Advertise on podcast: Library Exchange Podcast

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  For US listeners, get 20% off professional development books for school librarians using code LIBRARYEXCHANGE20 at bloomsbury.com/BLU School Library Journal Course: Shh Happens: Behavior Management for the Real Elementary Library: https://course.libraryjournal.com/products/shh-happens  For 20% off the price of the course, use code: LE-Shh20 *Discount code is good for any session of the course through the end of 2027.  Follow Melanie Wood on Instagram and TikTok @melanie_in_the_library Episode Description: Elementary librarian Melanie Wood shares practical, classroom-tested strategies for managing student behavior in the library. Drawing on her ISTE certification and experience leading professional learning, Melanie focuses on a three-part approach: intentional space design, tight routines and transitions, and purposeful relationship-building. Key takeaways include using color-coding and clear sightlines to promote independence, routines for smooth transitions and checkout, and building rapport through lunch duty, morning and afternoon duties, library ambassadors, and teacher collaboration. Follow Melanie at @Melanie_in_the_library and explore her School Library Journal course for deeper strategies.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Crissi Brandhuber @itty_bitty_librarian Follow Heather Kindschy @dickersonmsllc Example Impact Reports: Dickerson Middle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SB1I6AS5jbQgjli_S6TBdqQkxkgV9un8/view?usp=drive_link  Eastside Elementary: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1148KuU-ifMrmMNnfP-hl8qA9loX5gY9H/view?usp=drive_link  Neosho Middle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gdf33O1Jjj2aSeg_PbIUMvAqi4MIc4vr/view?usp=drive_link  Episode Description: In this episode of Library Exchange, three school librarians, Crissi, Rachelle, and Heather, share practical ways they use data to set goals, increase circulation, build partnerships, and advocate for their programs. Hear concrete examples: a schedule change that doubled checkouts and raised ELA scores, a Breakfast Club and digital check-in that boosted learning activities, and aligning library services with curriculum changes. Learn simple tips for creating a Library Impact Report to make your library’s value visible.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Rachael Welsh on Instagram @RachaelReads and TikTok @RachaelReads_ Episode Description: Hosts Julie and Jan interview middle school librarian Rachael Welsh about practical strategies for building a visible, schoolwide reading culture. Rachael describes easy, low-cost ideas like using digital photo frames for student book graphics, a Post‑it recommendation wall, an Adopt‑a‑Shelf display program, and teacher book‑cover signs that encourage peer recommendations and student ownership. The conversation also covers motivation and competition through Beanstack and themed incentives, a campus and district Battle of the Books, and two inclusive book clubs (one bilingual) that deepen community connections across students and staff.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Alyssa on Instagram @international.school.librarian  Episode Description: Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson interview Alyssa Trommler, an international school librarian in Germany, about revitalizing a K–12 library with no budget. Alyssa shares practical strategies: Instagram wishlists, used-book sales, GoFundMe, community partnerships, repurposing furniture, and makerspace planning. Strategies that add high-interest books and create a welcoming space for students from 30+ countries. This episode highlights creative fundraising, a summer reading incentive with local restaurants, eco-friendly solutions for refurbishing furniture, and advice to persistently pursue funding and community support to improve student library services.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Episode Description: Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson explore how school librarians can claim leadership in their buildings and beyond. They share concrete strategies, running an active library media committee, sharing instructional partnerships, using proactive advocacy, and increasing visibility through presentations and community partnerships. Guest Tiki Love discusses her own path from classroom teacher to district and state leadership, offering examples of saying “yes,” presenting at conferences, mentoring peers, and building coalitions that help librarians be recognized as instructional leaders.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Episode Description: Julie and Jan interview Craig Coleman about selecting and maintaining school library collections. They discuss district selection and reconsideration policies, the collection life cycle, collaborating with teachers and library media committees, and practical steps front office staff should follow when concerns arise. The episode walks through realistic scenarios and offers clear communication strategies and escalation paths so librarians can confidently manage purchases, respond to concerns, and maintain high quality book collections.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  For US listeners, get 20% off professional development books for school librarians using code LIBRARYEXCHANGE20 at bloomsbury.com/BLU Learn more about Malcolm Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation, dedicated to promoting reading, at readwithmalcolm.com.   Episode Description: In this episode Julie and Jan talk with former Super Bowl champion Malcolm about his personal journey from a sports-focused childhood to becoming a passionate literacy advocate. Malcolm shares how he learned to read as a young adult, founded the Share the Magic Foundation, and created Read with Malcolm programs, including the global Read Bowl challenge that reaches classrooms in multiple countries. The conversation highlights why school librarians must be welcoming, culturally relevant, and actively pursuing reluctant readers while making books accessible for every child.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  To learn more about the studies discussed in this episode visit LibSlide.org or KeithCurryLance.com.  Episode Description: Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson speak with researcher Dr. Keith Curry Lance about how school librarians influence student achievement, the importance of leadership and technology integration, and the critical role of information literacy. The episode highlights decades of research, the SLIDE data tools, and practical strategies for advocacy. Listeners are directed to resources like LibSlide.org and KeithCurryLance.com to explore staffing trends and research findings and learn how to use data to demonstrate library impact.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Amanda Hunt on Instagram or TikTok @thenextgenlibrarian. Episode Description: In this episode Julie and Jan talk with Amanda Hunt (The NextGen Librarian) about her work on the AASL standards, strategies for middle school collection development, and practical ways to reignite student reading using tools like Beanstack and social media. They discuss balancing professional reviews with knowledge of your student community, partnering with teachers, leveraging equitable ed-tech like Adobe Express, and Amanda’s plan for moving to the high school level to build a culture of reading.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Billy Allen on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @3Kingvisions For more information about Billy Allen's Hip Hop Storytime visit https://3kingvisions.com/ Episode Description: In this episode we feature Billy Allen, founder of Three King Visions, who reinvents storytime by pairing hip‑hop and R&B with read‑alouds to spark a love of reading across ages and communities. We discuss his journey from public librarian to youth advocate, his community work in Las Vegas, and the impact of creative programming on families, teens, and lifelong learning. Billy explains how libraries offer limitless learning and social services, why outreach and partnerships matter, and what’s next as he grows Three King Visions to bring hip‑hop storytimes, teen empowerment events, and professional development to more schools and libraries.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Mike Rawls on Instagram @thebookwrangler  Through Mike's Instagram bio, access Google Freebies or visit his Teacher Pay Teachers store. Episode Description: Mike Rawls, aka The Book Wrangler, discusses building a diverse, intentional elementary library collection, embracing all reading formats (from graphic novels to audiobooks), and using creative passive programming like character height charts and passport displays to spark curiosity. He shares practical tips for creating designs while encouraging educators to welcome multiple pathways to literacy.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Allie Cornejo on Instagram or TikTok @alliethelibrarian.   Episode Description: Allie Cornejo, 2026 School Librarian of the Year, describes serving a border community in Harlingen, Texas, and supporting a health-professions high school through creative, hands-on library programs. She discusses 3D-printing, stop-motion and graphic design projects, energized book talks, and leading district AI literacy. Plus the recap of this episode describes how you can be eligible for a Demco giveaway for your library!

