Call Number with American Libraries Podcast

In Episode 94, Call Number celebrates Preservation Week, this year held April 28–May 4. With the theme of “Preserving Identities,” the week’s events aim to raise awareness of the role libraries and cultural institutions play in protecting historic and culturally significant collections. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Indigenous author Traci Sorell, the honorary chair of this year’s Preservation Week. Sorell, a former attorney who worked on Native Nations policy, discusses preservation’s part in telling stories. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Kathleen Monahan, special collections public services supervisor at Boston Public Library, about the importance of security in preservation. Monahan, who cochairs the Security Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ALA’s Association of College and Research Libraries, provides insight into the committee’s recently updated Guidelines Regarding the Security of Special Collections Materials. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone, cofounders of the Poison Book Project, a joint initiative of Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library (WMGL), and the University of Delaware (UD) in Newark. Grayburn is head of the scientific research and analysis laboratory at WMGL and an affiliated associate professor in the Winterthur–UD program in art conservation. Tedone is assistant professor for library and archives conservation at UD and associate director of the Winterthur–UD program in art conservation. They discuss their research on potentially toxic bookbinding materials from the 19th century. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome your feedback.

From chatbots to image generators to robot companions, artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic across many industries right now. In Episode 93, Call Number explores how AI is emerging in libraries. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Cheryl Eberly and Larry Singer, both from Santa Ana Public Library in California. They discuss the library’s AStounD initiative, which provides neurodivergent youth with access to robots that help them build social-emotional skills. This includes an AI robot named Moxie, who is available for checkout. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Elissa Malespina, teacher-librarian at Union High School in New Jersey. Malespina’s website and newsletter, the AI School Librarian, offers news and resources to help other information professionals navigate the fast-growing technology. They discuss generative AI and the ways in which today’s students, teachers, and librarians are using it in schools.

Still reeling from Super Bowl excitement? In Episode 92, Call Number features conversations with librarian athletes who represent three sports: wheelchair racing, pickleball, and powerlifting. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Paralympian and librarian Amanda McGrory. McGrory, a seven-time medalist, has competed in wheelchair racing in four Paralympic games. Now retired from racing, she oversees the archive for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Then, American Libraries Senior Editor Greg Landgraf chats with Drew Evans, retired law librarian and pickleball enthusiast. Evans calls himself the Pickleball Librarian and uses social media to promote and teach this trending sport. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with nationally recognized competitive powerlifter Hilary Schiraldi. Schiraldi also serves as business librarian and interim head of the social sciences division at University of California, Berkeley.

In Episode 91, Call Number explores Baltimore, where ALA will hold its 2024 LibLearnX conference, January 19–22. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with David Thomas and Tonya Thomas, both chefs and food historians. The husband-and-wife duo is behind Baltimore’s H3irloom Food Group, a culinary organization with a mission of uplifting the Black food narrative through catering and educational events. They discuss their cooking journeys and how the city has influenced their work. Then, school librarians across Maryland share their favorite aspects of Baltimore culture and history. Finally, Panuncial talks to Eden Etzel and Aditya Desai, literature experts from education nonprofit Maryland Humanities. They explore local literary history and the landmarks that may interest librarians. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter), SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

As we say farewell to 2023, we look back at another year of unprecedented book challenges, efforts to defund libraries, and other threats to the profession. But one silver lining has been the authors who have voiced their support for librarians, books, and democracy. In Episode 90, Call Number presents its “2023 Author Chats.” Hear never-before-released clips from conversations with Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel, James Patterson, Rick Riordan, Brian Selznick, Clint Smith, Tracy K. Smith, Angie Thomas, and Kelly Yang. They share how libraries have been an integral part of their life and work—often highlighting how the library has been a sanctuary throughout their lives.

