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

Library Leadership Podcast

2017-present. 

162 episodes so far. 

Between 10 and 35 minutes per episode.

Available on the Library Leadership Podcast website, as well as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and others (listed here on PodNews)

Free to listen.

At A Glance:

Released every other week, the Library Leadership Podcast looks at the most important issues facing libraries today. Topics are interrogated from a managerial perspective, offering those in a leadership position at libraries actionable insights and lessons on how to streamline the functioning of their institution.

The Format:

The podcast takes the form of a conversation between the host and a guest who has experience in a specific aspect of librarianship. With the management context in mind, recent topics have included advice for mentorship, rethinking routines, and embracing structural experimentation.

Whilst there is a clear focus on the specificities of managing a library, there are insights applicable to librarians and resource managers of all experience levels. Not only that, but the ideas around people management, curating a positive environment, and making the most of limited resources are helpful for those operating a small business or charity, for example.

Hosts & Guests:

Adriane Herrick Juarez (Executive Director of the Park City Library, Utah) is the host of the Library Leadership Podcast. She has a calm demeanour which has a noticeably disarming effect on guests, helping them feel relaxed and able to speak openly about their experiences and insights.

Recent episodes have featured the following guests:

• Cathryn Copper, Head of the Eberhard Zeidler Library, Ontario.
• Craig Palmer, Fund Development Manager for Sonoma County Library.
• Essraa Nawar, Assistant Dean for DEI Initiatives and Development at Chapman University’s Leatherby Libraries.
• Erin Wahl, Associate Professor University Archivist at New Mexico State University Library.
• Kathel Dunn, Associate Fellowship Program Coordinator with the National Library of Medicine.

For podcast listeners who tire of hosts constantly interrupting their guests, the Library Leadership Podcast will be something of a dream. Juarez lets the guests speak at length, her questioning only prompts further elucidation.

This does, however, at times, feel quite rehearsed. The set points for the discussion and lack of real back-and-forth make the podcast feel more like a rigid Q&A, rather than a conversation.

I wonder if, as a podcast with a top-down leadership perspective on librarianship, such formality is the aim - ensuring professionalism and differentiating it from “chattier” podcasts.

A Nice Touch:

Library Leadership Podcast has a notable form of digital distribution, whereby it is released simultaneously as a newsletter, blog, and podcast on their website. Whilst relying on transcription, this is a creative way for podcast producers to diversify their output and allow for engagement over search, email communication, as well as audio.

Something I've noticed doing this series is that transcription is commonplace for library podcasts - I hope to see this engagement with accessibility requirements echoed in the wider podcast marketplace.

Another strong factor of the podcast is the palpable entrepreneurial spirit - there are creative ideas with a spirited aim to make libraries a better place for everyone involved. But even better than ideas, the podcast demonstrates actionable steps and improvements for libraries to make - ones which bear in mind the fact libraries might have limited resources or budget.

An Area For Improvement

One small area for improvement for the Library Leadership Podcast originates in the rigidity of its question-answer-question format. Perhaps the podcast could begin with a more informal, “chattier” discussion before diving into the main points of discussion. This could ease the listener into the show and loosen the rigidity in its format.

Another minor note is the exclusive focus on the US. This is not unique for the Library Leadership Podcast and is something I’ve noticed across the board - but it would be really interesting to see what similarities and differences exist in library leadership positions in the rest of the world, compared to America. 

Are aspects of library leadership in, say, Central European institutions, approached differently? Do they face the same challenges? How might common processes differ? This would enhance the breadth of management experience profiled in the podcast.

Overall:

On the whole, the Library Leadership Podcast is an excellent platform for understanding the nature of management in libraries and the issues faced today. The format, if at times rehearsed, is engaging. And whilst a focus outside of the US would enhance the breadth of the insights, there are clear creative ideas and achievable aims for how libraries can improve.

The podcast’s entrepreneurial ethos of curating sustainable library solutions clearly has the potential to help library leaders find constructive solutions to the problems American institutions face at a complex cultural juncture.

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.