’s Preservation Week. Sorell, a former attorney who worked on Native Nations policy, discusses preservation’s part in telling stories. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Kathleen Monahan, special collections public services supervisor at Boston Public Library, about the importance of security in preservation. Monahan, who cochairs the Security Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ALA’s Association of College and Research Libraries, provides insight into the committee’s recently updated Guidelines Regarding the Security of Special Collections Materials.Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone, cofounders of the Poison Book Project, a joint initiative of Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library (WMGL), and the University of Delaware (UD) in Newark. Grayburn is head of the scientific research and analysis laboratory at WMGL and an affiliated associate professor in the Winterthur–UD program in art conservation. Tedone is assistant professor for library and archives conservation at UD and associate director of the Winterthur–UD program in art conservation. They discuss their research on potentially toxic bookbinding materials from the 19th century. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome your feedback.
From chatbots to image generators to robot companions, artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic across many industries right now. In Episode 93, Call Number explores how AI is emerging in libraries.First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Cheryl Eberly and Larry Singer, both from Santa Ana Public Library in California. They discuss the library’s AStounD initiative, which provides neurodivergent youth with access to robots that help them build social-emotional skills. This includes an AI robot named Moxie, who is available for checkout. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Elissa Malespina, teacher-librarian at Union High School in New Jersey. Malespina’s website and newsletter, the AI School Librarian, offers news and resources to help other information professionals navigate the fast-growing technology. They discuss generative AI and the ways in which today’s students, teachers, and librarians are using it in schools.
Still reeling from Super Bowl excitement? In Episode 92, Call Number features conversations with librarian athletes who represent three sports: wheelchair racing, pickleball, and powerlifting.First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Paralympian and librarian Amanda McGrory. McGrory, a seven-time medalist, has competed in wheelchair racing in four Paralympic games. Now retired from racing, she oversees the archive for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.Then, American Libraries Senior Editor Greg Landgraf chats with Drew Evans, retired law librarian and pickleball enthusiast. Evans calls himself the Pickleball Librarian and uses social media to promote and teach this trending sport.Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with nationally recognized competitive powerlifter Hilary Schiraldi. Schiraldi also serves as business librarian and interim head of the social sciences division at University of California, Berkeley.
In Episode 91, Call Number explores Baltimore, where ALA will hold its 2024 LibLearnX conference, January 19–22. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with David Thomas and Tonya Thomas, both chefs and food historians. The husband-and-wife duo is behind Baltimore’s H3irloom Food Group, a culinary organization with a mission of uplifting the Black food narrative through catering and educational events. They discuss their cooking journeys and how the city has influenced their work. Then, school librarians across Maryland share their favorite aspects of Baltimore culture and history. Finally, Panuncial talks to Eden Etzel and Aditya Desai, literature experts from education nonprofit Maryland Humanities. They explore local literary history and the landmarks that may interest librarians. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
As we say farewell to 2023, we look back at another year of unprecedented book challenges, efforts to defund libraries, and other threats to the profession. But one silver lining has been the authors who have voiced their support for librarians, books, and democracy.In Episode 90, Call Number presents its “2023 Author Chats.” Hear never-before-released clips from conversations with Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel, James Patterson, Rick Riordan, Brian Selznick, Clint Smith, Tracy K. Smith, Angie Thomas, and Kelly Yang. They share how libraries have been an integral part of their life and work—often highlighting how the library has been a sanctuary throughout their lives.
Libraries can be a lifeline for incarcerated or detained individuals and their families. In Episode 89, Call Number discusses creative programs in prison libraries.First, poets and prison reform activists Reginald Dwayne Betts and Randall Horton talked with former ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall back in an interview conducted last July. Betts and Horton, who were formerly incarcerated, now spearhead respective literary program: Betts founded Freedom Reads, which installs 500-book Freedom Libraries in prisons and juvenile detention centers, and Horton cofounded Radical Reversal, which holds literary and musical workshops and creates performance and recording spaces in detention centers and correctional facilities. They discussed the importance of access to books while incarcerated, how censorship creates barriers to that access, and what they hope for ALA’s newly revised Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained.Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Lisa Prins, manager of adult and community education, and Allison Sivak, faculty engagement librarian, both at University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 2022, the university launched its Correspondence Book Club at the Edmonton Institution for Women, which provides women who are incarcerated with themed writing and art-making prompts. They were joined by Mariel Silva, a formerly incarcerated individual and former book club participant.Note: The sound quality in the Correspondence Book Club segment varies.For more on ALA’s newly revised Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained and our episode guests, check out our November/December feature story, “Lighting the Way.”Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter/X, SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
Grab your spell books, get those cauldrons bubbling, and ready your broomsticks. In Episode 88, Call Number delves into the world of witchcraft.First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Dan Lipcan, of Phillips Library at Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The two discuss the library’s vast collection of materials related to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials and debunk common myths and misconceptions.Then, three staffers from Troy (Mich.) Public Library—director Emily Dumas; livia Olson, head of community engagement; and Nicole Armstrong, marketing associate—share spine-tingling snippets from the winning entries of the library’s 2022 Scary Story Contest.Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with KL Pereira, archivist and curatorial information manager at Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Pereira has taught classes at libraries on how to perform tarot card readings and shares the ways in which library workers can implement similar programs. Plus, watch the video on americanlibraries.org to hear Pereira giving Panuncial a personal reading—you don’t want to miss Pereira’s expertise at work.
The recent wave of book bans and other censorship attempts have threatened democracy, restricting access and the rights of many readers.
In Episode 87, Call Number looks at how libraries and library workers are on the front lines defending intellectual freedom.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Peter Coyl, immediate past president of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and director and CEO of Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library. They talk about FTRF’s recent work in support of intellectual freedom and library workers. They’re joined by Sukrit Goswami, current president of FTRF and director at Haverford (Penn.) Free Township Library, who shares his presidential goals.
Then, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Martha Hickson, media specialist at North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, New Jersey. They discuss Hickson’s efforts to fight book bans and protect children’s right to read, including recruiting the help of author David Levithan, despite the personal attacks she has faced from community members.
And finally, Kim Crutcher, a licensed mental health counselor who was onsite at ALA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition’s Community of Care room, offers a special guided meditation—a good reminder for all to prioritize our wellbeing.
It’s that time of the year again: School is back in session, including for students working toward their master’s degrees in library and information science.
In Episode 86, Call Number looks at what’s new in library school.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial explores iBlackCaucus, a student organization formed by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA).
She chats with Ana Ndumu, assistant professor in the College of Information Studies at University of Maryland in College Park; Shauntee Burns-Simpson, associate director at the Center for Educators and Schools at New York Public Library and immediate past president of BCALA; and Marlena Okechukwu, iBlackCaucus fellow and recent MLIS graduate who is now outreach coordinator at Hennepin County Law Library in Minneapolis. They discuss iBlackCaucus’s mission of fostering camaraderie and creating mentorship in the field.
Then, Panuncial learns more about the master’s in library and information science and social work dual degree program at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.
She speaks with Peggy Ryan, director of Dominican University’s School of Social Work’s field education office; Don Hamerly, director of Dominican’s School of Information Studies; and Molly Layton, current student in the program. They discuss the overlap between these two disciplines and why it’s needed in library school.
Episode 85 of Call Number dives into the colorful world of comics, graphic novels, and manga.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Jenny Robb, head curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State University in Columbus, which houses the world’s largest collection of print cartoon art.
Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial hits the halls of ALA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago for rapid-fire interviews with graphic novelists Harmony Becker, Kazu Kibuishi, Pedro Martín, and Dave Scheidt. They discussed their work and what comics, graphic novels, and manga influenced them.
And finally, Panuncial chats with Jillian Rudes, school librarian at the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in New York City. Rudes, who also serves as Japanese culture and manga librarian for the city’s Department of Education, discusses the benefits of reading manga and her tips for librarians who want to develop manga collections.
The American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition will take place in its hometown: Chicago!
In Episode 84 of Call Number, find out where to go, what to see, and what to eat during your visit to the Second City.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Steve Dolinsky, author of The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide: A History of Squares and Slices in the Windy City. He shares his favorite local spots and gives the deep dish on some little-known facts about Chicago pizza.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Suzanne Karr Schmidt, curator of rare books and manuscripts at Newberry Library. They explore the library’s Pop-Up Books Through the Ages exhibit, which will be on display during Annual.
Then, members of the Call Number podcast team, episode guests, and local librarians share their must-do activities for a short Chicago trip.
Finally, Panuncial chats with Liz Mason, manager of Quimby’s Bookstore, a longstanding institution specializing in independent and small press books, comics, and zines. They discuss the city’s zine scene and how librarians can incorporate these publications into their collections and programming.
Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
Small businesses are a big part of every community, and libraries offer a wealth of resources to support them. From research assistance to specialized programs and grants, libraries help entrepreneurs of all kinds flourish.In Episode 83, Call Number highlights how libraries and librarians are supporting small business owners—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Madeleine Ildefonso, managing librarian at Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL). They discuss LAPL’s Be a Successful Street Vendor program, a new offering that provides educational resources for local street vendors.Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Saira Raza, business librarian at Emory University in Atlanta. Raza shares how academic librarians can help students fine-tune their business ideas and create a plan for success.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
Providing programs and services that are both enriching and entertaining is a major goal of most librarians. In this bonus episode, sponsored by Kanopy, Call Number looks at how one librarian is using the video streaming service’s platform to bring movies, television shows, and instructional programs to patrons at home while staying within her library’s budget.American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Hope Harms, eResources librarian at Johnson County (Kans.) Library’s Blue Valley branch to learn more about her library’s journey navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Kanopy, and supporting today’s job seekers and learners.For more information, visit kanopy.com or log in to Kanopy’s virtual town hall event on April 25, where they’ll share new summer initiatives; an exclusive, flash offer only available to live attendees; and some of the new titles added to their catalog, including Adventure Never Ends: A Tabletop Saga, which covers the mental and emotional health benefits of roleplaying games. The town hall is open to everyone. For your local times and how to register, visit bit.ly/kanopytownhall.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
When we discuss access to information, that includes information about our bodies and our health. Libraries have long been a lifeline to patrons looking to connect with health care resources, dispel misinformation, and find answers discreetly—even when our institutions are under attack.In Episode 82, Call Number explores sexual and reproductive health information at the library.First, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro chats with Barbara Alvarez, author of The Library's Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information. Alvarez discusses a recent she conducted on how libraries provide such information and offers advice on what librarians can do to improve their services.Then, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Beth Myers. Myers is director of special collections at Smith College. The women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts is home to the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History. The two discuss the value of curating a collection that prioritizes sexual and reproductive health and how libraries can form collections of their own.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
It’s been three years since COVID-19 brought the country to a standstill. In March 2020, the pandemic shuttered library buildings and prompted staffers to shift programming and priorities for a changing world.In Episode 81, Call Number hears from three libraries that expanded, pivoted, and reimagined their offerings to reach community members who needed their services most.First, American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy talks with John Schaffer, the voice behind Curbside Larry, the character who went viral in 2020 for his infomercial-style videos advertising curbside services at Harris County (Tex.) Public Library.Then, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Ray Baker, director of Miami-Dade Public Library System in Florida, about the Drive-Up Wi-Fi initiative the library started in the early days of the pandemic.Finally, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial chats with Julie Curry, principal of John K. Hubbard Elementary School in Noble, Oklahoma, and Courtney Gerow, signature services coordinator of Shawnee (Okla.) Public Library. The two are behind Sunday Stars, a tutoring program helping elementary school students across several counties recover from COVID-19 learning loss.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
Love is always in season at the library. Whether helping readers find their next fictional crush or offering couples space on their wedding day, the library is a perfect place to pair up.In Episode 80, Call Number is head-over-heels for romance.First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Jill Maneikis, deputy director of special events at Boston Public Library, where more than 100 couples have rented the library’s new $200, one-hour wedding venue.Next, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial talks with Robin Bradford, author of the upcoming Readers' Advisory Guide to Romance, and Jessica Pryde, author of Black Love Matters and cohost of Book Riot’s When in Romance podcast. They discuss how the romance genre has diversified and how librarians can build a more inclusive romance collection for readers.Finally, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro and Panuncial chatted with attendees at ALA’s recent LibLearnX conference in New Orleans, where they shared their favorite literary couples and romance tropes and what they love most about their libraries.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
New Orleans is famous for many things—its sights, bites, sounds, and culture. And this January, it’s where the American Library Association’s LibLearnX conference will make an in-person debut with a vibrant array of speakers, educational sessions, and more. So, let the good times roll—or, as the locals say, Laissez les bons temps rouler!In episode 79, Call Number highlights two beloved aspects of New Orleans: its music and its food. First, American Libraries associate editor Megan Bennett speaks with library associate Joshua Smith about New Orleans Public Library’s new, free music streaming service, Crescent City Sounds.Then, members of the Call Number team and interviewees from this episode share their favorite New Orleans stops.Finally, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial discusses the Southern Food and Beverage Museum’s new culinary library in St. Bernard Parish. She speaks with National Food and Beverage Foundation president and CEO Brent Rosen and Liz Williams, who established the foundation, about the library’s collection of historical culinary artifacts, and their current exhibit on Louisiana’s Filipino community and its influence on local cuisine.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
And just like that, 2022 is coming to an end. It’s been a tumultuous time for the profession: We’re on course for another record-breaking year of book challenges, politically driven groups are working to pass laws that censor materials and measures that defund libraries, and library workers continue to experience burnout. But one source of hope and inspiration has been the authors who have stepped up to advocate for—and sing the praises of—books, libraries, and democracy.In Episode 78, Call Number with American Libraries presents its "2022 Author Chats." Featured in this installment are never-before-released clips from conversations with actor John Cho; Newbery Medal–winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft; comic book artist Kevin Eastman; broadcast journalist Maria Hinojosa; Banned Books Week honorary chair George M. Johnson; historian Ibram X. Kendi; and Newbery Medal winners Cynthia Kadohata, Tae Keller, and Lois Lowry. Hear them share what roles libraries have played in their lives.Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
In Episode 77 of Call Number, we explore the work of medical librarians by highlighting two initiatives presented at the 2022 Medical Library Association Annual Conference.
First, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Jennifer Davis, Gail Kouame, and Lachelle Smith. The three collaborated on virtual reality programs that teach health science concepts in a new and engaging way at the Greenblatt Library at Augusta University in Georgia.
Then, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Lynn Kysh and Kyle Horne, both of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, about the ins and outs of starting a specialized book club for pediatric hospital staff.
Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
Halloween is nearly here. And leading up to the holiday, many of us do all sorts of things to put ourselves in a spooky mood—take haunted hayrides, watch horror movies, carve pumpkins. Sometimes we dust off that shelf of Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and Anne Rice books, and sink our teeth into a terrifying story that keeps us up at night.
In Episode 76 of Call Number with American Libraries, we examine what it is about the horror genre that fascinates us, sometimes repulses us, and yet keeps us coming back for more.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial talks with Goosebumps and Fear Street author R. L. Stine. In this interview from ALA’s 2022 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., the two discuss what it’s like writing horror for kids and how Stine fuses spooky and silly concepts in his books.
Next, members of the Call Number podcast team and a couple of listeners answer the question: What horror or nonhorror movie scared you as a child, and does it still scare you?
Finally, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro chats with Becky Spratford, a readers’ advisory specialist based in Chicago. Spratford runs RA for All, a blog that connects librarians with book recommendations for patrons. She and Santoro discuss how to tailor horror media recommendations to different audiences and identify trends emerging in the horror genre today.
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For fun facts about the holiday, check out the By the Numbers section in the September/October issue of American Libraries. Next episode, we’re exploring the marvels of medical libraries.
Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.
These days, with our busy schedules, it can be difficult to find ways to develop professional skills. That’s why Gale has partnered with Udemy Business, a vast marketplace for online learning, to offer public libraries a program called Gale Presents: Udemy. The program is an online platform that provides instruction through more than 17,000 video-based courses for adults who want to boost their skills for a new job, expand their knowledge in a current profession, or just deepen a personal interest.
On this bonus episode of Call Number, host Diana Panuncial learns more about Gale Presents: Udemy from one of its instructors, Kyle Pew. Pew is a Microsoft-certified Trainer and a certified Microsoft Office Master Instructor, and he has been teaching and consulting for 20-plus years on various computer applications. He has facilitated courses that range from one-on-one interactions to large-scale groups of more than 100 participants, including live in-person classes, webinar-style classes, and live online multiweek courses.
If you have feedback for the podcast team, send us an email or call us at 312-280-4218. You can also follow us on Twitter or SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes.
As any library staffer who has gone through a building renovation knows, significant behind-the-scenes work goes into updating or overhauling a facility. From working with architects to communicating with committees to soliciting community feedback, rethinking a library doesn’t happen overnight. On Episode 75, the podcast team focuses on library design and architecture.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Michael Haddock, associate dean for research, education, and engagement at Kansas State University Libraries in Manhattan. They talk about the fire that damaged Hale Library in 2018, the flagship library of K-State, and how staffers have rallied around a rebuild.
Then, former Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Amelia Anderson, assistant professor at Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and Abigail Phillips, assistant professor at the School of Information Studies at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. They discuss how to create public library makerspaces that are accessible for all.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has dominated headlines this year. The ongoing war has affected people globally, including American librarians and their work. In Episode 74, the Call Number podcast team looks at the ways the profession is supporting Ukraine.
First, Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Kristin Parker, lead curator and manager of the arts at Boston Public Library. Parker is part of a network of first responders working against the clock to preserve Ukraine’s cultural history and provide preservation advice to library workers on the ground.
Next, American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy speaks with Michael Dowling, director of ALA’s International and Chapter Relations Office, about the Association’s Ukraine Library Relief Fund and how donations are being used.
Finally, Panuncial talks to Millicent Mabi, director of community engagement and programming at Regina Public Library in Saskatchewan, about how her institution is helping Ukrainian refugees—from teaching them English to improving their literacy to connecting them with community resources.
