Sparks features interviews with RAILS members and other leaders in the library/related fields. We intend to spark conversation, comment, and debate about current trends and issues affecting all types of libraries.
RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Megan Millen, Executive Director and Denise Zielinski, Community Engagement Officer at Joliet Public Library, about how the library is working with others in the community to serve the unsheltered (homeless) and how other libraries can get started serving unsheltered populations.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
RAILS Executive Director Deirdre Brennan talks with Diane Foote, the new Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association (ILA), about the path to her new role, the benefits and challenges of taking over from a well-respected director, legislative meet-ups, and her goals for ILA. Deirdre and Diane also discuss the role and power of the ILA when communicating with legislators.
Relevant links:
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
Intro/Outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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.
http://gailborden.info/fakenews
Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com
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
Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/
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.
Intro/outro music by Julie Jurgens, https://himissjulie.com/