Longshots #237 A Love Letter to Librarians
Sarah talks with Marilyn Johnson, author of The Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Johnson describes what motivated her to write this tribute to the new librarians that have guided her into the digital age. The book features librarians that are taking the profession out into the virtual and real communities they serve, including the Connecticut librarians that challenged the Patriot Act, the librarian that created Radical Reference, and the creators of Second Life. [Length: 16:56]

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Longshots #233 The Trend is Strong for Non-traditional Librarian Jobs
Sarah talks with Deborah Schwarz, president and CEO, Library Associates Companies (LAC). Contrary to reports, Schwarz sees a strong job market for librarians, as long as one is interested in less traditional library jobs, and LAC actually has more job listings than applicants. Scharwz stresses the positives on temporary positions for getting a foot in the door at libraries of all types. [Length: 15:44]

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Longshots #232: Rethinking Your Work
In this episode, Sarah talks with David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails, co-founder of 37signals, and co-author of Rework. They discuss how Rework can help organizations of all types rethink their work, the importance of working on an inspiration before the motivation fades, keeping policies fresh and updated, doing away with meetings, making small decisions and moving on rather than getting mired down in big decisions, and how ideas in the book can translate to non-profits and libraries. [Length: 16:22]

David Heinemeier Hansson  David Hansson  37signals  Rework  Ruby on Rails  future of libraries

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Longshots #231: The Innovative Products of Gale-Cengage
Sarah talks with Nader Qaimari, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Gale-Cengage, about what they offer to the library world. Nader talks about some new products Gale has introduced, such as Powerspeak Languages, a tool that employs innovative methods to help users acquire a new language, and AccessMyLibrary, an iPhone app that identifies libraries in a user's area and connects them to the library's Gale resources. They also talk about Gale's award-winning offerings GREENR, Encyclopedia.com, and Grzimek. [Length: 16:49]

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Longshots #230: Is the Netflix Model the New Library Model?
Sarah talks with Sean Reinhart, director of the Hayward (CA) Public Library, about the launch of Hayward's Fines-Free Library Loan program. Based on the Netflix model, for a low monthly fee, library users have the benefit of unlimited loan periods and no fines. Reinhart believes that like the private sector, libraries must be responsive to changing expectations to ensure continued use and customer satisfaction. [Length: 16:13]

Sean Reinhart  Hayward Public Library  Netflix  library fines

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Longshots #229: The Importance of International Librarianship
Sarah talks with Peter Lor, Visiting Professor, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, about international librarianship. They discuss the importance of collaboration and the work of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA). They also talk about the inception of MARC records and the delicacy of today's trend toward making our historical documents digital. Lor makes recommendations for preserving our history for future generations. [Length: 17:15]

Peter Lor  international librarianship  future of libraries  digitization  marc records  history  IFLA  collaboration

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Longshots #228: Getting Social with Your Community
Sarah talks with Ian Baaske, Web Applications Developer at North Suburban Library System and contractor with Innovation Experts, about social media tools and why libraries might want to take advantage of this easy way to reach your community. Innovation Experts can help you implement social networking tools at your library, as well as a variety of other products and services for Illinois libraries. Visit www.innovationexperts.com for more details. [Length: 16:42]

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Longshots #227: Tips for Making Illinois Library Day Successful
Sarah talks with Kip Kolkmeier, Illinois Library Association Lobbyist, about Illinois Library Day on April 16. Kip discusses the importance of visiting legislators and offers advice for those new to Illinois Library Day. He also advises on the key topics to cover: preserving funding for libraries without further budget cuts, supporting HB6780, the success of Illinois Library Snapshot Day, and the important services provided by regional library systems. After your visit, be sure to visit Save Illinois Libraries to complete the feedback form. [Length: 17:14]

Kip Kolkmeier  Illinois Library Association  library funding  Illinois Library Day  Illinois General Assembly  advocacy

