The Library Pros

In this final installment from the conference, Bob speaks with two former guests and friends of the podcast Carol Ann Tack from The Merrick Library and Nick Tanzi, Chair of the committee that puts the conference together and Assistant Director at the South Huntington Public Library. Carol Ann is an amazing readers advisory librarian. She spoke about how she engaged patrons virtually during the pandemic with the Half Hour Happy Hour on Friday nights talking about. books, her virtual author talks and book groups (which attract 50+ people) and how it was an effective marketing strategy for services the library offers, including Libby, Hoopla, Goodreads, Novelist etc. She also talked about when we all went back in person, how she attracted 50+ people for in person events including author talks. Merrick also has a new program called “Real Talk” discussing non-fiction works. She envisioned it like MTV’s TRL (Total Request Live). Carol Ann also touches on if AI can do as good a job with readers advisory as a librarian! You can hear her podcast Top Shelf At The Merrick Library wherever you listen to podcasts!! Nick joined the discussion talking about how LILRC put the conference together and how people were engaging in reading currently. Having speakers talking about the neuroscience behind the activity and practical applications was a good combination. Nick also spoke briefly about artificial intelligence and the role is may play in the library world in the near and distant future. Currently library has access without a real understanding of the power of AI. As always, ,we thank LILRC for inviting the podcast to the conference and we hope to return next year.

The Podcast was happy to be invited back to the Long Island Library Resources Council’s Conference on Libraries and the Future. This is the first part of our conversation with amazing library related professionals talking about their presentations and how they work with libraries. In Part 1 Bob is joined by Joanna Christodoulou, Director of the BEAM Lab and is a professor at Harvard Medical School and a research associate at MIT. Joanna discusses positive neuroscience, reading the brain, reading disabilities, developing readers from a young age and neuroplasticity. She also agrees with Bob about libraries being safe spaces for learning. Bob also discusses the AC/DC concept brought up by Joanna which is 1. Analyzing; 2. Context; 3. Differentiate; and 4. Collaborate. To find out more about Joanna, visit her Website, or you can email her at jchristodoulou@mghihc.edu.

In this installment of the podcast, Chris sits down with Dr. Betsy Cauble, retired Social Worker and professor at Kansas State University. Chris and Betsy discuss the social work profession, training for social workers specifically working in libraries, assisting homeless that frequent our facilities, a “day in the life” of a social worker and the efficacy of having social work students interning at libraries.

Chris had the opportunity to converse with Essraa Nawar, Assistant Dean for Library DEI Initiatives and Development, recognized in Forbes Arab American Heritage, Top 40 Women of Egypt, 125 Most Influential People in OC, and Women of Influence in O.C. Top 30 Egyptian Women Abroad. Essraa delves into unconventional perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), underscores the significance of fundraising for libraries, shares insights from her beginnings in Egypt, and discusses the technological advancements that inspire her.

Download What an amazing time with Melissa Taylor, Manager of the Center for Innovation at the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Melissa shares about her corporate sponsorships with Walmart, JB Hunt and Tyson foods. Chris and Bob learned about all of the offerings in this beautiful facility and how Melissa keeps it all running, how it was started, the various spaces they have (2 sound recording studios and a podcast booth – and that is just the beginning) and their Maker to Market Cohort! So much to unpack in this episode including falling in love with librarianship!

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

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