• HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY, BYWATER! Brendan Gallagher and Nathan Curulla -- The Library is Open Ep. 38

    It's ByWater Solutions' 15th Anniversary!!! What better way to celebrate 15 years of extraordinary service to libraries by talking with ByWater Solutions founders Brendan Gallagher and Nathan Curulla. In this episode, we discuss the ByWater Solutions origin story, starting and growing a business with your best friend, and hopes for ByWaters' future.

    21m | Mar 4, 2024
  • Telishia "Tee" Murray--The Library is Open Ep. 37

    In our latest episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we chat with one of our good friends Telishia "Tee" Murray, Director of Library and Learning Resources at Galveston College in Texas. Tee shares about her path to becoming a librarian, her unique experiences serving as both a public library and academic library director under the age of 40, her love of Koha and the Open Source Community, and so much more! You won't want to miss this episode!


    Follow the Galveston College Library here: https://www.facebook.com/galvestoncollegelibrary

    43m | Nov 6, 2023
  • Library Joy with Mychal Threets--The Library is Open Ep. 36

    On today's episode of the Library is Open Podcast, we have the joy and honor of talking with Mychal Threets!! Mychal is a Supervisory Librarian at the Solano County Library in California. He has become a social media sensation and won over countless followers for his heartwarming and authentic stories about his interactions with library users.

    In this episode, we dive deeper into Mychal's journey to becoming a librarian, his experience being a social media superstar, his struggles with mental health, and the importance of spreading library joy.

    So sit back, relax, and enjoy this very special episode, because as Mychal always says, "I'm so happy you're here." <3

    Follow Mychal:

    Insta, TikTok, and Twitter: @mychal3ts

    Follow Solano County Library:

    TikTok, Insta: @solanolibrary

    34m | Oct 11, 2023
  • Ep. 35--Christopher Brannon and George Williams

    Today, we have two special guests you may recognize from the koha-US Terrific Every-Other-Thursday Training videos, Christopher Brannon of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and George Williams of NEKLS (Northeast Kansas Library System). They share their journeys into the library world, their passion for the Koha Community, and why the upcoming Koha-US Conference is going to be so amazing!

    Watch the Terrific Every-Other-Thursday Training videos and livestream from the Koha-US Conference here: https://www.youtube.com/kohaus

    27m | Sep 15, 2023
  • Jessica Zairo and Kelly McElligott--The Library is Open Ep. 34

    Chances are, if you are a ByWater partner, have attended a library conference, or are part of the Koha Community, you have seen Jessie and Kelly. For those who may not know this dynamic duo, Kelly is the Library Accounts Coordinator at ByWater Solutions and Jessie is the Director of Library Sales and Outreach at ByWater Solutions. For four years, Jessie and Kelly have hosted a weekly web series called Monday Minutes where they give short tutorials on various Koha topics.

    In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we learn some facts about Jessie and Kelly that we didn't know, talk about the value of the Open Source Community, and about two exciting upcoming Koha conferences!

    To subscribe to ByWater's Monday Minutes emails, go to bywatersolutions.com and subscribe at the bottom of the page. To view past Monday Minutes episodes, visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV_OXyJ1D3BgKovtgSBoFcQNb7IhixDKO

    To learn more about KohaCon'23 visit: https://perlkohacon.fi/Schedule.html

    To learn more about the koha-US Annual Conference visit: https://koha-us.org/events/conferences/2023-koha-us-annual-conference-portsmouth-nh/

    15m | Aug 10, 2023
  • The Memeing Librarian--The Library is Open Ep. 33

    We are THRILLED to have a library social media icon on the podcast: The Memeing Librarian! In this episode, we explore the evolution of the Memeing Librarian from a modest library meme account to a full-fledged social media titan! We also have some real talk about book censorship, the issues libraries are facing today, and the ever-evolving nature of social media and its power to create community.

    Follow The Memeing Librarian!

    Insta: https://www.instagram.com/the_memeing_librarian/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/thememeinglib

    49m | Jul 19, 2023
  • Rebecca Glasgow and Tara Radniecki of the DeLaMare Library ep. 32

    Welcome to a new season of The Library is Open Podcast! In this episode, we talk with Rebecca Glasgow and Tara Radniecki of the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library at the University of Nevada, Reno! At the 2023 Computers in Libraries Conference, Tara and Rebecca gave a presentation on Course Management Learning Systems for Makerspace Training. We wanted to dive deeper into how Rebecca and Tara open sourced course content to train students and volunteers to use the Makerspace.