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  Follow Kathy Schmidt on Instagram @Kathyfs24 Episode Description: Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson talk with Kathy Schmidt, a veteran elementary school librarian, about building community partnerships that support student literacy and family engagement. They spotlight Brock Elementary’s programs: United Way Reading Buddies, the Lit on the Lawn family reading event, and the Loop It Up Savannah garden program and share practical ideas for creating volunteer-driven reading support, outreach events, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  To contact Lori McGovern by email:  [email protected] Follow Lori McGovern on Instagram @Lori.McGovern.LMS Episode Description: In this episode, hosts Julie and Jan talk with Lori McGovern about why school libraries need intentional branding to communicate their instructional value. Lori shares practical steps: start with a logo, use consistent visuals in email signatures, newsletters and social media, and tweak captions and wording to highlight standards-aligned learning instead of just events. Listeners will hear concrete ideas like templates, the “smother and cover” (Waffle House) approach to brand placement, and fun recognition strategies to promote collaboration and visibility. Contact details for Lori are provided for follow-up.

Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com  Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit: http://libraryexchange.etsy.com  To connect with Robin Thompson through email: [email protected] Follow Robin Thompson @CrazyMrsT on Instagram and TikTok. Episode Description: Librarian Robin Thompson (Crazy Mrs. T) breaks down Melissa Stewart’s Five Kinds of Nonfiction: active, browsable, traditional, expository, and narrative. She explains how she reorganized her elementary nonfiction collection for better student findability, including chronological history and grouping military transportation with military books. She also shares hands-on strategies that increased circulation: nonfiction book tastings, a March Madness-style bracket to engage readers, and outreach tips.