Next month’s episode will focus on library design and architecture. We’d like to know: What design feature do you love best at your local library and why? Email us your answer or leave us a voicemail at 312-280-4218 and your submission could be featured.
Is there a story or topic you’d love to hear us cover? Reach out and let us know. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes.
This year, the Newbery Medal celebrates 100 years of recognizing distinguished children’s literature. In Episode 73, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial interviews four authors with four prior winners of the award: Jerry Craft, 2020 Newbery Medal winner for New Kid; Cynthia Kadohata, 2005 winner for Kira-Kira; Tae Keller, 2021 winner for When You Trap a Tiger; and Lois Lowry, two-time winner for Number the Stars in 1990 and The Giver in 1994. The authors share their memories of getting the call, what they hope kids are taking away from their books, and what projects they’re working on these days.
If you have feedback for the podcast team, email us at callnumber@ala.org or call us at 312-280-4216. Tell us what you liked, what you didn’t like, and what you’d like to see us cover; we may feature your comment on a future episode. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes.
In less than two weeks, the American Library Association's 2022 Annual Conference and Exhibition will take place in Washington, D.C.—the first in-person Annual Conference since the pandemic began. In Episode 72, we’re gearing up to be together again in the nation’s capital.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress and 2003–2004 ALA president. Hayden shares her favorite places to eat in Washington, D.C., as well as museums and exhibits that conference attendees should try to see when they’re in town.
Next, ALA staffers share their top tips for attending Annual.
Finally, Sallyann Price, American Libraries associate editor, chats with Andy Shallal, founder of Busboys and Poets, a local restaurant where art, culture, and politics intersect—along with community and good food.
Among the public libraries implementing Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School, a 21.5-credit online high school completion program, is Rolling Hills Library (RHL) in St. Joseph, Missouri.
On this bonus episode of Call Number with American Libraries, sponsored by Gale, Diana Panuncial, associate editor of American Libraries and podcast host, speaks with Michelle Mears, director of RHL. They’re joined by Brittany Smullin, a 30-year-old single mom who was the first public library graduate of the program this spring, and who took her classes through RHL. Mears and Smullin share their experiences about the value of the program and the impact it is having in their community.
If you have feedback for the podcast team, send us an email or call us at 312-280-4218. You can also follow us on Twitter or SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes.
In Episode 71 of Call Number with American Libraries, “Setting Up for Self-Care,” we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May. The importance of self-care has become clearer than ever in recent years, especially in the age of the pandemic. In this episode, we look at some of the ways library workers have taken care of themselves—and others—in stressful times.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and podcast Diana Panuncial speaks with Randa Lopez Morgan, programming and events librarian for Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, about LSU’s Relaxation Room and how it has helped students decompress during finals week.
Next, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski interviews Rebecca Tolley, author of A Trauma-Informed Approach to Library Services (ALA Editions, 2020) and professor and librarian at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. They discuss what it takes to be a trauma-informed library and how institutions can prioritize the well-being of patrons and employees.
Finally, Phil Morehart, communications manager for the American Library Association, chats with Michelle Schaub, library media specialist for Monona (Wis.) Grove High School. Schaub, who is also a certified yoga teacher, was featured in the Bookend section of the March/April issue of American Libraries for implementing yoga classes and promoting mental wellness at her school.
If you have feedback for the podcast team, send us an email or call us at 312-280-4218. You can also follow us on Twitter or SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes.
This episode, we celebrate Financial Literacy Month and Money Smart Week, which runs April 9–16. Our show looks at three big questions around money: How can we raise it? How can we save it? And how do we spend it responsibly?
First, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price chats with Jennifer Byrnes, supervisor of the Business Insight Center at Rochester Public Library in New York. She manages the Money Builders, a camp that helps to build refugee kids’ early financial literacy.
Then, Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy talks with Joyce Garczynski and Karlene Noel Jennings, members of ALA’s Philanthropic Advisory Group. They discuss the ins and outs of donating to causes and charities and advocating for nonprofit organizations with your dollars.
Finally, Associate Editor and Call Number Podcast Host Diana Panuncial speaks with Kyra Hahn, founder of the Facebook group Librarian 4 PSLF. They cover the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and the specific challenges librarians face when repaying their student loans.
Episode 52, “Libraries and Sustainability”—which originally aired in July 2020—looks at how librarians were living green at the library and in their own lives before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Gabrielle Griffis, assistant youth services librarian at Brewster (Mass.) Ladies Library, about the Blue Marble Librarians, a group that helped promote Climate Prep Week across the state in 2019.
Then, ALA Editions Acquisitions Editor Jamie Santoro speaks with René Tanner, associate liaison librarian for the humanities division at Arizona State University (ASU), and Susan Norton, program manager at ASU’s University Sustainability Practices, about the sustainability programs they implemented at their school.
Finally, American Libraries Editorial and Advertising Associate Carrie Smith speaks with three library workers from Queens (N.Y.) Public Library who biked from New York City to the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia to raise awareness for sustainability.
While American Libraries is busy searching for its new podcast host, we thought we’d dip into the vault and re-air some of our most popular episodes. Today we’re replaying Episode 35, “Fostering New Businesses,” which originally aired in February 2019.
Three years ago, we released this installment to coincide with National Entrepreneurship Week, which this year is being observed February 12–19. The advice in this episode is relevant to trends libraries have been seeing during the pandemic: small businesses are looking for assistance, libraries are pivoting their business resources to the online environment, and many people who lost or quit jobs are turning to entrepreneurship for the first time.
In this episode, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski interviews Amy Fisher, information and reader services manager, and Morgan Perry, business outreach specialist, both from Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri. They talk about the how the library’s Square One Business Services program helps the community, including a growing food business sector.
Next, former Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Roosevelt Weeks, director of Austin Public Library in Texas. They discuss how the library’s entrepreneurship programs complement the city’s vibrant start-up scene.
While we’re busy searching for our new Call Number host, we thought we’d dip into the vault and re-air some of our most popular episodes. Today we’re replaying our sixth episode, “Banned Books,” which originally aired in October 2016.
In 2021, libraries across the country saw a record number of book challenges, and the wisdom of this episode from five years ago is—unfortunately—just as applicable today.
In this episode, former host Phil Morehart first interviews James LaRue, the then-executive director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. They discuss book challenges and bans—why they happen and what libraries can do to protect themselves.
Next he talks to Sara Stevenson, a librarian at O. Henry Middle School in Austin, Texas, who faced a book challenge over the John Green YA novel Looking for Alaska.
And finally, he talks to Marjane Satrapi, author of the award-winning graphic novel Persepolis, about how her book was being briefly banned at a Chicago high school and the nature of censorship.
In Episode 69, Call Number with American Libraries looks back on interviews—with authors and ALA conference speakers—conducted by American Libraries staffers during 2021.
Featured in this episode are never-before-released clips from conversations with Fox Sports analyst and former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho; acclaimed writer Isabel Allende; reggae musician and philanthropist Ziggy Marley; TV host and producer Padma Lakshmi; bestselling horror author Max Brooks; Dance Theatre of Harlem alumni Judy Tyrus and Paul Novosel; and lawyer and speaker Savala Nolan.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is an American institution, instilling the importance of literacy and learning—and a love of words—in generations of children since its founding more than 95 years ago. Beyond word lists, the Bee provides reading lists, a book club, and additional resources, creating a rich ecosystem that helps spellers contextualize the words they are studying and educators get involved.
On this bonus episode of Call Number with American Libraries, sponsored by the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Phil Morehart, communications manager for the American Library Association, talks with J. Michael Durnil, executive director of the Bee. They discuss how the Scripps National Spelling Bee has changed over time, the benefits of participating, how libraries can support the Bee, and more.
As November draws to a close, thoughts naturally turn toward food. It brings people together, bridges cultures and divides, and can be used as a teaching tool, providing insights into everything from history and politics to mathematics and problem-solving.
On Episode 68, Call Number with American Libraries looks at the wonderful world of food. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with model, author, and Top Chef host and producer Padma Lakshmi about the intersection of cooking and family and the value of creating space for everyone’s food story. Next, American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy speaks with Hannah Appleby-Wineberg, library intern at America’s Test Kitchen, about working on the popular television show and how its library is used to develop recipes. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price talks with author Mayukh Sen about his book Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America.
For more than a year, educators, school librarians, and administrators have been responding and adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last spring, Gale, a Cengage Company, and the American Library Association (ALA) partnered to rejuvenate Gale’s guide to best practices for school librarians. For this Agents of Change 2.0 paper, ALA spoke with educators and administrators working through the crisis and surveyed more than 500 school librarians about their processes and perspectives.
On this bonus episode of Call Number with American Libraries, sponsored by Gale, Maggie Reagan, senior editor of books for youth at Booklist, talks with Jessica Klinker, head librarian at Franklin Heights High School in Columbus, Ohio—one of the librarians whose feedback helped shape the Agents of Change 2.0 paper. They discuss Klinker's experiences working during the pandemic, the pandemic’s effects on students, the importance of social-emotional learning, and more.
