By Jake Thompson, Account Manager & Marketing Executive, Exact Editions

Each month, Exact Editions will review a library podcast for the Charleston Hub. With information and analysis for a librarian audience, it is an essential guide to an exciting medium.

Lost in the Stacks

2010-present.
607 episodes thus far.
Circa 1 hour per episode.
Available on Deezer, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn and the Lost in the Stacks website.
Free to listen. Transcripts are also available via the Lost in the Stacks website

In A Nutshell:

Broadcasting on WREK Atlanta and based in the Georgia Institute of Technology, Lost in the Stacks is the self-acknowledged “rock and roll library radio show”. Each week, the show features an expert in a particular aspect of librarianship - whether that be preservation, engagement, technology or representation.

The Format:

The podcast takes the form of a one hour interview and discussion. The atmosphere is relaxed and humorous - but still very focused on the topic and themes at hand.

As the “rock and roll” subtitle might suggest, not only does the show examine the latest in resource management, librarianship, technology and media - but it also offers a curated playlist of fantastic rock, pop, soul and blues. This allows the discussion to be punctuated by thrilling musical breaks which will undoubtedly leave you with an extended Spotify playlist. 

Hosts & Guests:

Hosting the podcast are four of Georgia Tech’s enthusiastic academic librarian team:

• Charlie Bennett, Academic Librarian
• Alex McGee, University Archivist
• Marlee Givens, Scholarly Research Lead
• Fred Rascoe, Scholarly Communication Librarian

The hosts achieve a fantastic rapport with their guests, thanks to thoughtful questions and a palpable enjoyment of librarianship. Recent guests have included:

• Sarah Morris, Media Literacy Program Consultant at the Carter Center.
• Dr. Julia Schneider of University of Notre Dame Library.
• Wendy Hagenmaier, Software Preservation Program Manager at Yale University Library

A notable guest was Chris Tanguay, Processing Archivist at MIT Libraries, due to her shining a light on the urgent need for accessibility in archives. Tanguay was focused on ensuring libraries were inclusive spaces for both students and staff alike - her work highlights how the latter can often be less than equitable in facilities for archivists and librarians.

The podcast itself offers both audio-based and transcription accessibility options, making it an enjoyable resource for all.

A Nice Touch:

A neat touch is having the track selections reflect the chosen topic of the week. For example, in an episode (no. 606) about media literacy, the show featured “City In The Sky” by The Staple Sisters, a song featuring lyrics about how a better future can be created by separating fact from fiction.

Having both the discussion and its culture orient themselves around a singular idea allows for the show to become a site of active librarianship. Having both ideas and popular artefacts curated for effect in live-time makes for a dynamic listening experience.

An Area For Improvement

The show offers incredible, vital stories of librarianship - and where this lies in modern society. And whilst the community-based, local feel of the podcast does have a lot of charm, future episodes could explore how librarianship might differ outside of America. 

Are there unique challenges librarians might not typically face in Georgia? Or, are there uniting factors that link geographically distant libraries? Foregrounding the internationality of the network of libraries could allow the podcast to advance its wide-angle view on curation, as it looks beyond its specific region for inspiration. 

Overall:

Aimed at an American academic library audience, Lost In The Stacks offers valuable insights into the art of librarianship and what it means today. 

As well as industry insights, the show analyses how technology affects the consumption and distribution of information at large. But rather than bemoaning this cultural development, it establishes that technology itself can disseminate misinformation and reestablish certainty. This allows the show to inhabit a thoughtful, insightful perspective in an exciting field.

The show is to be a great listen for anyone interested in the considerations of librarians, resource management and digital preservation, as well as how technology collects and reinterprets information on a larger scale.

Exact Editions provides libraries with ongoing access to fully-searchable magazine archives. You can offer suggestions and find out more by emailing Jake at jake.thompson@exacteditions.com.