Libraries can be a lifeline for incarcerated or detained individuals and their families. In Episode 89, Call Number discusses creative programs in prison libraries. First, poets and prison reform activists Reginald Dwayne Betts and Randall Horton talked with former ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall back in an interview conducted last July. Betts and Horton, who were formerly incarcerated, now spearhead respective literary program: Betts founded Freedom Reads, which installs 500-book Freedom Libraries in prisons and juvenile detention centers, and Horton cofounded Radical Reversal, which holds literary and musical workshops and creates performance and recording spaces in detention centers and correctional facilities. They discussed the importance of access to books while incarcerated, how censorship creates barriers to that access, and what they hope for ALA’s newly revised Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Lisa Prins, manager of adult and community education, and Allison Sivak, faculty engagement librarian, both at University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 2022, the university launched its Correspondence Book Club at the Edmonton Institution for Women, which provides women who are incarcerated with themed writing and art-making prompts. They were joined by Mariel Silva, a formerly incarcerated individual and former book club participant. Note: The sound quality in the Correspondence Book Club segment varies. For more on ALA’s newly revised Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained and our episode guests, check out our November/December feature story, “Lighting the Way.” Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter/X, SoundCloud, or Spotify and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

Grab your spell books, get those cauldrons bubbling, and ready your broomsticks. In Episode 88, Call Number delves into the world of witchcraft. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Dan Lipcan, of Phillips Library at Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The two discuss the library’s vast collection of materials related to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials and debunk common myths and misconceptions. Then, three staffers from Troy (Mich.) Public Library—director Emily Dumas; livia Olson, head of community engagement; and Nicole Armstrong, marketing associate—share spine-tingling snippets from the winning entries of the library’s 2022 Scary Story Contest. Finally, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with KL Pereira, archivist and curatorial information manager at Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Pereira has taught classes at libraries on how to perform tarot card readings and shares the ways in which library workers can implement similar programs. Plus, watch the video on americanlibraries.org to hear Pereira giving Panuncial a personal reading—you don’t want to miss Pereira’s expertise at work.

The recent wave of book bans and other censorship attempts have threatened democracy, restricting access and the rights of many readers. In Episode 87, Call Number looks at how libraries and library workers are on the front lines defending intellectual freedom. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Peter Coyl, immediate past president of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and director and CEO of Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library. They talk about FTRF’s recent work in support of intellectual freedom and library workers. They’re joined by Sukrit Goswami, current president of FTRF and director at Haverford (Penn.) Free Township Library, who shares his presidential goals. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Martha Hickson, media specialist at North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, New Jersey. They discuss Hickson’s efforts to fight book bans and protect children’s right to read, including recruiting the help of author David Levithan, despite the personal attacks she has faced from community members. And finally, Kim Crutcher, a licensed mental health counselor who was onsite at ALA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition’s Community of Care room, offers a special guided meditation—a good reminder for all to prioritize our wellbeing.

It’s that time of the year again: School is back in session, including for students working toward their master’s degrees in library and information science. In Episode 86, Call Number looks at what’s new in library school. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial explores iBlackCaucus, a student organization formed by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). She chats with Ana Ndumu, assistant professor in the College of Information Studies at University of Maryland in College Park; Shauntee Burns-Simpson, associate director at the Center for Educators and Schools at New York Public Library and immediate past president of BCALA; and Marlena Okechukwu, iBlackCaucus fellow and recent MLIS graduate who is now outreach coordinator at Hennepin County Law Library in Minneapolis. They discuss iBlackCaucus’s mission of fostering camaraderie and creating mentorship in the field. Then, Panuncial learns more about the master’s in library and information science and social work dual degree program at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. She speaks with Peggy Ryan, director of Dominican University’s School of Social Work’s field education office; Don Hamerly, director of Dominican’s School of Information Studies; and Molly Layton, current student in the program. They discuss the overlap between these two disciplines and why it’s needed in library school.

Episode 85 of Call Number dives into the colorful world of comics, graphic novels, and manga. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett speaks with Jenny Robb, head curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State University in Columbus, which houses the world’s largest collection of print cartoon art. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial hits the halls of ALA’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago for rapid-fire interviews with graphic novelists Harmony Becker, Kazu Kibuishi, Pedro Martín, and Dave Scheidt. They discussed their work and what comics, graphic novels, and manga influenced them. And finally, Panuncial chats with Jillian Rudes, school librarian at the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in New York City. Rudes, who also serves as Japanese culture and manga librarian for the city’s Department of Education, discusses the benefits of reading manga and her tips for librarians who want to develop manga collections.