    Resources:


    Rebecca Glasgow is the Engineering and Fabrication Librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno. She supports the learning, teaching and research needs of faculty and students for the College of Engineering and a wide variety of departments that use the Makerspace. Her time with The DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library has allowed her to explore curriculum development and instructional design, which she has applied to her makerspace training programs and other instructional sessions. She strives to create authentic and accessible learning experiences while incorporating maker and information competencies into the curriculum.


    Tara Radniecki is the head of the DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library of the University of Nevada, Reno. She pushes the traditional boundaries of academic libraries by facilitating a patron-centered framework in the library through unique resources, services, and programming. In addition to its STEM and map-based collections, the DeLaMare Library contributes to campus research and learning via its innovative Data & GIS Services and Makerspace.

    35m | Jun 28, 2023
  • Mitchell Davis - The Library is Open ep. 31

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Mitchell Davis, Senior Director at BiblioLabs. Today we will be talking about the power of creativity, innovation, and of course our love for libraries. Mitchell is a believer in the power of reading and the power of creativity and brings a love for both to his current role partnering with libraries.

    Indie Author Project: Connecting Indie Authors, Libraries and Readers: https://indieauthorproject.com/

    Create Share Discover: Community Engagement Tools, In Your Library, For Your Community: https://createsharediscover.com/

    33m | Jan 3, 2022
  • Justin Hoenke - The Library is Open ep. 30

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Justin Hoenke. Justin is the Team Leader: Libraries & Community Spaces at Wellington City Council in New Zealand. Justin and Jessie talk about libraries, communities and most importantly kindness. 

    Justin is a community focused librarian & manager who believes that when we all respect each other, work together, and have honest communication that we can accomplish the most amazing things. At the Libraries & Community Spaces at Wellington City Council in New Zealand he provides strategic direction and leadership for 2 public libraries and 4 community centers. Justin is also the author of a a regular column titled A DAY IN THE LIFE for INFORMATION TODAY magazine. This 9 times/year column is focused on speaking with librarians and others in the information management profession about trends, inspiration, technology, management, and more.

    25m | Aug 30, 2021
  • Mark Noble - The Library is Open ep. 29 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Mark Noble, Aspen Discovery Team Lead at ByWater Solutions. Mark and Jessie talk about the future of open-source discovery, the global community and what’s on the roadmap for Aspen Discovery in this episode!

    About Mark Noble

    Mark graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering, but moved immediately into software development. More than half his career has been spent building software for libraries with the majority of the time spent working on Discovery software. He enjoys creating innovative new functionality to make library software work better for patrons and staff. In his spare time, Mark enjoys being outdoors running and hiking, traveling, and hanging out with his kids.

    About Aspen Discovery

    Aspen is a full-featured Discovery System that integrates with e-content and other 3rd party providers, giving your patrons comprehensive access to all of your materials in one place. Aspen combines your library catalog with e-content, digital archives and enrichment from all major third-party providers, improves relevancy and ease of use, provides native reading recommendations, displays all formats of titles within one result (FRBR) and much more. Aspen was created to give users an improved experience over other Discovery systems with less of an impact on library budgets.

    Learn more about Aspen Discovery.

    24m | Jun 29, 2021
  • Angie Drobnic Holan - The Library is Open ep. 28 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Angie Drobnic Holan, editor-in-chief at PolitiFact. Angie and Jessie talk about misinformation, tools to organize and keep accurate records, partnerships to help stop the spread of misinformation online, and educating people to distinguish between truth and rumors.

    About Angie Drobnic Holan

    Angie has extensive experience fact-checking the presidency, Congress and political campaigns, and was a reporter on the PolitiFact team that won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. She serves on the advisory board of the International Fact-Checking Network.

    She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and a master’s of library science from the University of South Florida. Her undergraduate degree is from the Plan II liberal arts program at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a native of Louisiana and attended the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts.

    Read more about Angie on the Politifact site.

    About Politifact

    Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Their core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason they publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy.

    Read more about Politifact.

    27m | May 26, 2021
  • JP Porcaro - The Library is Open ep. 27 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with JP Porcaro, Director, Free Public Library & Cultural Center of Bayonne. JP and Jessie talk about everything libraries, lifelong learning, communities, and just why libraries are the cornerstone of a child’s learning process.