In his 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero unleashed the modern zombie upon the world. These reanimated corpses with a hunger for human flesh have taken many forms over the years, from slow, shambling ghouls to fast, menacing creatures. But why do they endure? What is it about zombies that fascinates and frightens us? And how have libraries gotten into the action?
In Episode 67, Call Number with American Libraries celebrates Halloween with a look at libraries and the living dead. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Ben Rubin, horror studies collection coordinator at University of Pittsburgh Library System, about the George A. Romero Archival Collection, which was gifted to the school after the filmmaker’s death in 2017. Next American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Amy Dennis, programming and public relations librarian at Tom Green County (Texas) Library System, about the library’s zombie doll program for youth. And finally, Morehart speaks with Seanan McGuire (aka Mira Grant), author of the Newsflesh trilogy of zombie novels, about the books’ inspiration and legacy.
In Episode 66, Call Number with American Libraries looks at two libraries featured in American Libraries magazine’s 2021 Library Design Showcase.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Heather Hart, manager of Salt Lake City Public Library’s Sprague branch, about renovations that were made to the 93-year-old, English Tudor–style library after a flood destroyed much of the building in 2017. Next, Morehart talks with Sean Ngo from architecture firm DLR Group about constructing the Cybrarium, a new technology-focused library in Homestead, Florida.
Librarians in the US serve different populations, each with a distinct set of needs. Among those are veterans, who often face unique challenges when returning to civilian life after their military service ends. Many of them turn to the library for help and resources, so it’s essential for library workers to know more about this community to better serve its members.
On Episode 65 of Call Number with American Libraries, we look at library services to veterans. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Angela Maranville, a US Air Force veteran and director of knowledge access and resource management at West Virginia University (WVU) Libraries in Morgantown. They talk about her experiences as a veteran in the library profession as well as services that WVU Libraries offers for the university’s student veterans.
Next, Morehart speaks with Michael Steinmacher, director of Barr Memorial Library in Fort Knox, Kentucky, about libraries on military bases and the services they provide for vets and enlisted members.
Since its emergence in New York City in the late 1970s, hip-hop has grown to become a musical, cultural, and economic force around the world. And it’s been embraced by libraries, which are using the art form for community outreach, teaching, preservation, and more.
In Episode 64, Call Number with American Libraries looks at libraries and hip-hop. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Ralph McDaniels, the hip-hop luminary who created the influential Video Music Box show in the early 1980s and who now serves as hip-hop coordinator at Queens (N.Y.) Public Library. Next, Morehart talks with Joquetta Johnson, a specialist in the department of equity and cultural proficiency at Baltimore County (Md.) Public Schools, about her work using hip-hop as a teaching tool.
In Episode 63, Call Number with American Libraries looks at outdoor-related activities with conversations about bugs, beach reads, and outdoor learning.
First, ALA Editions Senior Acquisitions Editor Rachel Chance speaks with Erin Rothenbuehler and Sean Duffy from Ohio County (W.V.) Public Library about a series of programs the library offers on bugs, most notably the Brood Ten cicadas. Next American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price talks with Susan Maguire, Senior Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach, at Booklist, and host of the Shelf Care podcast, about this summer’s best beach reads. Finally, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Denni Grassel, director of Delmont (Penn.) Library, about Delmont's new outdoor learning center.
In Episode 62, Call Number with American Libraries looks at law librarianship through conversations with law librarians representing two different areas of the profession.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Emily Florio, senior research services manager at international law firm Hogan Lovells and president of the American Association of Law Libraries, who provides a glimpse into the life and work of a law librarian. Next, Morehart talks with Anne Lucke, librarian at the National Indian Law Library in Boulder, Colorado, about why it’s important to have a library dedicated entirely to tribal law, the library’s materials, and other topics.
In this special bonus episode, Call Number with American Libraries celebrates Preservation Week (April 25–May 1) by looking at the 1619 Project, a collection of historical records, essays, photos, and audio that aims to reframe the consequences of slavery in the US and highlight the contributions of Black people to the American experience.
American Libraries senior editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project and honorary chair of Preservation Week, about the project’s origins, her team’s research, and why community archives are vital to preserving history.
In Episode 61, Call Number with American Libraries talks with school librarians about how they changed their work and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with three school library media specialists for Goochland County Public Schools in Virginia about how they bootstrapped a bookmobile to provide free books to kids learning remotely. Next, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart talks with Melissa Jacobs, director of New York City Schools’ Library System and the New York Department of Education’s Department of Library Services, about how librarians in the largest school district in the US operated during the pandemic.
With libraries closed or operating at reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, outreach is essential to let the community know that the library is still there for them and providing essential services. That outreach is particularly important for senior citizens who rely on the library not just for books, but often as a lifeline to others.
On Episode 60, Call Number with American Libraries looks at library outreach to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
First American Libraries associate editor Sallyann Price speaks with David Kelsey, outreach coordinator at St. Charles (Ill.) Public Library in St. Charles, Illinois, and president of the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services, about the importance of outreach to seniors, especially during the pandemic.
Next Call Number host and American Libraries senior editor Phil Morehart talks with Kim Huntley, manager of Toronto Public Library’s North York Central Library, about the library’s project of telephoning more than 20,000 of its senior patrons for wellness checks.
All eyes are on Washington D.C., this week with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act on March 10. The relief checks for Americans, money for state and local governments, child tax credits, and vaccine funding contained within the bill make headlines, but the bill also affects much more of American life, including libraries. But how did that happen? How are libraries represented in US government?
On this special bonus episode of Call Number with American Libraries, we look at library legislation and more at this particular moment in history. Shawnda Hines, assistant director, communications, at the American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office, speaks with Congressman Andy Levin (D-Mich.), a tireless library supporter, about his work on library legislation, including the Build America’s Libraries Act that was introduced in the House on March 3. They also discuss how best to advocate for your library at the state and national level and more.
In Episode 59, Call Number with American Libraries looks at efforts to move forward conversations about race and racism in the United States.
First, American Libraries managing editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker and current sports analyst for Fox Sports, about his YouTube series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man and book of the same name.
Next, American Libraries senior editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Jessica Bratt, youth services manager at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public Library, about the Let’s Talk About Race toolkit that she created for librarians.
In Episode 58, Call Number with American Libraries looks at library efforts to prevent COVID-19 contamination.
First, American Libraries Editorial and Advertising Associate Carrie Smith speaks with OCLC's Sharon Streams, director of the REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) project. A collaboration between OCLC, IMLS, and science and technology development nonprofit Battelle Memorial Institute, REALM is studying how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on materials common to libraries, archives, and museums.
Next, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart talks with Stephen Territo, head of library operations at Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, Illinois, about how the library installed UV lights and enhanced HVAC filtration solutions in its air handling units to kill airborne pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.
In Episode 57, Call Number looks back on author interviews conducted by American Libraries staffers throughout 2020.
Author, poet, and essayist Julia Alvarez, writer and artist Chanel Miller, chef Jeff Henderson, ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani, and writers Echo Brown and Yaa Gyasi discuss their work and reveal the important role that libraries and books have played in their lives.
This year has seen an increase in activism and community engagement from people across the country—especially teens. Whether working in-person or virtually because of the pandemic, the youth of today are energized to change the world. And librarians are helping.
On Episode 56, Call Number looks at library efforts to support and engage teen activism. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Donnell Washington, senior library assistant at Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Library, about the Better Hope for Tomorrow virtual summit for teens that he helped organize. Next, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowksi talks with Candice Wing-Yee Mack, senior librarian for young adult services at Los Angeles Public Library, about the library’s Teenagers Leading Change program.
Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year here at the podcast, because we get to indulge our love of all things spooky and scary, particularly in the realm of literature and libraries.
On Episode 55 of Call Number with American Libraries, American Libraries Senior Editor and Call Number host Phil Morehart speaks with Matt Ruff, author of Lovecraft Country, the bestselling horror/fantasy novel that’s been adapted into a hit series on HBO. Next, American Libraries staffers reveal what frightens them the most, everything from existential concerns to those very fitting for the Halloween season. Finally, American Libraries Managing Editor Tera Dankowski talks with Elizabeth Campbell Denlinger, curator of the Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and his Circle at New York Public Library, about the collection’s materials on Mary Shelley, author of the 1818 classic, Frankenstein, or a Modern Prometheus.
This past summer, American Library Association (ALA) President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. toured the US—virtually—to spotlight issues affecting libraries across the country, in particular small and rural libraries.
In Episode 54, we speak with Jefferson, as well as two librarians whose work was showcased on his tour. First, host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart discusses small-library concerns with Corey Christians, director of Yavapai County (Ariz.) Free Library District. Next, Morehart talks with Stacey Russell, interim executive director of Muskingum County (Ohio) Library System, about her library’s efforts to bridge the digital divide in the rural county.
In Episode 53, Dewey Decibel explores new ideas and issues in library architecture and design.
