Sparks Podcast

Sparks Podcast - Episode 44 - Open Educational Resources Jun 05, 2023

RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris talks with Dan Matthews, Cataloging and Digital Services Librarian at Moraine Valley Community College Library about the benefits of open educational resources and how to get started using OERs.

Sparks Podcast - Episode 43 - Illinois Libraries Present Apr 17, 2023

RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris talks with Kate Hall, Jennifer Czajka, and Mara Barbel from Illinois Libraries Present, a cooperative programming intitative that provides high-quality online events at equitable prices for member libraries. They talk about how ILP was created, the long-term goals for the program, and how your library can take advantage of its benefits.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 42 - CPL Commissioner Chris Brown Feb 21, 2023

RAILS (then interim) Executive Director Monica Harris talks with Chicago Public Library (CPL) Commissioner Chris Brown about The Book Sanctuary (committed to protecting banned and challenged books) and the 150th anniversary of CPL.

Links:

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 41 - Support for School Libraries Jan 19, 2023

RAILS Interim Executive Director Monica Harris talks with AISLE Executive Secretary Carolyn Kinsella and RAILS Data Research Specialist Janette Derucki about efforts to support school libraries in Illinois, including a statewide partnership and RAILS’ School Library Data Project.

Related Links:

https://www.railslibraries.info/deals/183705 RAILS Deals and Discounts web page for COHS
https://www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/rpls-career-online-high-school/ Rockford’s COHS web page

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 39 - Data Analysis Apr 26, 2022

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with RAILS Data Analysis Manager Grant Halter about how he defines data, demonstrating the library’s value through data, the difference between useful and interesting data, using your strategic plan to develop a survey and gather data, and much more!

Relevant Link: https://www.railslibraries.info/issues/240560

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 38 - More Strategic Planning Feb 28, 2022

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with RAILS Associate Executive Director Monica Harris about our recent strategic planning process: choosing a consultant, virtual tools, member feedback, and much more. They also give advice on how libraries can create their own strategic plans.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 37 - Strategic Planning Jan 18, 2022

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Stephanie Chase, Founding Principal of Constructive Disruption (https://www.constructivedisruption.info/), about the importance of strategic planning. Stephanie gives some good tips for what to do if you have little money or little time.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens (https://juliejurgens.bandcamp.com/)

Sparks Podcast - Episode 36 - CARLI Open Educational Resources Nov 16, 2021

In our latest Sparks podcast, RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois) staff members Anne Craig (Senior Director) and Michele Leigh (Senior Coordinator, Open Illinois) about CARLI’s $1.08 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Open Textbooks Pilot Program. The grant will fund a program that will provide access to open textbooks and personalized learning tools for entry-level courses in high-demand health care and human development career paths. Please note: We had some technical issues with Deirdre’s microphone, but the content is worth sticking with it!

Relevant Link:

https://www.carli.illinois.edu/products-services/collections-management/IllinoisSCOERs

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 35 - My Library Is... School Grants Sep 15, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Heather Perhach (CUSD #5 in Streator), Andrea Perrin (CCSD #50 in Gurnee), and Emily Porter (CCSD #299 in Chicago), who have all received My Library Is… grants for their school libraries. Each is working on projects that focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

https://www.railslibraries.info/services/my-library-grants

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 34 - Highwood Public Library Jul 30, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Carmen Patlan, Executive Director of Highwood Public Library, about winning the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This podcast provides an excellent example of what a small library with very limited resources can do to make a real difference in the community through grants, partnerships, and volunteers.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Relevant Links:

Waukegan Public Library website https://www.waukeganpl.org/
Highwood Public Library Recognized as a 2021 Recipient of Nation’s Highest Museum and Library Honor Press Release, May 18, 2021 https://highwoodlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/Highwood-Public-Library_2021-National-Medal-Press-Release.pdf
National Medal 2021 Virtual Ceremony August 24, 2021 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CDT) https://www.imls.gov/events/national-medal-museum-and-library-service-2021-virtual-ceremony

Sparks Podcast - Episode 33 - Durand CUSD #322 Jun 01, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Durand CUSD #322 school librarian Audra Hill and Kelly Giovanine, Executive Director of Durand Charm, a local non-profit, about their My Library Is… grant project to promote the combined school and public library. Many in the community are not even aware that they have a library.

