Call Number with American Libraries Podcast

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.