    About JP Porcaro

    JP was an American Library Association Presidential Candidate in 2016-2017 and serves as an EveryLibrary Senior Advisor.

    Follow JP on Twiiter

    About the Bayonne Public Library

    The Bayonne Public Library is the free public library of Bayonne, New Jersey. Incorporated in 1890, it serves a population of approximately 62,000. Read more at Bayonne Public Library

    The New Jersey Library Construction Bond Actpassed both the Assembly and the Senate unanimously on November 16, 2020. It was then signed by the Governor on November 20, 2020.

    51m | Feb 11, 2021
  • R. David Lankes - The Library is Open ep. 26 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with R. David Lankes, he is the director of the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science, and recipient of the American Library Association’s 2016 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship.

    About R. David Lankes

    R. David Lankes is a professor and the director of the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science. Lankes has always been interested in combining theory and practice to create active research projects that make a difference. His work has been funded by organizations such as The MacArthur Foundation, The Institute for Library and Museum Services, NASA, The U.S. Department of Education, The U.S. Department of Defense, The National Science Foundation, The U.S. State Department, and The American Library Association.

    Lankes is a passionate advocate for libraries and their essential role in today’s society earning him the American Library Association’s Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship in 2016. He also seeks to understand how information approaches and technologies can be used to transform industries. In this capacity he has served on advisory boards and study teams in the fields of libraries, telecommunications, education, and transportation including at the National Academies. He has been a visiting fellow at the National Library of Canada, The Harvard School of Education, and was the first fellow of ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy. His book,The Atlas of New Librarianship won the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature.

    Read more about David on his website!

    35m | Dec 10, 2020
  • Jessamyn West - The Library is Open ep. 25 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Jessamyn West, a librarian and community technologist living in central Vermont. Jessamyn returns to the Library is Open Podcast to chat about how librarians are adapting during the pandemic, tools she uses to help with technology needs in her community, what skills librarians need to adapt to the environment we are currently living in, and finding your personal center.

    What’s Jessamyn Reading

    A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order by Judith Flanders

    Ancestral Night (White Space # 1) by Elizabeth Bear

    What’s Jessamyn Listening to

    QI Podcast

    About Jessamyn West

    Jessamyn Charity West is a library technologist and writer known for her activism and work on the digital divide.

    Checkout her blog librarian.net putting the rarin back in librarian since 1999.

    Read more about Jessamyn on her website!

    36m | Nov 10, 2020
  • The Do Space Team - The Library is Open ep. 24 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Michael Sauers, Director of Technology and Allison Sillik, Director of Community Learning at Do Space, a community technology library in Omaha, Nebraska. Listen as Michael, Allison and Jessie discuss their digital presence and how they are spreading the technology learning experience to their community.

    About Do Space

    The future belongs to those who understand technology, and the only way to ensure we’ll be part of this future is to dramatically change technology access and education in Omaha. Do Space is a one-of-a-kind concept: It’s a community technology library, a digital workshop, and an innovation playground filled with new opportunities to learn, grow, explore and create. Explore more at https://dospace.org/about/.

    30m | Jun 15, 2020
  • David Lee King - The Library is Open ep. 23 -

    We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with David Lee King. David is the Digital Services Director at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Listen as David and Jessie discuss digital experiences during the pandemic, emerging technologies and what they see the library digital experience being in 2030.

    About David Lee King

    David Lee King is the Digital Services Director at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where he plans, implements, and experiments with emerging technology trends. He speaks internationally about emerging trends, website management, digital experience, and social media, and has been published in many library-related journals. David is a Library Journal Mover and Shaker. His newest book is Face2Face: Using Facebook, Twitter, and Other Social Media Tools to Create Great Customer Connections. David blogs at http://www.davidleeking.com.

    23m | May 5, 2020
  • Cheryl Gould - The Library is Open ep. 22 -

    We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Cheryl Gould, learning facilitator and training consultant with Fully Engaged Libraries. Listen as Jessie, Nate and Cheryl discuss change management, communication methods, invigorating organizational culture and preparing for the unexpected.

