Shows
Surviving The Stacks PodcastWhen It's Time For A Change (54:13)Sometimes it’s time to move on from a job, either because the environment is toxic and unhealthy, the job is not a good fit for the person’s interests, skills, or priorities, or just because the person is ready for a change or a new challenge in their career. In this episode, Beth and Jane talk with Alison King, a career coach, job search guide, and former librarian who specializes in what she calls “Leaping Librarians.” Alison talks about signs that it’s time to move on, other types of roles often pursued by library workers, limiting beliefs that often...
2025-07-0754 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastRestorative Practices (53:30)As many libraries continue to experience significant behavioral problems from visitors, they are often looking for ways to address these challenges from a trauma-informed approach. In this episode, Beth and Jane talk with Stephen Jackson, a licensed professional counselor, consultant, and trainer who specializes in restorative justice. Stephen has spent years overseeing restorative approaches in libraries and other public spaces and provides guidance to the STS audience about strategies for preventing behavioral problems as well as strategies for responding when challenges occur. Stephen also compares how approaches might differ...
2025-06-0253 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastHiring + Supporting Staff (46:20)As library visitor needs have changed over the years, libraries have found that they often need staff to have different skills and characteristics compared to what they may have needed in the past. If there is a mismatch between someone’s skills and the needs of a particular position, this increases staff stress as well as impacting the customer experience of the library. In this episode, Beth and Jane discuss some of the training needs of staff to help them be as prepared as possible for the contemporary realities of the work. They interview Ann...
2025-05-0546 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastMeeting Your Community's Needs (38:22)With libraries struggling for limited resources in many communities around the world, growing politically motivated protests, and some people questioning libraries’ relevance, it is more important than ever to ensure a library’s services and programs meet the needs of the local community. Small and rural libraries, in particular, struggle to survive if not well supported by their community members. In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Dianne Connery, previous Director and current Development Director of Pottsboro Area Public Library in Texas (US). On the verge of closing its doors, Dianne led a group of dedicated stakeholders who transformed this...
2025-04-0738 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastPartnering With Local Government (50:42)Libraries can’t do their work alone, and many benefit from collaborating with local government partners. In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Leanne Mitchell, a private consultant and previous government worker from Australia who focuses her work on helping local government bodies address issues related to homelessness. She has collaborated with a number of libraries throughout her work, including supporting libraries to implement and carry out innovative programs and services for their most marginalized patrons by partnering with other local government entities. She shares her experience and guidance for libraries trying to build co...
2025-03-0350 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastServing The Unhoused (55:21)
Libraries increasingly serve many people who are unhoused, especially since they are often one of the only free, accessible spaces in most communities for people without many resources. However, this population is one with many additional and sometimes complex needs, which can often cause stress for library staff. In this episode, Beth and Jane share strategies used by libraries to effectively engage and serve this population, including discussing the recommendations from the recently released Leadership Brief for Addressing Homelessness distributed by the US Urban Libraries Council. They also interview Sarah Garnett, Managing Director of the Footpath Library...
2025-02-0355 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastGetting Buy In (55:48)When libraries seek to add innovative programming or services, especially those that aim to serve vulnerable or marginalized populations, it can be difficult to get buy-in from decision-makers and stakeholders; without buy-in and support, these new programs or services can struggle and even fail.
In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Tonya Garcia and David Perez from the Long Branch Free Public Library in New Jersey (USA) about some of their library’s programs and how they successfully got buy-in. They have been successful implementing nontraditional library programs such as the Fade to Books Ba...
2025-01-0655 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastLack of Resources: How Measuring Outcomes Can Help (42:09)Access This Episode Transcript
Beth and Jane discuss the struggle many libraries have for financial resources, and how necessary it is for libraries to know how to measure outcomes and show the impact of their services to help bring in or justify continued or added financial support. They interview Darren Smart, Head of Service for Somerset Libraries in the UK, about the importance of being able to measure and report outcomes to demonstrate to partners and funders the benefits of working with or supporting the library. Darren shares suggestions for ways libraries can turn qualitative information and...
2024-12-0242 minSurviving The Stacks PodcastTrauma + Improving Staff Support (1:02:21)Access This Episode Transcript
In this episode, Beth and Jane discuss the need for trauma-informed care in libraries, not just for patrons but also for staff. They interview Linde Furman, Branch Manager at Pima County Public Library’s Joel Valdez Main Library, about strategies being used in her library to create and sustain a culture of care, reduce the trauma experienced by staff, and effectively respond when staff experience a traumatic workplace incident. Linde discusses the work happening in her library as well as lessons learned that can inform other libraries wanting to improve trauma-informed care and support for staf...
2024-11-041h 02Surviving The Stacks PodcastBurnout + Low Morale (1:07:24)Access This Episode Transcript
This episode centers around library worker experiences of burnout, and organizational and workplace factors that often contribute to that burnout. Beth and Jane interview consultant and researcher, Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, about her research on low morale experiences in libraries and discuss strategies staff and managers can use to increase the wellness of everyone working in the library.
Kaetrena's Website: https://renewalslis.com/about/
2024-10-071h 07Surviving The Stacks PodcastViolence and Aggression (1:10:28)Access This Episode Transcript
Beth and Jane discuss violence and aggressive behavior happening in libraries and how these behaviors are impacting staff. They also interview Kristy Gardenour about safety and security in libraries. Kristy provides helpful information about security officers and their training, and makes recommendations for ways libraries utilizing security guards can improve their overall fit for the library environment. She also discusses additional strategies with Beth and Jane for increasing library safety.
2024-09-021h 10Surviving The Stacks PodcastAll Things To All People (01:04:16)Access This Episode Transcript
In this episode of Surviving the Stacks, Beth and Jane focus on the stress that occurs when libraries don’t have clear boundaries around their roles or clear expectations for staff. They also interview Noah Lenstra, who talks about how developing intentional collaborations and partnerships with other area organizations can help libraries expand their services and meet patron needs while also reducing pressure for staff to be all things to all people.
Dr. Lenstra also shares pointers for setting collaborations up for success and for libraries to advocate for their needs.
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2024-08-051h 04Surviving The Stacks PodcastWelcome to Surviving The Stacks Podcast! (21:24)Access This Episode Transcript
Featuring stories and examples from across the globe, this podcast seeks to increase support to library workers and administrators experiencing challenges, bring awareness of the public to common library concerns, improve understanding about the reasons why libraries are seeing these challenges, and share innovative solutions for libraries to consider using in their own community.
2024-07-0321 min