First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with Wardell Ross Jr., director of Houston operations for architectural firm Moody Nolan, who was project manager for Texas Southern University’s new Library Learning Center. Morehart and Ross discuss the library’s features and how its design reflects and showcases the heritage of the historically Black university.
Next, Morehart talks with Susan Nemitz, director of Santa Cruz (Calif.) Public Libraries, about how the library shifted its remodeling and rebuilding plans to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) added sustainability as one of the core values of librarianship, and libraries across the US are working to reduce their environmental footprint and raise awareness about resilience, climate change, and a sustainable future.
In Episode 52, Dewey Decibel talks with librarians who are implementing sustainable practices in both their libraries and their lives.
First American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Gabrielle Griffis, assistant youth services librarian at Brewster (Mass.) Ladies Library, about the Blue Marble Librarians, a group that helped promote Climate Prep Week across the state last year.
Next, ALA Editions Acquisitions Editor Jamie Santoro speaks with René Tanner, associate liaison librarian for the humanities division at Arizona State University (ASU) and Susan Norton, program manager for ASU's University Sustainability Practices, about sustainability programs they implemented at the university.
Finally, American Libraries Editorial and Advertising Associate Carrie Smith speaks with three library workers from Queens (N.Y.) Public Library—Library Manager Kacper Jarecki, Youth and Family Counselor Desmond Bonhomme, and Assistant Community Library Manager Sarah Gluck—who biked from New York City to the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia last winter to raise awareness about sustainability.
In Episode 51, Dewey Decibel welcomes two winners of 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards for illustration to discuss their work in the lead up to the American Library Association's Book Award Celebration on June 28.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with James E. Ransome, author and illustrator of The Bell Rang, a 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Honor Illustrator Book.
Next Morehart talks with April Harrison, whose illustrations in What Is Given from the Heart by the late Patricia McKissack earned her a 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards John Steptoe Award for New Talent for illustration.
In Episode 50, Dewey Decibel looks at privacy issues in libraries, including how COVID-19 is affecting privacy for both patrons and librarians alike.
First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with Becky Yoose, a library data privacy consultant with LDH Consulting Services, about Zoombombing—what it is, who it targets, and how to stop it. Next, Morehart talks with Peter McCracken, electronic resources librarian at Cornell University, about a privacy-services program instituted by the library to protect patron data and how the pandemic is affecting those services.
Five years ago this week, the city of Baltimore was upended by protests and riots following the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old unarmed black man who died while in Baltimore Police Department custody. Wes Moore, a Baltimore native and author of The Other Wes Moore and The Work: Searching for a Life that Matters, looks at Gray’s death and its aftereffects in his upcoming book, Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City, cowritten with former Baltimore Sun reporter Erica L. Green and available August 18 (One World/Penguin Random House).
In this special bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Moore about his book, socioeconomic conditions in Baltimore, and how Enoch Pratt Free Library was the bedrock of the city during the riots.
In Episode 49, Dewey Decibel looks at the library world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Felton Thomas, Jr., CEO of Cleveland Public Library, about the library’s use of 3D printers to make personal protective equipment for emergency workers. Then Morehart talks with Evan Knight, preservation specialist at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, about how to safely sanitize and clean collections to prevent spread of the virus.
It’s Women’s History Month, and librarians looking to supplement lesson plans and readings for students can find a wealth of resources in Gale’s Women’s Studies Archive, an online repository of primary sources and other materials that examine the social, political, and professional aspects of women’s lives and the experiences and achievements of women throughout history.
In this special bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, sponsored by Gale, a Cengage Company, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with a librarian doing just that. Kimberly M. Gay, head of reference and information services and academic reference and instruction librarian at Prairie View (Tex.) A&M University, shares how she uses the Women’s Studies Archive to shape programming and enhance students’ understanding of women’s roles, particularly in the areas of of agriculture, architecture, engineering, and more.
In Episode 48, Dewey Decibel celebrates women's history with conversations about feminism, the importance of oral histories in social justice movements and in telling women’s stories, and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with authors Mikki Kendall (Hood Feminism), Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist, Hunger), and Marilyn Harhai, professor of library science at Clarion University.
On February 24, Tracie D. Hall took the reins at the American Library Association as the new executive director. In this special bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, Hall sits down with American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy to discuss the changing face of the Association, the future of librarianship, library work with social justice issues, her favorite music, and more.
Presidential libraries have changed significantly since President Franklin D. Roosevelt conceived the system as a means to preserve evidence of the presidency for future generations to study and appreciate. In Episode 47, Dewey Decibel celebrates Presidents’ Day through conversations with directors of two presidential libraries about those changes and more.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Paul Sparrow, director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, about the beginnings of the presidential library system and how Roosevelt's library has changed since it opened in 1941. Next, Morehart talks with Brooke Clement, deputy director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, about why the library decided to eschew a physical building and become the first all-digital presidential library.
On Thursday, January 23, thousands of librarians and library workers will being to descend on Philadelphia for the American Library Association’s 2020 Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits. And they’ll be searching for the best places to eat and things to do while visiting the City of Brotherly Love.
In Episode 46, Dewey Decibel explores what to see and where to eat during Midwinter. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Linda August, reference librarian and curator of art and artifacts at the Library Company of Philadelphia, the oldest independent research library in the US that was cofounded by Benjamin Franklin in 1791, about Philadelphia’s must-see cultural sights.
Next, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Sarah Levitsky, marketing director at Reading Terminal Market, about where to find the best meals and hidden treasures at one of the largest public markets in the US.
In Episode 45, Dewey Decibel looks back at interviews conducted with speakers at the American Library Association’s 2019 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference.
NBC's Today co-host Hoda Kotb, journalist Mariana Atencio, actor and activist George Takei, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA Sylvia Acevedo, journalist and activist Isha Sesay, writer and CBS Sunday Morning contributor Mo Rocca, and philanthropist Melinda Gates reveal the important role that libraries and books have played in their lives.
In Episode 44, Dewey Decibel looks at the importance of library advocacy and offers tips on how to get involved.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Denis Cotter, chair of Loudon County (Va.) Public Library Board of Trustees, about how the board successfully lobbied the county board of supervisors for the elimination of fines at the library. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price talks to John Windmueller, work organizational training manager at Washington Improv Theater in Washington, D.C., about how learning improv comedy skills can help you become better at advocacy.
Everyone loves a good mystery, especially during the Halloween season. In Episode 43, Dewey Decibel talks with library workers who were involved in three very different cases.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Rebekah Heath, a research librarian and amateur sleuth who helped uncover the identities of the victims of the Bear Brook Murders in Allenstown, New Hampshire. Next, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski and Sarah Ostman, communications manager in the American Library Association's Public Programs Office, talk with library workers from La Porte County (Ind.) Public Library and Derry (N.H.) Public Library about two unsolved mysteries that listeners can help unravel.
In Episode 42, Dewey Decibel looks at new and renovated libraries featured in American Libraries’ September/October 2019 library design and architecture issue.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Gretchen Caserotti, director of Meridian (Idaho) Library District, about its 320-square-foot Tiny Library.
Next, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski discusses the construction of Austin (Texas) Public Library’s $125 million Central Library with its project manager, Cynthia Jordan.
Finally, Morehart speaks with Rachel Schipper, director of the Gioconda and Joseph King Library at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, Florida, about the artistic renovations completed on the library’s 80-year-old exterior murals.
In Episode 41, Dewey Decibel features conversations that stretch beyond US borders.
First, American Libraries Senior Editor George Eberhart speaks with Nigerian-American science-fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death, The Book of Phoenix) about how her heritage influences her work. Then, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with librarians from Toronto Public Library and Milton (Ont.) Public Library about initiatives that earned the libraries ALA Presidential Citations for Innovative International Library Projects.
The Coretta Scott King (CSK) Book Awards, which honors African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, Dewey Decibel invited five past winners and honorees to discuss the awards at a panel discussion at the American Library Association's 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.
Episode 40 revisits that panel, joining American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart as he talks with authors Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming), Jason Reynolds (As Brave As You), and Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give); author and illustrator Christopher Myers (Firebird); and illustrator Ekua Holmes (The Stuff of Stars) about the history and importance of the awards.
On Thursday, June 20, Washington, D.C. will become the capitol of the library world as thousands of librarians, library workers, students, scholars, and vendors descend upon the district for the American Library Association’s 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition.
In Episode 39, Dewey Decibel explores where to eat and see live music during Annual. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Meredith Prattt, author of Frommer’s EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2020, about the best places to dine in the district. Next, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Maggie Gilmore, librarian at Washington, D.C. Public Library (DCPL), and Bobbie Dougherty, manager of DCPL’s Northwest One branch, about DCPL’s Punk Archive and their favorite places to see live music.
Spring has sprung, and people are outside tending to their gardens and outdoor spaces—and the library is no different. Libraries across the country have repurposed spaces into gardens that are used to educate patrons about plant life and sustainability—and are helping to feed communities along the way.