    About Cheryl Gould

    Cheryl Gould is a learning facilitator and training consultant who believes in the transformative role libraries can play in their communities. Cheryl’s professional role is to help libraries with the culture shift required to move from an institution that provides access to resources to one that promotes conversation, learning and engagement at all levels. Cheryl’s ability to connect people and ideas, to facilitate conversation and to enhance learning has been demonstrated through 17 years of working with libraries in thousands of hours of consulting,mentoring and training. Her passion for learning, crossed with current developments in neuroscience and her involvement with Applied Improvisation to create library cultures of “Yes, And…” defines her work.

    You can read more about Cheryl through her website, Fully Engaged Libraries

    23m | Apr 24, 2020
  • Nancy Pearl - The Library is Open ep. 21 -

    We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Nancy Pearl, a best-selling author, librarian, literary critic and READING ENTHUSIAST. Listen as Jessie and Nancy discuss the different facets of reading, why libraries matter, and of course her love of books.

    About Nancy Pearl

    Nancy Pearl regularly speaks about the importance and pleasure of reading at libraries, literacy organizations, and community groups around the world. She can be found on NPR’s Morning Edition and KWGS-FM in Tulsa, Oklahoma talking about her favorite books. Her monthly television show on the Seattle Channel, Book Lust with Nancy Pearl, features interviews with authors, poets, and other literary figures.

    Read more about Nancy Pearl at About Nancy

    27m | Mar 9, 2020
  • Marshall Breeding - The Library is Open ep. 20 -

    We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Marshall Breeding, an independent consultant, speaker, and the author of Library Technology Guides. Listen as Jessie and Marshall discuss the current ILS landscape and the Open Source Community.

    About Marshall Breeding

    Marshall Breeding is an independent consultant, speaker, and author. He is the creator and editor of Library Technology Guides and the libraries.org online directory of libraries on the Web. His monthly column Systems Librarian appears in Computers in Libraries; he is the Editor for Smart Libraries Newsletter published by the American Library Association, and has authored the annual Library Systems Report published in American Libraries since 2014. Library Journal from 2002-2013 and by He has authored nine issues of ALA’s Library Technology Reports, and has written many other articles and book chapters. Marshall has edited or authored eight books, including Cloud Computing for Libraries published by in 2012 by Neal-Schuman, now part of ALA TechSource . He regularly teaches workshops and gives presentations at library conferences on a wide range of topics.

    Read more about Marshall Breeding at Library Technology Guides

    29m | Feb 10, 2020
  • WOLFcon20 - The Library is Open ep. 19 -

    We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features a LIVE interview with Ian Walls, from WOLFcon20 at Texas A&M University. Ian Walls and host, Jessie Zairo, discuss the OLF Community, the current state of FOLIO and Ian’s role in the community.

    About Ian Walls, FOLIO Implementation Lead

    Ian earned his MLIS and MS in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island in 2008. While there, he worked for URI’s Web Development Group, implementing blog software, project management software and anti-spam security measures. After that Ian joined ByWater Solutions, supporting hundreds of libraries, developed new features for Koha, and provided on site training for several of the company’s partners. Over the last several years Ian has worked as the Web Services and Emerging Technologies Librarian at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

    About WOLFcon

    WOLFcon is an annual conference open to all members of the Open Library Foundation community, and to anyone who wants to learn more about the Foundation and the open source communities that are a part of it.

    Read more at: WOLFcon

    About The Open Library Foundation

    The Open Library Foundation was created in 2016 as an unbiased, independent not-for-profit organization to ensure the availability, accessibility and sustainability of open source and open access projects for and by libraries. The Foundation seeks to enable and support collaboration among librarians, technologists, designers, service providers and vendors to share expertise and resources and to create innovative new software and resources that support libraries. We believe that open discourse in a diverse and inclusive community will better identify and characterize challenges and opportunities, and enable paradigm-shifting solutions.

    Read more at: OLF

    About ByWater Solutions

    ByWater Solutions is a full service, high quality Open Source support and implementation company dedicated to providing libraries with a lower cost, more advanced level of support for their systems than a traditional proprietary solution can offer. ByWater Solutions has a proven track record in first rate implementation and support services with library systems of all sizes for the Koha ILS, Aspen Discovery, Folio LSP, Coral ERM, and Libki PC Management.

    Our highly ranked, comprehensive support is what sets our company apart from any other vendor in the industry. Partnering with ByWater Solutions not only lowers the cost of implementation and maintenance of OSS, but more importantly empowers libraries by giving them the flexibility and freedom they deserve.

    For more information please visit: ByWater Solutions

    8m | Jan 29, 2020
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