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Longshots #226: Get Tips for Marketing Your Library
Sarah talks with Denise Raleigh, Director of Marketing, Development, and Communications at Gail Borden Public Library District, about her many marketing successes. The library has been recognized nationally for their marketing efforts. Denise offers some marketing tips, such as taking well-planned risks, planning for big photo opportunities, and thinking big. [Length: 18:04]

marketing  Denise Raleigh  Gail Borden Public Library District  marketing successes  census  future of libraries

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Longshots #225: Bringing Information Right to Your Door
Sarah talks with JoAnn Sampson, Special Services Department Head at the Orange County Library System in Orlando, FL, about their MAYL -- Materials Access from Your Library -- service. The service, which started in 1974, offers home delivery of patrons' requested materials. JoAnn talks about the benefits to the library of offering this service, as well as how it provides better service to their patrons. [Length: 16:15]

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Longshots #224: Innovating Delivery in Massachusetts
Sarah talks with Greg Pronevitz, regional administrator at the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System in Danvers, MA, about their planning to provide innovations in delivery. Greg is co-chairing an effort to coordinate a cooperative delivery service that finds a way to automate sorting and work in tandem with a variety of libraries throughout Massachusetts. He talks about the challenges they faced in forming a cross-library automated system, as well as some of the opportunities it has presented. [Length: 16:22]

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Longshots #223: Bringing Change to the Huntley Library
In an interview recorded in December 2009, Sarah talks with Patrick McDonald, new director at the Huntley (IL) Area Public Library District, about what led him to library work and the opportunities that changes in Huntley's population are bringing to the library. Patrick also talks about his plans to help shape the library's image in the community beyond just being a source of books. [Length: 17:06]

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Longshots #222: From solitary to social: creating an academic library for the whole student
Sarah talks with Brian Mathews, assistant university librarian, University of California-Santa Barbara, about making academic libraries more user-sensitive. Brian's work explores the way academic libraries can adapt services to serve the whole student versus just their current projects. He discusses the seven categories that describe the spectrum of student needs: academic, social, entertainment and recreational, service, personal, travel, and rejuvenation. [Length: 17:29]

Brian Mathews  University of California  Santa Barbara  Academic Libraries

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Longshots #221: Future Plans for Indian Trails Public Library District
Sarah talks with Tom Simiele, new director at Indian Trails Public Library District about his background as an attorney, how he came to a career in libraries, and his family's connection to libraries. He goes on to share his plan for the future of Indian Trails Public Library District and how it's influenced by Trader Joe's model of service. [Length: 17:08]

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Longshots #220: Taking Charge at Dundee Library
In an interview recorded in November 2009, Sarah talks with Roxane Bennett, the new director of the Dundee Library in Dundee, IL, about the road that led her to Dundee. Roxane talks about her background as a children's librarian, and how she's using that to pursue a model of experiential learning for children at her library. She also talks about the differences she's seen in libraries across the country, and how Illinois' libraries compare to the ones she's worked for in other states. [Length: 17:05]

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Longshots #219: Leading the Library Down a New Path
Sarah talks with Cynthia Fuerst, library director at the Vernon Area Public Library District in Libertyville, IL. Cynthia was only recently appointed to the position, and talks about the direction that she sees her library going in since her arrival. She talks about the importance of keeping up with social media and making it fit in the existing library structure, while making sure the library doesn't leave behind its users who aren't immediately receptive to the new technology. She also talks about advocating for library issues, and the importance of making your voice heard. [Length: 17:27]

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Longshots #218: Pushing Information Literacy to the Cutting Edge
Sarah talks with Diane Mirvis, university librarian, Associate Vice President – Information Technology, and CIO at the University of Bridgeport (CT), about their innovations at the forefront of electronic library usability. Diane explains how the university took a mandate to maintain information literacy in its students as the inspiration to upgrade to a suite of cutting-edge library technology that delivers more intelligent and more widely accessible research capabilities to the library's users. [Length: 16:20]

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Longshots #217: The Future of Innovation is In the Clouds
Sarah talks with Rob Zschernitz, System Engineer at the North Suburban Library System and contractor with Innovation Experts, about what cloud computing is and why libraries might want to take advantage of this rapidly growing trend. Innovation Experts can help you implement cloud computing at your library, as well as a variety of other products and services for Illinois libraries. Visit www.innovationexperts.com for more details. [Length: 16:23]