In Episode 38, Dewey Decibel examines how libraries are using outdoor spaces for gardening and food production. First, ALA Editions Acquisitions Editor Rachel Chance speaks with Kathy Lane, programming, events, and outreach coordinator at Boulder (Colo.) Public Library (BPL), and the BeeChicas of Boulder, beekeepers who advocate for sustainable pollination and beekeeping, about BPL’s rooftop beehives.
Then, ALA Editions Acquisitions Editor Jamie Santoro discusses the Cellcom Children’s Edible Library at Brown County (Wisc.) Public Library (BCPL) in Green Bay, with Leah Liebergen, library services associate at BCPL.
Artificial intelligence (AI) no longer exists solely in the realm of science fiction—it's everywhere. From virtual assistants in smart phones and self-driving cars to data-crunching machine learning programs, AI is changing how we live and work. And it's now being used in libraries across the country.
In Episode 37, Dewey Decibel looks at how two academic libraries are using AI to reach students and help advance research. First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with Nicole Coleman, digital research architect at Stanford University Libraries, about the importance of AI for libraries and the university's multiple AI programs. Then Morehart talks with Boyhun Kim, chief technology officer and associate professor at University of Rhode Island Libraries, about the university's AI lab for students and faculty, as well as tips for libraries interested in exploring AI.
Weeding is an essential but controversial task. Removing outdated, unused, or deteriorating books ensures that a library's collections remain fresh and relevant, but some critics consider the library to be a repository for all materials, regardless of content or physical condition.
In Episode 36, two librarians discuss different aspects of the weeding process. "American Libraries" Senior Editor and "Dewey Decibel" host Phil Morehart speaks with Rebecca Vnuk, executive director of LibraryReads and author of "The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-By Shelf Guide" (ALA Editions, 2015) about why weeding is necessary, how to get started, and what to say to naysayers about its importance.
Next, Morehart talks with Brian Greene, a librarian at Columbia College in Sonora, California, who cowrote an article in the October 2018 issue of "C&RL News" on large-scale ebook weeding undertaken by the Community College Library Consortium in California. Greene discusses what he learned from the project and offer tips for completing such an endeavor.
February 16–23 is National Entrepreneurship Week. As community hubs and incubators, libraries are perfectly positioned to help new businesses get off their feet and thrive—whether it’s by offering resources and books to spark ideas or hosting programs on the ins-and-outs of business management led by local business leaders.
In Episode 35, Dewey Decibel looks at libraries that are leading the charge. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Amy Fisher, information readers services manager, and Morgan Perry, business outreach specialist, at Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri about that library system's Square One Business Services program. Next, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Roosevelt Weeks, director of Austin (Tex.) Public Library, about entrepreneurship programs the library offers in one of the most vibrant start-up environments in the US.
On Thursday, January 25, it begins: the American Library Association’s 2019 Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Seattle. Thousands of librarians, library workers, vendors, students, and scholars will descend upon the Emerald City for five days of programs, speakers, exhibit hall excitement, and more. The action isn’t limited to the confines of the Washington State Convention Center, however—Seattle is a city known for acclaimed restaurants, a vibrant music scene, and many natural wonders.
In Episode 34, we get tips on where to eat, what to see, and what to do during Midwinter. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with travel guru Rick Steves about his favorite off-the-beaten path sights in the Seattle area. Then Dankowski speaks with Tori Mann, chef at Seattle restaurant Lola, about her favorite spots to eat in the city. Finally, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Emily Cabaniss, librarian and music assistant at the Seattle Opera, about music happenings and more in Seattle during Midwinter.
As 2018 wraps up, Dewey Decibel revisits favorite interviews conducted at American Library Association conferences during the past year.
In Episode 33, American Libraries’ editors speak with an array of people about the inspirations behind their new books and the importance of libraries in their lives, including actor Sally Field (In Pieces), Bill Nye the Science Guy (Jack and the Geniuses), poet Elizabeth Acevedo (Poet X), journalists Jonathan Eig (Ali: A Life) and Robert W. Fieseler (Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation), and activists Marley Dias (Marley Dias Gets It Done—and So Can You) and Patrisse Cullors (When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir).
Looking for a job can be arduous and anxiety-inducing. It's not surprising: The end results can be life changing. And organizations looking to hire new employees face challenges, as finding the right candidate for a job can be difficult if the search isn’t conducted correctly. What can job seekers and employers do to improve the process to everyone’s benefit? In Episode 32, we find out.
First, ALA Editions acquisitions editor and Dewey Decibel contributor Jamie Santoro speaks with Caitlin Williams, author of Be Opportunity-Minded: Start Growing Your Career Now (ALA Editions, 2019), about tips for those on the job hunt and job market trends.
Next, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries associate editor Phil Morehart talks with David Connolly, recruitment ad sales manager for the American Library Association’s JobLIST, about what job hunters should be doing to find the right fit and what employers should be doing to find the right candidates.
Books flying off the shelves. Shadowy figures roaming the hallways. Unexplained sounds.
What’s going on at Peoria (Ill.) Public Library? Is the building possessed by spirits hovering above cursed ground? Or are these apparitions just a sign that librarians have been spending too much time in the stacks?
Do not attempt to adjust your audio. In Episode 31, “The Haunting of Peoria Public Library”—our special Halloween episode sponsored by Gale, a Cengage Company—Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart road-trips to Central Illinois to get to the bottom of these strange happenings.
Along the way, he enlists the advice of professionals—including award-winning nonfiction author and well-known debunker Mary Roach (Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife) and paranormal writer and speaker John B. Kachuba (Ghosthunting Illinois)—and interviews staffers at Peoria Public Library and Bradley University Library about their otherworldly encounters.
Ever wonder what your colleagues do outside of the library? Many of us have hobbies, intellectual and athletic pursuits, a travel bug, the desire to write or cook—you name it. We all live lives beyond the stacks, of course, but some of us do things that may surprise coworkers and patrons. In Episode 30, we explore these secret lives of librarians.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Adela Justice, senior librarian at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who’s a former Texas reserve deputy and the bassist in rock and blues bands.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Sarah Ramsey, media specialist at Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, who works as a certified life coach in her off hours.
Finally, Dankowski speaks with Susan Maguire, senior editor, collection management and library outreach, adult books, at Booklist, who writes the Librarians in Love romance novel series under the pseudonym Sarah Title. Maguire reads a passage from one of her books.
In Episode 29, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with two architects whose work with libraries was featured in American Libraries’ 2018 Library Design Showcase. We get behind-the-scenes perspectives on the buildings’ designs, construction, and effect on their communities.[/lead]
First, Morehart speaks with Jim Stufflebeam from SAAP Design Architects about the new library in Joplin, Missouri, which has become a symbol of rebirth for the town after it was devastated by a tornado in 2011.
Next, Derek Jones from the architecture firm Perkins + Will talks about the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle County, Delaware—a unique facility built to alleviate an information desert in the area.
Cybersecurity has been dominating news cycles this year. Whether its allegations of Russians hacking computers to influence US elections to reports of private individuals who have had vicious malware installed unknowingly on their computers, cybercrimes and cybersecurity affect us all. And libraries are no exception.
In Episode 28, Dewey Decibel looks at cybersecurity in the library world.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Patrick Craven, director of the Center for Cyber Security Safety and Education. They discuss the center’s mission, its programs for libraries, and tips on making you and your library cyber safe.
Next, Morehart talks with Todd Stephens, county librarian, and Chris McSwain, information technology and systems director, at Spartanburg County Public Libraries (SCPL) in South Carolina. SCPL was the victim of a ransomware attack in January. They recount the incident and provide tips on what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation.
On Thursday, June 21 it begins: the American Library Association’s 2018 Annual Conference in New Orleans. Thousands of librarians, library workers, book vendors, students, scholars and more will descend upon the Crescent City for five days of programs, speakers, exhibit hall wanderings and more. It’ll be a packed, long weekend, but the action isn’t limited to the confines of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. A city known for its pleasures, be it food, music, historical sights, nightlife…you name it you can probably find it in New Orleans.
So what to do? On Episode 27, we get must-see and must-eat recommendations from two folks who know the city well. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with David Slater, director of culinary development at famed New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse's Homebase. David shares his favorite places to eat in the city and more.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Shellie Lister, a librarian and public relations and community coordinator at St. Tammany Parish Library. St. Tammany Parish produces an excellent podcast on New Orleans culture and literacy. They discuss the city’s literary landmarks as well as some off-the-beaten path places in New Orleans.
The American Library Association’s (ALA) Policy Corps is an initiative that aims to develop advocates for conveying the importance of libraries and librarians to politicians at the local and national level.
On Episode 26 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, host Phil Morehart speaks with four members of the Policy Corp group—Lisa Varga, executive director of the Virginia Library Association; Qiana Johnson, collection and organizational data analysis librarian at Northwestern University Libraries; Larry Neal, Director, Clinton-Macomb (Mich.) Public Library, who is the ALA Policy Corp Fellow; and Deborah Rinio, secretary of the Alaska Association of School Librarians—about their Policy Corps experiences, why librarians are the best advocates for the profession, and more.