Durand Charm: https://durandcharm.com Durand CUSD Grant Application Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOJ3ycziilo

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 32 - Gerber/Hart Library & Archives Apr 27, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with representatives from Gerber/Hart Library & Archives about their journey to create an eight-episode podcast on the personal stories of LGBTQ life and history in Chicago.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 31 - Fox River Grove Public Library Mar 16, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Fox River Grove Public Library District Director Nicole Steeves about the videos her library made after being awarded a My Library Is... Grant. Nicole talks about how their videos came together and she provides great, specific tips for libraries that want to do something similar. Their videos can be found in the Sharing Showcase of the My Library Is... website.

Relevant Links -

My Library Is... Grants: https://www.railslibraries.info/services/my-library-grants
FRG video: https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/552
FRG video: https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/551

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens: https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 30 - Quincy Public Library Feb 11, 2021

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Executive Director Kathleen Helsabeck and Assistant Director & Marketing Coordinator Burgundy Hill from Quincy Public Library, about how they worked with library users to tackle budget cuts to the library. Using simple, low-cost methods to make their case with the city council, Quincy Public Library came out victorious. This is a wonderful story about the importance of advocating for your library.

Relevant Links:

Quincy Public Library - https://www.quincylibrary.org/
My Library Is... blog post about the videos of community members speaking up for the library at city council meetings - https://www.mylibraryis.org/blog/how-quincy-public-library-used-videos-show-their-community-support

QPL Community Videos:

https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/378 (Patron talks about the value she receives from Quincy Public Library programs)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/377 (Patron talks about QPL's value for genealogy research)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/376 (Quincy Public Schools staff member describes the benefits QPL provides to schools and children)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/375 (Community leader talks about the value of a strong library to the community and to her personally)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/374 (Teens tell about the value of QPL to the teens in our community)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/373 (Patron describes the impact of a library for her family and her community)
https://www.mylibraryis.org/showcase/videos/372 (Patron describes how QPL has changed her family's life)

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 29 - Lauren Rosenthal Nov 10, 2020

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks, via Zoom, with Library Director Lauren Rosenthal, from Fox River Valley Public Library District, about the importance of data in library advocacy and telling a compelling library story. Lauren gives great specific examples about how she used data to achieve library goals.

They discuss the library's creation of a Transparency Dashboard and Long Overdue Project/Survey, as well as how the library secured COVID-19 relief funds through the effective use of data.

Data comes to life in this podcast. We hope you enjoy!

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 28 - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Aug 18, 2020

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Assistant Library Director Teri Campbell from Evanston Public Library, Preschool Outreach Librarian Emily Conradt from St. Charles Public Library District, and Community Engagement Manager Nancy Kim Phillips from Skokie Public Library about their libraries EDI initiatives and activities.

Relevant links:

Evanston Public Library’s EDI task force info https://www.railslibraries.info/news/172013
Skokie Cares http://skokiecares.org/
EDI Pulse Page https://www.railslibraries.info/issues/183804
RAILS EDI Mailing List (for discussion, shared ideas, and other EDI opportunities) https://www.railslibraries.info/user/6935/user_mailman_register#edit-list61
Project READY: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth: A free online professional development curriculum https://ready.web.unc.edu/

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 26 - Census 2020 and Libraries Feb 05, 2020

In the latest episode of Sparks, RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Amy de la Fuente, RAILS Census 2020 Program Manager, about the significant role libraries will play in ensuring a complete census count throughout the state, and how RAILS and it’s subgrantees will use the grant received from the Illinois Department of Human Services for the 2020 census.