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Longshots #216: Bringing Graphic Novels to the Library
Sarah talks with Robin Brenner, creator and editor of the "No Flying, No Tights" graphic novel blog and librarian at the Brookline (MA) Public Library, about graphic novels in the library. Robin and Sarah discuss the history of graphic novels, how the perception of them has changed over time, and the role they can play in the community. Robin also gives tips on how to build a graphic novel collection at a library, and gives her insights into what's popular in the genre now. [Length: 16:32]

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Longshots #215 Can This Library Save the Planet?
Sarah talks with Leora Siegel, library director for the Chicago Botanic Garden. Leora discusses the new Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center and its critically important conservation initiative: Save the Plants. Save the Planet. Leora talks about the special library services for scientists at the new research center, and the long-standing public-access library that had 14,000 visitors last year looking for assistance with plant research or to view the exquisite rare book exhibits. [Length: 18:16]

Leora Siegel  Chicago Botanic Garden  Chicago Horticultural Society  Lenhardt Library  Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center

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Longshots #214 Building Cross-Cultural Bridges in Diverse Communities
Sarah talks with Catherine Popowits, founder and president of Diversity Training & Consulting, Inc. Catherine explains how growing up with immigrant grandparents, as well as living and working in many different countries, provided her with a greater understanding of the challenges of immigrants. She has found a substantial interest on the part of library staff to learn about the needs of the many cultural communities they serve. Catherine's training provides the fundamentals for building cross-cultural skills and developing cross-cultural networks for effective outreach and service. [Length: 17:20]

Catherine Popowits  diversity  diversity training  cross-cultural  multi-cultural  outreach

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Longshots #213 YA Books: Exciting, Contemporary, and Exploding in Popularity
Sarah talks with Kathleen Odean, youth librarian and author of the The Great Books series for children. Kathleen shares her enthusiasm for the Young Adult (YA) genre, and how it has been embraced by not only teens, but adults of all ages. Kathleen talks about how the focus on story and the tackling of contemporary issues, help make YA literature both exciting and satisfying. [Length: 17:40]

Kathleen Odean  YA  young adult  Teens  YA literature  young adult literature

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Longshots #212 An Introvert Explains the Quiet(er) Path to Success
Sarah talks with Nancy Ancowitz, business communication coach and author of Self-Promotion for Introverts® ("Best Books 2009" - Publishers Weekly). Nancy knows from experience that self-promotion is just a skill that can be learned. She explains the importance for introverts of pinpointing your unique and special qualities, and then practice how you will communicate that in both personal and professional situations. Nancy notes that it is key to know your audience and their preferred communication style. It is also important to have a strong verbal presence - so be sure to speak up! [Length: 16:52]

"Nancy Ancowitz" "public speaking" "self promotion" "business communications" introverts  Nancy ancowitz  public speaking  self-promotion  business communications  introverts

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Longshots #211 The Future of Libraries Begins with the User Experience
Sarah talks with Tom Sloan, Executive Director at the DuPage Library System, headquartered in Geneva, Illinois. Tom brings to Illinois successful models of library and library system cooperation from his previous director positions at the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) and the State Library of Delaware. Tom explains why the future success of libraries is dependent on a solid examination of the full user experience at the library versus the more limited focus on the collection. Tom also explains why libraries must perform as community centers that supply the tools for creative energy, not just places to provide meeting rooms and a place to study. [Length: 17:15]

Tom Sloan  DuPage Library System  SEFLIN  future of libraries  library technology  Illinois Library Systems

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Longshots #210 Why Working Together is the Key to Survival
Sarah talks with Michael Piper, Executive Director for the Prairie Area Library System, which covers a service area of 10,000 square miles in northern Illinois. Through years working in the arena of multi-type library cooperation in Kansas, Texas, Michigan, and Indiana, Michael is convinced that the sustainability of libraries and library systems is dependent on cooperation and consortia. And as "bartenders of knowledge," cooperative efforts will support us in what we do best – help people transform and grow. [Length: 17:52]