In Episode 25, Dewey Decibel features interviews with two librarians whose expertise has them on the front lines of environmental disaster relief and preparedness.
First, American Libraries' Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Miriam Centeno, a collections care coordinator at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Libraries. Miriam traveled to Puerto Rico to help train librarians there in preservation and collections care following Hurricane Maria in fall 2017.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, coordinator for library sustainability at Mid-Hudson Library System in Poughkeepsie, New York, and author of Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library's Future in an Uncertain World and Resilience, both published by ALA Editions.
Tax season is here, and money, investing, and financial matters are on everyone's mind. For some, making sense of it all can be intimidating and scary. Episode 24 of Dewey Decibel features interviews with two librarians who developed successful financial literacy programs to help their communities overcome money fears.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Lori Burgess, director of operations at Fond du Lac (Wis.) Public Library and the recipient of a 2012 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award, about her library's programs and why financial literacy education is important.
Next, Morehart speaks with Heather McCue, a children’s librarian at Richland Public Library (RPL) in Columbia, South Carolina, about Growing Savers, an RPL program that teaches financial literacy to kids and their parents.
In Episode 23, Dewey Decibel looks at two organizations working to preserve films and other moving-image media in an effort to better understand the history of both cinema and the United States.
First, Steve Zalusky, manager of communications for the American Library Association's Public Awareness Office, reports from the 6th annual Mostly Lost film workshop at the Library of Congress's Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia.
Next, Phil Morehart, Dewey Decibel host and associate editor of American Libraries Magazine, talks to AJ Lawrence, media conservation and digitization assistant at the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian, about the Great Migration Home Movie Project, a program that digitizes home movies documenting the African American experience.
In this special bonus episode, Dewey Decibel goes behind the scenes at the 2018 Youth Media Awards, held February 12 at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Denver.
American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart joins the award-selection committees as they make phone calls to the winners the morning before the award announcement event. Morehart then talks to the heads of the Coretta Scott King Book Award and Newbery Medal committees to learn more about the award-selection process. Finally, we join the Mock Newbery Club from Oakridge Middle School in Clover, South Carolina, as they watch the award announcements and discuss the winners.
In Episode 22, Dewey Decibel features two people who are helping to bring more diverse voices and representation to the comic book world and libraries.
First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Associate Editor Phil Morehart talks to G. Willow Wilson, the writer of the Ms. Marvel comic book. They discuss the inspiration behind the character Kamala Khan, the first Muslim-American superhero at Marvel to have her own comic, and why diverse comics are essential to creating a true representation of the world.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Mara Thacker, a librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) who curates the library's collection of South Asian comic books. They discuss the UIUC comics and tips librarians can use to diversify their own collections.
- It’s done. We did it. It was a doozy of a year in many ways, but we at Dewey Decibel are focusing on year-end cheer. Specifically, we’re retreating into and reexamining some of our favorite things (and I’m sure yours)—books.
In Episode 21, Dewey Decibel looks back at some highlights from the book world in 2017.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with author Stephanie Powell Watts in a conversation taped right after her book No One Is Coming to Save Us was announced by Sarah Jessica Parker as the first selection in ALA’s Book Club Central.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Andy Weir, author of The Martian, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film. They talked in June at ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago about the process of adapting The Martian to the big screen and Weir's new book, Artemis, which was just released in November.
Finally, Morehart sat down with Booklist Books for Youth Editor Daniel Kraus to discuss Booklist’s list of the 50 best young adult novels of all time.
The recent American Association of School Librarians (AASL) national conference in Phoenix served as the launch site for the updated National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries—a fascinating matrix of shared foundations and competencies that allows librarians and educators to address and meet the needs of 21st-century learners. The Standards were the talk of the conference. They even infiltrated it in an unlikely place—an escape room. The escape room at the AASL conference found participants using elements of the Standards to solve clues: collaboration, investigation, exploration, engaging with others, sharing, and so on.
In Episode 20, we explore the intersection between the Standards and escape rooms. First, host Phil Morehart speaks with Marcia Mardis, associate professor and assistant dean of interdisciplinary research and education in the College of Communication and Information at Florida State University and chair of the Standards editorial board, about the Standards, why they were updated, and what’s in the new edition.
Then we report from Phoenix where ALA Editions editor Jamie Santoro talks to former AASL president Terri Grief about the escape room before joining a team of librarians from Oklahoma as they tackle the AASL escape room.
Finally, Santoro talks with Patty Jimenez, a teacher-librarian at Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, about an escape room that she set up for her students in the library.
In early 2017, A1 Steak Sauce bottles began mysteriously appearing in the stacks at Avon Lake (Ohio) Public Library. How did they get there? Who would do such a thing? And why? In this special Halloween episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries associate editor Terra Dankowski attempts to answer those questions and more as we investigate The A1 Mystery of Avon Lake.
Whodunit? In early 2017, dozens of A1 Steak Sauce bottles began mysteriously appearing in the stacks at Avon Lake Public Library in Avon Lake, Ohio. Dewey Decibel investigates in a very special Halloween episode, available October 25.
In Episode 18, Dewey Decibel steps out onto the international stage.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Sandra Uwiringiyimana, author of How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of War Child (HarperCollins, 2017), which chronicles her life as a survivor of the 2004 Gatumba massacre in Burundi and as a refugee in the United States. They discuss the book, the plight of refugees in the US, and the importance of books and learning in her life.
Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel Foreign Correspondent Terra Dankowski reports from the 2017 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Congress in Wroclaw, Poland, where she talks to librarians from around the world about cataloguing, LGBTQ issues, and more.
Finally, Morehart talks to acclaimed author and poet Kwame Alexander about LEAP for Ghana, a program that he cofounded in 2012 that’s working to build a library for a small village in eastern Ghana.
In Episode 17 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries looks at the protests that took place on August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, through the eyes of the library world.
First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks to John Halliday, director of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville, and Krista Farrell, assistant director and branch manager of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s Central Library. The Central Library sits on what was the frontlines of the protests. John and Krista shared with Phil the events of that day and how their library handled it.
Next, Phil sits down with Jody Gray, director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, and Kristin Pekoll, assistant director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, to discuss ALA’s tracking of hate crimes at and in libraries and what you can do if your library falls victim to hate.
Finally, Phil talks to Peter Berg, associate director for special collections and preservation at Michigan State University Libraries. Michigan State University Libraries holds a massive collection of extremist literature, paraphernalia, and other materials. Phil and Peter examine the collection and why it’s important for libraries and archives to save these materials, despite the repugnant nature of some of them.
In Episode 16 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries magazine looks at the "fake news" phenomenon—its history, how we become susceptible to it, and how we can fight it.
Host and AL Associate Editor Phil Morehart talks with Joanna Burkhardt, fake news expert, professor and director of the University of Rhode Island branch libraries, and author of Teaching Information Literacy Reframed: 50+ Framework-Based Exercises for Creating Information-Literate Learners, about the history of fake news and how and its pernicious presence in today's media landscape.
Next, Dewey Decibel Senior Game Show Correspondent and AL Associate Editor Terra Dankowski quizzes librarians on fake news headlines and talks with them about news literacy at their libraries.
Finally, Morehart talks with Marnie Shure, managing editor of The Onion, about the satirical newspaper's very specific brand of fake news, the role of comedy in truth telling, and how current US politics affects its work.
In the new episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries shares tips and tricks for starting a library podcast.
AL Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Steve Thomas, manager of Buford-Sugar Hill branch of Gwinnett County (Georgia) Public Library and host of the Circulating Ideas podcast, on his experiences interviewing librarians to find out more about their work.
Next, Morehart talks with Frank Collerius, manager of Jefferson Market branch of New York Public Library, about his work as cohost of The Librarian Is In.
In Episode 14 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries examines a multi-faceted issue: privacy, both inside and outside the library.
AL Associate Editor and host Phil Morehart talks with Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read Foundation, about privacy concerns that affect libraries.
Next, Phil discusses the right to be forgotten—legislation that forces online search engines to remove information flagged as inaccurate or irrelevant by petitioners—with Jim Neal, university librarian emeritus at Columbia University and ALA president-elect.
Finally, AL Editor-at-Large Anne Ford speaks with Alison Macrina, director and founder of the Library Freedom Project, about the organization’s mission to help libraries secure patrons’ privacy.
If you have feedback for the Dewey Decibel team, email us at deweydecibel@ala.org. Tell us what you like, what you don’t like, or what you’d like to see us cover. Follow us on Twitter and leave us a review on iTunes.
In episode 13 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries looks into the future of libraries.
Host Phil Morehart talks to Miguel Figueroa, director of the American Library Association's Center for the Future of Libraries, about the center's work tracking future trends important to the library world.
Next, Phil talks to Kimber Fender, director of the Public Library of Cincinnati (Ohio) and Hamilton County, about the library's move to a fully-mobile service model.
Finally, Terra Dankowski sits down with author and urban planner Ryan Gravel to discuss his book, Where We Want to Live: Reclaiming Infrastructure for a New Generation of Cities (St. Martin's Press, 2016), and the future of urban environments and libraries.