Relevant Link:

https://www.railslibraries.info/issues/170330

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 25 - E-Resources Dec 19, 2019

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with RAILS' own Leila Heath and Anna Behm about e-resources, including RAILS' e-content and self-publishing resource, inkie.org, the robust amount of material (or rabbit-hole if you prefer) on the BiblioBoard Library, current publisher restrictions on library e-content, and more.

Relevant links:

inkie.org https://inkie.org
BiblioBoard https://library.biblioboard.com
RAILS Library Pulse: E-Content Issues https://www.railslibraries.info/issues/170353

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 24 - Brian Shepard Oct 02, 2019

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Library Director Brian Shepard from Indian Trails Public Library District about being named Librarian of the Year, promoting the value of libraries, library remodels, getting into the library field, and more.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 23 - Panorama Project Aug 07, 2019

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Magan Szwarek, Director of Reference Services at Schaumburg Township District Library. They discuss the Panorama Project's data-driven insights on libraries and their impact on book discovery.

https://www.panoramaproject.org/

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 22 - Annie Bostrom, Booklist Jun 16, 2019

RAILS Executive Director talks with Annie Bostrom, Associate Editor for Adult Books at Booklist, and chair of the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medals. They talk about the Carnegie awards dinner, the process of choosing the winners, the wonders of meeting authors, and reading the best books.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 21 - Kim Caviness, Imagination Mar 13, 2019

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Kim Caviness, Chief Content Officer of Chicago marketing firm Imagination about content marketing, how it is relevant to libraries, that print still has a place in our digital world, and our collaboration on the Dreams Take Flight video.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 20 - Harassment in Libraries Feb 05, 2019

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Amanda Civitello and Katie McLain from Waukegan Public Library about sexual and other kinds of harassment in libraries, how library staff can handle harassment, and how administration can create a safe environment for employees. Slides and handouts for their American Library Association conference talk "It's Not 'Just Part of the Job'" are also available for those interested in learning more.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 19 - Justin Williams Dec 10, 2018

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Justin Williams, Adult Services Librarian at Westmont Public Library, about the library’s Makery (Library of Things) and how other libraries can start a similar collection.

Relevant links: https://westmontlibrary.org/makery

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Special Episode - Veronda Pitchford Nov 06, 2018

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Veronda Pitchford, former director of Membership Development and Resource Sharing at RAILS. They discuss projects Veronda had been part of during her five years at RAILS, including her challenges, successes, and wishes, with special attention to the growth of e-resources.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 18 - Rockford Public Library Oct 01, 2018

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Lynn Stainbrook, Executive Director at Rockford Public Library, about the library’s building project, including its unusual origins; envisioning sessions held with different community groups, including teenagers; and her advice for others going through a building project.

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 17 - Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Jul 03, 2018

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with 2018 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project (STBF) winner, Heather Bentley, and STBF committee member and Marketing/PR Director at Mount Prospect Public Library, Carol Morency, about writing, self-publishing, what they are reading now, and exciting news for STBF. Bentley's book, Sweetest Heartbreak, is available to read on BiblioBoard.

Relevant Links

STBF - http://soontobefamous.info/

Books Mentioned

Sweetest Heartbreak by Heather Bentley
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 16 - E-Books May 22, 2018

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with RAILS Director of Membership Development and Resource Sharing Veronda Pitchford and Mitchell Davis, Founder & CEO of BiblioBoard, about the e-book industry.

Related links:

https://www.ila.org

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 13 - Karen Keefe Dec 05, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Karen Keefe, Executive Director of Hinsdale Public Library, about trends libraries should be paying attention to, what library staff can do to start identifying relevant trends, and the Library Forecasting Interest Group.

Relevant Links:

https://www.libraryforecasting.com/
http://www.ala.org/tools/future/

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks - Episode 12 - Keith Michael Fiels Oct 03, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Keith Michael Fiels, recently retired Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA), about his 15 years of service at ALA, including accomplishments, favorite moments, challenges, and other stories from the road.

Relevant links: http://www.ala.org

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 11 - Larisa Good and Michelle Simmons Aug 23, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Larisa Good, Director of Warren County Public Library District in Monmouth, Illinois, and Michelle Simmons, library trustee and RAILS Board member, about innovative things that small (and all) libraries can do to engage their communities.

