Circulating Ideas Celebrates Episode 200!

Circulating Ideas, a podcast that facilitates conversations with the innovative people and ideas inspiring libraries to grow and thrive in the 21st century is celebrating episode 200[!] right now with an conversation with Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association.

You can access that conversation here: Circulating Ideas 200: Tracie D. Hall

I have been a big supporter of the work Steve Thomas does with this podcast for years, RA for All even sponsored a few episodes. I am so proud of the work Steve does connecting all of us with library workers from across the breadth of our profession. I never fail to learn something from each episode.

I am thankful to the work he does, on his own time, to help all of us learn. Steve has also been very generous with his time helping others to start their own podcasts for their libraries. He is an excellent resource if you have any questions. Besides Circulating Ideas he also does an official podcast for his library. You can see more about that here.

Steve models the podcast and his interviewing style off of Fresh Air, focusing on having a conversation with interesting people. The style allows real dialog to happen.

Steve is also committed to accessibility and was one fo the first independent podcasts to offer transcription. 

Now with episode 200 Steve has launched a newsletter. Even if you aren't interested in the podcast, the newsletter is very helpful. I have posted part of the first issue below but you can sign up here.

Congrats to Steve on 200 episodes of this excellent resource. And stay tuned for another appearance by me on the podcast this fall to talk all about my new book.

Circulating Ideas - Issue #1

Steve Thomas @circideas

Circulation Status

Ten years ago, I started the Circulating Ideas podcast because I was looking to find the best way I could contribute to the library profession’s discourse. I liked podcasts, particularly interview podcasts, and thought a show like Fresh Air, but focused on the library profession, would be neat, and since no one else was doing it… 

(Read a longer version of this story here). 

Now here we are with Episode 200! Everyone who has been on the show has been inspiring to me, and they have been so gracious to lend their time and knowledge, which helped me continue to learn and grow professionally (and some have become friends!).

I have spoken with hundreds of library workers doing the innovative work to keep libraries thriving, in addition to library supporters, people I never would’ve had the opportunity to speak with otherwise, like thought leaders (David Weinberger, Howard Feingold), writers (Cory Doctorow, Gwenda Bond, Imbolo Mbue, Susan Elia McNeal, Clive Thompson), people in the tech world (Glenn Fleishman, Andy Ihnatko, Merlin Mann), and all the candidates for ALA President 8 of the 10 years the show has been going.

I would also like to thank all the people who have guest-hosted for me over the years when I was getting behind, or just because they enjoyed doing it! A big round of applause for Troy Swanson (award for Most Episodes Guest Hosted), Thomas Maluck, David Lankes, Leah White, Charlie Bennett, Heather Moorefield-Lang, Sarah Clark, Amanda L. Goodman, Michael Schofield, Elizabeth Ferguson Keathley, Jenny Rothschild, Lisa Rabey, Brett Bonfield, Kate Sheehan, Kate Kosturski, and Matthew Murray (and special thanks to Allison Tran for being a podcast partner on our “Librarians Are Rockstars!” series early on).

And, finally, thanks to you, the podcast listeners and the readers of this newsletter, for listening into and reading these things and supporting the show! I hope you all have learned as much as I have over the past decade.

Please let me know if you have suggestions for upcoming guests or for additions or changes to this newsletter. I’d love your feedback! Drop me a line at steve@circideas.com.

Keep circulating your ideas!

 Click here to read the full issue and sign up to receive future issues in your inbox.