The American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition will take place in its hometown: Chicago! In Episode 84 of Call Number, find out where to go, what to see, and what to eat during your visit to the Second City. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Steve Dolinsky, author of The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide: A History of Squares and Slices in the Windy City. He shares his favorite local spots and gives the deep dish on some little-known facts about Chicago pizza. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Suzanne Karr Schmidt, curator of rare books and manuscripts at Newberry Library. They explore the library’s Pop-Up Books Through the Ages exhibit, which will be on display during Annual. Then, members of the Call Number podcast team, episode guests, and local librarians share their must-do activities for a short Chicago trip. Finally, Panuncial chats with Liz Mason, manager of Quimby’s Bookstore, a longstanding institution specializing in independent and small press books, comics, and zines. They discuss the city’s zine scene and how librarians can incorporate these publications into their collections and programming. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

Small businesses are a big part of every community, and libraries offer a wealth of resources to support them. From research assistance to specialized programs and grants, libraries help entrepreneurs of all kinds flourish. In Episode 83, Call Number highlights how libraries and librarians are supporting small business owners—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.  First, American Libraries Associate Editor Megan Bennett talks with Madeleine Ildefonso, managing librarian at Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL). They discuss LAPL’s Be a Successful Street Vendor program, a new offering that provides educational resources for local street vendors. Then, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Saira Raza, business librarian at Emory University in Atlanta. Raza shares how academic librarians can help students fine-tune their business ideas and create a plan for success. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

Providing programs and services that are both enriching and entertaining is a major goal of most librarians. In this bonus episode, sponsored by Kanopy, Call Number looks at how one librarian is using the video streaming service’s platform to bring movies, television shows, and instructional programs to patrons at home while staying within her library’s budget. American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Hope Harms, eResources librarian at Johnson County (Kans.) Library’s Blue Valley branch to learn more about her library’s journey navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Kanopy, and supporting today’s job seekers and learners. For more information, visit kanopy.com or log in to Kanopy’s virtual town hall event on April 25, where they’ll share new summer initiatives; an exclusive, flash offer only available to live attendees; and some of the new titles added to their catalog, including Adventure Never Ends: A Tabletop Saga, which covers the mental and emotional health benefits of roleplaying games. The town hall is open to everyone. For your local times and how to register, visit bit.ly/kanopytownhall. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

When we discuss access to information, that includes information about our bodies and our health. Libraries have long been a lifeline to patrons looking to connect with health care resources, dispel misinformation, and find answers discreetly—even when our institutions are under attack. In Episode 82, Call Number explores sexual and reproductive health information at the library. First, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro chats with Barbara Alvarez, author of The Library's Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information. Alvarez discusses a recent she conducted on how libraries provide such information and offers advice on what librarians can do to improve their services. Then, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Beth Myers. Myers is director of special collections at Smith College. The women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts is home to the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History. The two discuss the value of curating a collection that prioritizes sexual and reproductive health and how libraries can form collections of their own. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

It’s been three years since COVID-19 brought the country to a standstill. In March 2020, the pandemic shuttered library buildings and prompted staffers to shift programming and priorities for a changing world. In Episode 81, Call Number hears from three libraries that expanded, pivoted, and reimagined their offerings to reach community members who needed their services most. First, American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy talks with John Schaffer, the voice behind Curbside Larry, the character who went viral in 2020 for his infomercial-style videos advertising curbside services at Harris County (Tex.) Public Library. Then, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Ray Baker, director of Miami-Dade Public Library System in Florida, about the Drive-Up Wi-Fi initiative the library started in the early days of the pandemic. Finally, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial chats with Julie Curry, principal of John K. Hubbard Elementary School in Noble, Oklahoma, and Courtney Gerow, signature services coordinator of Shawnee (Okla.) Public Library. The two are behind Sunday Stars, a tutoring program helping elementary school students across several counties recover from COVID-19 learning loss. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