In the new episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries welcomes two authors whose new books look at inspiring women, past and present.
Host Phil Morehart talks to Julie Foudy, former professional soccer player for the US women's national team, ESPN analyst and reporter, and 2017 National Library Week Honorary Chair, about her book, Choose to Matter: Being Courageously and Fabulously You (Disney Publishing Worldwide, 2017)
American Libraries associate editor Terra Dankowski sits down with Donna Seaman, editor of adult books at Booklist, to discuss her new book, Identity Unknown: Rediscovering Seven American Women Artists (Bloomsbury USA, 2017).
In the new episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries goes looking for love ... and finds it in the most unexpected places
Dewey Decibel senior love correspondent Terra Dankowski talks to three librarian couples—Elizabeth Westenburg and Evan Williamson; Amy Call and Ellen MacInnis; and Annie and Dan Bostrom—who found each other thanks to the American Library Association (ALA).
Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart looks at ALA's I Love My Librarian Award, with interviews with Sari Feldman, ALA immediate past president and chair of this year's award selection committee, and Andrea Bernard, one of the 2016 award winners.
In the 10th episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries Associate Editor and DD host Phil Morehart talks to three individuals who occupy a unique place in the Star Wars universe, revealing how the franchise has become a force with worldwide influence. Guest include:
Anne Neumann, general manager of Rancho Obi-Wan, a nonprofit organization in Sonoma County, California, that collects, conserves, and exhibits "Star Wars" toys, memorabilia, and artifacts.
Allen Callaci, literacy librarian at Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Library and organizer of the library’s "Star Wars" Day event—one of the largest in the US that draws thousands of attendees each year.
Saul Drake, project director of "Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume," an exhibition presented by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service that is bringing more than 60 costumes from the "Star Wars" franchise to museums across the US.
In this bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries reports from the Youth Media Awards (YMAs) at the 2017 American Library Association Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits. The YMAs have a devoted fan base, many of whom queue in the pre-dawn hours to get a prime seat for the ceremony. Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talked to some of them about their YMA fandom, their favorite kids books, and more.
In this very special episode of the "Dewey Decibel" podcast, host Phil Morehart presents a series of short interviews with a variety of luminaries who have spoken with "American Libraries" over the years, each of whom discussed the impact of libraries on their lives, including Khaled Hosseini (author of "The Kite Runner"), Alexander McCall Smith (creator of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series), game designer and writer Jane McGonigal, public speaker Jennifer Kahnweiler, Lois Lowry (author of "The Giver"), Nick Offerman (from TV's "Parks and Recreation"), author, curator, and university professor Sarah Lewis, writer and "This American Life" regular Sarah Vowell, and Margaret Atwood(author of "The Handmaid's Tale"). See the interviews in full at https://www.youtube.com/user/AmLibraryAssociation.
In this post-election episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, join American Libraries associate editor and host Phil Morehart as he examines presidential libraries and presidential history with three esteemed guests:
Meredith Evans, director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta
Jodi Kanter, associate professor of theater at George Washington University and author of the book Presidential Libraries as Performance: Curating American Character from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush
Ken Burns, director of the acclaimed documentary films The Civil War, Jazz, Baseball, Prohibition, The War, and many more, and author of the new book for kids, Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents
It's that time of the year again, when the days grow shorter, a chill creeps into the air, and the supernatural and otherworldly are ubiquitous—even in the library world. Join American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart for a very special Halloween edition of the podcast, featuring conversations with:
Greg Hager, director of Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana, which is notorious for being one of the most haunted libraries in the United States. Phil and Greg talk about the library’s history and haunts, and how it uses the internet to help visitors spot its ghosts.
Jake Adler, head librarian at the Conjuring Arts Research Center in New York City, a library and research facility devoted to the magic arts. Phil and Jake discuss the facility's collection of magic-related books and periodicals, its availability to researchers and the public, and more.
Daniel Kraus, award-winning author of numerous horror and fantasy books, including The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, the latest volume of which was released October 25, and Trollhunters, a book coauthored with filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro that is coming to Netflix as an animated series in December. Phil chats with Daniel about his projects and inspirations, their favorite horror films, and more.
To coincide with the conclusion of Banned Books Week, Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart looks at book banning, challenges, and censorship with three individuals at the forefront of the conversation:
James LaRue, director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and the executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. James and Phil talk about the difference between a challenge and a banning, the reasons behind books bannings in the US, and more.
Sara Stevenson, a librarian at O. Henry Middle School in Austin, Texas, who recently experienced a book challenge situation at her school. She relives the experience and offers tips to librarians facing similar books challenges or bannings.
Marjane Satrapi, the author of the award-winning graphic novel, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, and director of the Oscar-nominated film adaptation. Satrapi's book was briefly banned in a high school in Chicago in 2013. Phil spoke with Marjane from Paris about her work, the situation in Chicago, the nature of censorship, and more.
Episode Five tackles a topic close to host Phil Morehart's heart: library architecture and design. As editor of American Libraries Magazine's annual Library Design Showcase, Morehart was primed and perfectly suited to talk to this episode's three guests:
Brian Lee from Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, the chief architect behind Chicago Public Library's new, award-winning Chinatown branch. Lee and Morehart discuss the new Chinatown library and importance of a library integrating itself and reflecting the community in which it serves.
Kimberly Bolan, the library consultant behind Kimberly Bolan and Associates and author of "Teen Spaces: The Step-by-Step Library Makeover." Bolan and Morehart talk about the importance of teen spaces in libraries.
Fred Schlipf, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Schlipf and Morehart take off the gloves to talk about bad library design and how libraries can prevent it.
For Episode Four of the Dewey Decibel podcast, host Phil Morehart and a staff of reporters recap the American Library Association's (ALA) 2016 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, highlighting the celebrity interviews, staff and member conversations, and exhibit hall action for those librarians who attended, those who could not, and any listeners who may have wondered what kinds of programming and people you'll find at Annual.
Sociology professor, author, and political analyst Michael Eric Dyson sits down with American Libraries Senior Editor George Eberhart for an energetic, poetic interview about discovering literature, hip-hop, the Obama presidency, gun control, and “reaching young people where they are.”
The Pulse nightclub shooting, which happened two weeks before Annual, was much on the minds of organizers and attendees. ALA's then-chair of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table Peter Coyl speaks to AL Senior Editor Amy Carlton about how the Saturday morning memorial came together, the importance of remembering victims as individuals, and how civil rights pioneer US Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) came to participate.
ALA Editions Marketing Coordinator Rob Christopher reveals to Samantha Imburgia, ALA Publishing’s associate editor for e-learning solutions, what really goes on at the ALA Store, from bestselling books to setup and tear-down to author signings.
Plus, AL Associate Editor Terra Dankowski provides roving dispatches from the convention center.
American Libraries magazine is back with another installment of the Dewey Decibel podcast, and this time host Phil Morehart is taking on the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.
Episode Three features interviews with Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of the Carnegie Medal– and Pulitizer Prize–winning novel "The Sympathizer," and Nancy Pearl, renowned librarian, literary critic, and Carnegie Medals committee chair. The awards, cosponsored by Booklist and the American Library Association’s (ALA) Reference and User Services Association, were announced in January. Carnegie Medal winners Nguyen and Sally Mann (for the nonfiction book "Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs") will be honored at ALA’s 2016 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, June 25.
Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose confessional thriller is set in the years following the Vietnam War, talks to Phil about why he chose to tell his story as a spy novel and how he conceived his main character (“I thought of him like a bad James Bond”). He shares how growing up as a refugee in San José, California, influenced the book, and why, in researching his novel, he wanted to learn as much as he could about the making of the film "Apocalypse Now."
Nancy Pearl, chair of the Carnegie Medals nominating committee, explains who makes up the committee, how the nomination process works (“it’s not that formal”), and which lists are consulted for finalists. She talks about the difference between an enjoyable book and an important book—and what made "The Sympathizer" and "Hold Still" stand out.
Episode two examines a multi-faceted, important issue: library security. American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks to three people from the library world who work to help us understand how to handle safety issues—both large-scale, harrowing encounters and smaller but still disconcerting events—in our buildings and on our campuses.
Mary Ann Jacob, a library aide who works at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, who was present during the fatal shootings on December 14, 2012, shares her powerful story and how it led to her current work with Everytown for Gun Safety.
Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer, director of New Mexico State Library, explains some of the active shooter training programs she made available to her staff at the New Mexico and New Jersey state libraries.
Steve Albrecht, former San Diego police officer, host of the podcast Crime Time with Steve Albrecht, and author of Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities (ALA Editions, 2015), provides tips on what libraries can do to stay safe on a day-to-day basis.
In the first episode of American Libraries Dewey Decibel podcast, host Phil Morehart talks to Brad Meltzer, bestselling author and host of "Brad Meltzer's Decoded" and "Brad Meltzer's Lost History" on the History Channel; Michele Cloonan, preservation scholar and dean emerita at Simmons College School of Library and Information Science, and Michael Witmore, dean of the Folger Shakespeare Library.