Shush-Free Zone - Where librarians get loud!

In this episode of The Shush-Free Zone, host Dawn Brushammar speaks with Matthew Noe, a health sciences librarian at Harvard Medical School who specializes in graphic medicine. Matthew shares his path into librarianship, how comics became central to his professional identity, and why storytelling is such a powerful tool in health education.They explore how graphic novels can deepen understanding of illness, support empathy in medical training, and create meaningful connections between clinicians, patients, and communities. Matthew also discusses building a major graphic medicine collection, fostering community through zines and book clubs, and teaching future librarians about the growing intersection of comics, health, and knowledge sharing.About Matthew: Matthew Noe is currently the Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian at Harvard Medical School, an instructor for both the University of Kentucky and Library Juice Academy, and a Trustee for the Worcester Public Library. He is a former President for the American Library Association's Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table and the Treasurer for the Graphic Medicine International Collective. While continuing to take on far too many things, he tries to find time to be kind, do good, and read comics. Find him on social media at @NoetheMatt or by e-mail: matthew_noe@hms.harvard.eduRelevant Links: Graphic Medicine at Countway: https://countway.harvard.edu/services/collections/graphic-medicine-countwayGraphic Medicine International Collective: https://www.graphicmedicine.org/American Library Association, Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table: https://www.ala.org/gncrtSyllabus by Lynda Barry: https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/syllabus/Ripple Effects - an award-winning work of graphic medicine by Jordan Hart and Bruno Chiroleu, published by Fanbase Press. Matthew provided a foreword: https://fanbasepress.com/publishing/item/11960-ripple-effects/Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition by Maia Kobabe - Matthew provided annotations for this upcoming special edition: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gender-Queer-The-Annotated-Edition/Maia-Kobabe/Gender-Queer-A-Memoir/9798894880822Library Juice Academy, Introduction to Comics Librarianship course: https://libraryjuiceacademy.com/shop/course/337-introduction-to-comics-librarianship/More about that smoky tea, called lapsang souchong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsang_souchong

In this episode, host Dawn Brushammar sits down with the unstoppable Clare Bilobrk, whose decades-long journey across school, public, and law libraries has evolved into a career in content strategy and remote knowledge work.Clare shares how her love of literacy began with cloth books at age three, how a Saturday job at Torquay Central Library set her on the path to librarianship, and why understanding why something matters is the secret superpower of every great information professional.From law libraries in London to a year picking olives on a Croatian island, Clare’s story is full of detours that reveal just how flexible and global library and information skills can be.About Clare:Clare Bilobrk has over 25 years’ experience managing law libraries for national and international firms in the UK. She now works with Simple Little Library System and Lucidea, supporting information professionals worldwide in demonstrating the value of their services and systems. She writes regularly on knowledge management and library practice and has presented at BIALL, AALL, and other professional forums.Links:https://lucidea.com/author/clare/https://simplelittlelibrarysystem.co.uk/about-us/library-software-blog/Clare Bilobrk | LinkedIn

In this episode of Shush-Free Zone, host Dawn Brushammar sits down with Jennie Pu, director of the Hoboken Public Library, whose career path in the library world has been anything but linear. From childhood memories of summer reading to leading one of the most dynamic public libraries in America, Jennie shares how she’s turned a traditional institution into a sanctuary for creativity, dignity, and intellectual freedom.Jennie is also co-leading a statewide push for intellectual freedom, helped draft the Freedom to Read legislation, and presenting her work nationally. Her story highlights how librarianship can be a chutes-and-ladders career—full of unexpected turns, bold advocacy, and deep community service.Tune in to hear how Jennie champions the right to read, creates safe and accessible spaces, and shows just how varied and revolutionary a career in the LIS world can be.About Jennie PuJennie Pu is the Director of the Hoboken Public Library and a nationally recognized champion of intellectual freedom. With a career spanning school, academic, museum, and public libraries, she’s led a multimillion-dollar restoration, abolished fines, and launched New Jersey’s first book sanctuary city. A 2024 NJLA Librarian of the Year and Library Journal Mover & Shaker, Jennie also co-authored the state’s Freedom to Read legislation. Her work centers on creating inclusive, accessible spaces that serve real community needs. Jennie’s career path (which she describes in the episode as more chutes and ladders than straight lines) embodies the transformative power of librarianship. Connect with Jennie on Linked in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniepu/About Hoboken Public Library Founded in 1889 and housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the Hoboken Public Library connects people with ideas, opportunities, and each other, offering innovative programs, inclusive services, and a vibrant makerspace for lifelong learning and community growth. Learn more at Hoboken Library