Take the Time for Training and Listen to Two Podcast Episodes This Week

Today I wanted to point out 2 recent podcast episodes that everyone who reads this blog should take some time to listen to in the next few days.  One is very specific and the other is broad, and full disclosure, while neither episode features me, I have appeared on past episodes of both.

Let's start broad. Back in June at ALA Annual, I brought together two of my favorite library people, Steve Thomas from the Circulating Ideas podcast and Danielle Borasky, Vice President of NoveList,* and today Steve released their interview here:

Click here or use the embedded audio link below

Steve chats with Danielle Borasky, Vice President of NoveList, about her path to librarianship, the differences between working at a vendor vs. working in a library, the importance of books and reading, and some powerful features in NoveList.

As Vice President of NoveList, Danielle Borasky leads a team working to help readers find their next favorite book. For the last 20 years, NoveList has developed innovative solutions for connecting readers, books, and libraries. Prior to her current role, Danielle was the Director of Sales & Marketing for NoveList. And before NoveList, she worked in several different kinds of libraries including public, academic, and special libraries. Even though she has worked in many different settings, she always feels most at home when browsing the stacks with a pile of books in hand.

Even if your library does not subscribe to NoveList, there is much you can learn about the basics of RA by listening to this podcast.

Now to the more specific episode. Ela Area [IL] Public Library's Three Books podcast:

Episode 14 - Booksgiving 2018! Three Books is Ela Area Public Library’s podcast series where our hosts, Becca and Christen, chat about three popular/favorite books. We have invited staff from all over the Library to share what they are giving this holiday season.

I love a couple of things about this episode:

1. Staff from all over the library were invited on to talk about the books they are gifting to others and why. You get a variety of opinions and also multiple examples of different ways to book talk. In other words, as a training tool, this episode both gives you. some interesting titles you might not find other places AND provides examples of different ways to book talk. As I always say, book talking is an art. There is no correct way to do it, but you have to work to craft your own style.
2. This is NOT a best list of their favorite books. It is specifically about gift giving. I have posted about this before here. Libraries are missing out on an opportunity to make gift guides for our patrons. We should be making lists of great gift books so that patrons can browse our collections, get their hands on the books to look them over, and then go buy them at the store of their choice. Again click here for more details on how and why you should make an annual gift guide. Also see this post where a library took up my Call to Action and made their own, and it was a teeny tiny library.
3. Because this is not a "best" list in the same way all of the other best lists we are being inundated with are, the suggestions here are different. Listening will help you come up with some fresh and satisfying suggestions for your patrons. And your patrons will love that you gave them a suggestion they didn't hear somewhere else. It will enhance your value to your community.
4. And this is the thing I love about every episode of this podcast-- Anytime a book is mentioned on the podcast, they buy a physical copy to add to an actual "THREE BOOKS PODCAST SHELF" in the library. I love this so much. This way patrons who listen to the podcast, which mentions books that are shelved all over their building, can come in to one place and find everything they heard about- shelved together. Talk about patron service. They have children's, teen, adult, fiction, nonfiction, audio, graphic novels, etc..... all in one place. It's a permanent display that showcases the breadth of the library's holdings and bonus, all of the titles were chosen with care by the guests of the podcast. Many voices, representing diverse reading tastes working together to make one display....I love this so much. 

I will be at Ela Area Public Library later this week to do some targeted staff training too. I can't wait to see the shelf for myself. Last time I was there, it was to record the very first episode of the podcast, so they didn't have the collection yet.

So there's your assignment for the week. Give these two episodes a listen. It will take you just over 2 hours in total, and the result will be an excellent continuing education experience. Don't tell me you don't have the time or the money for training [because many of you do this]. This is quick, easy, and 100% free. It is also guaranteed to help you help a patron immediately.

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*More full disclosure, I am a proud contract employee for NoveList and provide content for the database. Currently I am focusing on themed lists of book discussion books.