Michael Piper  Prairie Area Library System  INCOLSA  library consortia  multitype library cooperation  Illinois Library Systems

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Longshots #209: Building a Green Library
Sarah talks with Doug Skinner, an architect at Engberg Anderson, about their completion of the Rakow branch of the Gail Borden Public Library District. The building features environmentally sustainable elements and is registered as a LEED project. They also discuss new features of the library, such as the ability to check out DVDs 24/7. [Length: 17:50]

future of libraries  Green Libraries  LEED  Gail Borden Public Library District  Rakow branch  Doug Skinner  Engberg Anderson

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Longshots #208: Future Plans for Purdue University Calumet Academic Library
Sarah speaks with Frank Cervone, Vice Chancellor for Information Services at Purdue University Calumet, about his position at the university and the importance of technology in the academic library. They also discuss his plans for the library, including being more proactive within the university, making it more of a social center for students, and digitizing their special collections. [Length: 18:36]

academic library  future of libraries  Purdue University  Frank Cervone  technology

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Longshots #207: Helping Others Cope with the Challenges of Job Loss
Sarah speaks with Diane Shelton, MA, LCPC, and founder of Follow Your Instinct about the "Helping Others Cope with the Challenges of Job Loss Amid Economic Crisis" program she's presenting at North Suburban Library System. They cover ways librarians can build skills in empathetic listening, maintain physical and emotional boundaries, and how to disengage from patrons they are not able to help. Additonally, tips are given for librarians looking for a new job themselves. [Length: 16:45]

job loss  job search  job skills  Diane Shelton

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Longshots #206: Libraries Are Mirrors of the Community
Sarah talks with Liz McGettigan, Library and Information Services Manager for the City of Edinburgh Council in Scotland about their virtual library project. They also discuss the Tales of One City blog, how they are applying Web 2.0 strategies in reinventing their website, their new branding plan, how they work to mirror the community, and a conference they put together each year featuring products and best practices. [Length: 16:40]

web 2.0  blog  Edinburgh  Liz McGettigan  virtual library  library of the future  community

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Longshots #205: Creating a Balanced Approach to Illinois' Budget Crisis
Sarah talks with John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law and one of the conveners of the Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC). Listen as they discuss HB 174, which creates revenue to provide a more balanced approach to fixing crisis while reforming the system and includes provisions to insulate the lower end of the income tax-paying public. They also talk about what the RBC is doing to help during the impasse, as well as what Illinois citizens can do. [Length: 18:10]

Responsible Budget Coalition  RBC  HB 174  House Bill 174  Illinois  advocacy  John Bouman  budget

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Longshots #204 Coalition in Action to Solve Illinois' Budget Crisis
Sarah talks with Kathy Ryg, president of Voices for Illinois Children, and former State Representative for the 59th Legislative District. Kathy explains the platform for the Responsible Budget Coalition, a statewide coalition of over 100 organizations committed to building the support needed to solve Illinois' budget crisis. She explains how a modernized tax system is the key to revenue growth for Illinois, and recommends that citizens learn more about the HB 174. [Length: 17:04]

kathy ryg  Voices for Illinois Children  Responsible Budget Coalition  HB 174  House Bill 174  Illinois  advocacy

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Longshots #203: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data
Sarah talks with Nicole Engard, Director of Open Source Education at ByWater Solutions and author of Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data. They take a look at topics covered in the book, such as how to take various data sources and mash them into new ways to improve libraries, changing catalog data, and ways to mashup websites. [Length: 17:07]

future of libraries  improve libraries  improve websites  catalogs  Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data  Library Mashups  deliver library data

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Longshots #202: The Medical Library Association Makes Changes in Light of Recession
Sarah talks with Carla Funk, Executive Director of the Medical Library Association about the benefits of membership. They also discuss the ways MLA offers continuing edition, how the association is funded, and the challenges the MLA is facing during these difficult financial times. They also look at the changes the MLA is making to keep current and competitive in spite of reduced funding. [Length: 17:50]

Medical Library Association  Carla Funk  future of associations

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