Relevant Links:

http://www.wcplibrary.org/

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 10 - Liz Aviles Jul 10, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Liz Aviles, Vice President of Market Intelligence at Upshot, about the marketing agency’s report on seven retail trends to watch in 2017 and how libraries can capitalize on these trends to better serve their customers.

Relevant links:

Seven retail trends to watch in 2017 https://upshot.agency/happenings/2017-trends

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 9 - Rebecca Teasdale May 16, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Rebecca Teasdale, Senior Evaluation and Research Associate at the Garibay Group in Chicago, about how libraries can use evaluation to improve their programs/services and for organizational learning.

Relevant links:

Team-Based Inquiry: A Practical Guide for Using Evaluation to Improve Informal Education Experiences Available as a free download from: http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/team-based-inquiry-guide
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook Available as a free download from: https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resource/2010/w-k-kellogg-foundation-evaluation-handbook
Evaluating the Impact of Your Library (book) Sharon Markless and David Streatfield Facet Publishing, UK, 2012 http://www.worldcat.org/title/evaluating-the-impact-of-your-library/oclc/976189791

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 8 - Margaret Peebles Apr 10, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Margaret Peebles, Division Chief of Public Services at Gail Borden Public Library District, about the crucial role libraries can play in helping patrons deal with "fake news," including how to evaluate what's "real" online.

Relevant Links

http://gailborden.info/fakenews

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com

Sparks Podcast - Episode 7 - Andrew Medlar Mar 02, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Andrew Medlar, Assistant Chief, Technology, Content and Innovation at Chicago Public Library, about the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and DPLAfest, April 20-21, 2017, in Chicago.

Relevant Links

Digital Public Library of America https://dp.la/
DPLAfest https://dp.la/info/get-involved/dplafest/april-2017/
Chicago Public Library https://www.chipublib.org/
Black Metropolis Research Consortium http://bmrc.lib.uchicago.edu/
Chicago Collections http://chicagocollections.org/

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 6 - Ryan Livergood Jan 24, 2017

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Ryan Livergood, Executive Director of Warren-Newport Public Library, about how libraries can get started with fundraising, different strategies and events libraries can try, identifying donors and building relationships, the importance of establishing policies, and much more. Relevant Links Warren-Newport Public Library District website http://www.wnpl.info Library Strategies http://librarystrategiesconsulting.org The Fundraising Librarian http://www.fundraisinglibrarian.com

Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 5 - Amita Lonial Nov 08, 2016

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Amita Lonial about how she got involved in the Libraries4BlackLives movement, the goals of the movement moving forward, and how libraries can get involved in efforts to foster racial equity and social justice.

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Relevant Links:

Sparks Podcast - Episode 4 - Every Student Succeeds Act Sep 29, 2016

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Sylvia Norton, Executive Director of the American Association of School Librarians, and Megan Cusick, Grassroots Specialist at the Office for Library Advocacy, about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Topics include the status of the legislation in Illinois and why it is critical for library staff from all types of libraries to work together to support school libraries.

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Relevant Links

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)—ESSA and School Libraries webpage: http://essa.aasl.org/
Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA)—ESSA webpage: https://www.islma.org/ESSA.htm

Sparks Podcast - Episode 3 - Miguel Figueroa Aug 17, 2016

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Miguel Figueroa, Director of the Center for the Future of Libraries (http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/future). They discuss why the American Library Association started the center, how libraries can use its work to prepare for the future, and how to identify important trends.

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 2: Cindy Fuerst Jul 19, 2016

RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan talks with Cindy Fuerst, Director of the Vernon Area Public Library District about how her library eliminated overdue library fines. Cindy shares how this decision was made, the resulting benefits, and some interesting before and after statistics.

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

Sparks Podcast - Episode 1 - David Seleb Jun 14, 2016

David Seleb is the director of the Oak Park Public Library, in Oak Park, IL. The library recently hired a full-time social worker to improve the library's engagement with the community.

Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/

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