Love is always in season at the library. Whether helping readers find their next fictional crush or offering couples space on their wedding day, the library is a perfect place to pair up. In Episode 80, Call Number is head-over-heels for romance. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Jill Maneikis, deputy director of special events at Boston Public Library, where more than 100 couples have rented the library’s new $200, one-hour wedding venue. Next, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial talks with Robin Bradford, author of the upcoming Readers' Advisory Guide to Romance, and Jessica Pryde, author of Black Love Matters and cohost of Book Riot’s When in Romance podcast. They discuss how the romance genre has diversified and how librarians can build a more inclusive romance collection for readers. Finally, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro and Panuncial chatted with attendees at ALA’s recent LibLearnX conference in New Orleans, where they shared their favorite literary couples and romance tropes and what they love most about their libraries. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

New Orleans is famous for many things—its sights, bites, sounds, and culture. And this January, it’s where the American Library Association’s LibLearnX conference will make an in-person debut with a vibrant array of speakers, educational sessions, and more. So, let the good times roll—or, as the locals say, Laissez les bons temps rouler! In episode 79, Call Number highlights two beloved aspects of New Orleans: its music and its food. First, American Libraries associate editor Megan Bennett speaks with library associate Joshua Smith about New Orleans Public Library’s new, free music streaming service, Crescent City Sounds. Then, members of the Call Number team and interviewees from this episode share their favorite New Orleans stops. Finally, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial discusses the Southern Food and Beverage Museum’s new culinary library in St. Bernard Parish. She speaks with National Food and Beverage Foundation president and CEO Brent Rosen and Liz Williams, who established the foundation, about the library’s collection of historical culinary artifacts, and their current exhibit on Louisiana’s Filipino community and its influence on local cuisine. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

And just like that, 2022 is coming to an end. It’s been a tumultuous time for the profession: We’re on course for another record-breaking year of book challenges, politically driven groups are working to pass laws that censor materials and measures that defund libraries, and library workers continue to experience burnout. But one source of hope and inspiration has been the authors who have stepped up to advocate for—and sing the praises of—books, libraries, and democracy. In Episode 78, Call Number with American Libraries presents its "2022 Author Chats." Featured in this installment are never-before-released clips from conversations with actor John Cho; Newbery Medal–winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft; comic book artist Kevin Eastman; broadcast journalist Maria Hinojosa; Banned Books Week honorary chair George M. Johnson; historian Ibram X. Kendi; and Newbery Medal winners Cynthia Kadohata, Tae Keller, and Lois Lowry. Hear them share what roles libraries have played in their lives. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

In Episode 77 of Call Number, we explore the work of medical librarians by highlighting two initiatives presented at the 2022 Medical Library Association Annual Conference. First, American Libraries associate editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial speaks with Jennifer Davis, Gail Kouame, and Lachelle Smith. The three collaborated on virtual reality programs that teach health science concepts in a new and engaging way at the Greenblatt Library at Augusta University in Georgia. Then, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Lynn Kysh and Kyle Horne, both of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, about the ins and outs of starting a specialized book club for pediatric hospital staff. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.

Halloween is nearly here. And leading up to the holiday, many of us do all sorts of things to put ourselves in a spooky mood—take haunted hayrides, watch horror movies, carve pumpkins. Sometimes we dust off that shelf of Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and Anne Rice books, and sink our teeth into a terrifying story that keeps us up at night. In Episode 76 of Call Number with American Libraries, we examine what it is about the horror genre that fascinates us, sometimes repulses us, and yet keeps us coming back for more. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Call Number host Diana Panuncial talks with Goosebumps and Fear Street author R. L. Stine. In this interview from ALA’s 2022 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., the two discuss what it’s like writing horror for kids and how Stine fuses spooky and silly concepts in his books. Next, members of the Call Number podcast team and a couple of listeners answer the question: What horror or nonhorror movie scared you as a child, and does it still scare you? Finally, ALA Editions Senior Editor Jamie Santoro chats with Becky Spratford, a readers’ advisory specialist based in Chicago. Spratford runs RA for All, a blog that connects librarians with book recommendations for patrons. She and Santoro discuss how to tailor horror media recommendations to different audiences and identify trends emerging in the horror genre today. [Episode here] For fun facts about the holiday, check out the By the Numbers section in the September/October issue of American Libraries. Next episode, we’re exploring the marvels of medical libraries. Is there a story or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know at callnumber@ala.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and SoundCloud and leave a review on iTunes. We welcome feedback and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for listening.