The Library is Open

Welcome to Part Three of our three-part series on ByWater Solutions partners who were honored as Library Journal Movers and Shakers for 2025! In this episode, meet Jen Park, Government Relations Specialist, Ramapo Catskill Library System, Middletown, NY. We discuss Jen's unique role as a government liaison within the public library system, how we can all make an impact for library advocacy, and her experiencing being honored as a Mover and Shaker! Read Jen's Mover and Shaker feature here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/jen-park-movers-shakers-2025-advocates

Join us for Part 2 of our three-part series on ByWater partners that were named as Library Journal Movers and Shakers 2025!In this episode, Meet Jason Homer, the Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts.Jason shares his unique path to librarianship, his experience leading a library in a rich and vibrant multicultural community, creating a safe space for library staff and users, and so much more! Read more about Jason's achievements in the Library Journal Movers and Shakers piece Learn more about the Wocester Public Library.Reach out to Jason on LinkedIn!!

Welcome to our three-part series on ByWater partners that were named as Library Journal Movers and Shakers 2025!First up, meet Leah Gregory, School Library Membership Coordinator at the Illinois Heartland Library System. Leah was honored in the Advocates category, and is referred to as the "Librarian's Librarian" for her work supporting school librarians all across Illinois! In this episode, we discuss Leah's unexpected career trajectory to librarianship, her advocacy and support work at the Illinois Heartland Library System, and her experience being named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker! You won't want to miss this episode!! Listen to the You Can't Shelve this Podcast here! Reach out to Leah at: lgregory@illinoisheartland.org

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we have return guest Brian Pichman and ByWater Aspen Sales Consultant Bill Kessler to talk about all things Computers in Libraries 2025! Brian and Bill both attended and presented at the conference, so we wanted to discuss their key takeaways and highlights from the event.Learn more about our Digital Defense: Strengthening Library Cybersecurity Webinar Series.

In honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to talk to Diana Silveira, President of Novare Library Services, a female-founded library technology, training, and consulting company. Diana is also the author of Library Technology Planning for Today and Tomorrow.In this episode, we discuss Diana's journey in the library world, her experience starting a library technology company, and what she has learned (and continues to learn) along the way. She gives insight into how to grow professionally, and shares some of her favorite trainings she has participated in over the years. We also talk about the trends she is seeing libraries focus on and what conferences she will be attend this year. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianasachssilveira/Learn more about Novare Library Services:https://novarelibrary.com/Get Diana's Book: https://novarelibrary.com/technology-planning-book/

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, we have not one, but TWO fabulous guests: Paul Cuomo and Yonah Levenson!! Paul is a Product Specialist at TDNet and host of The Info-Leaders Podcast. Yonah is aMetadata, Taxonomy, and Asset Management Strategy Consultant; Language Metadata Table Chair and Rutgers DAM Certificate Program Co-Director/Instructor. They will both be co-presenting at this year's Special Library Association conference on "Expanding Horizons and Career Transformations".In this episode, we learn more about Paul and Yonah's careers, discuss alternative career paths and self-marketing tips for information professionals, and get hype for this year's SLA 2025 Conference! You won't want to miss this episode!!! Connect with Yonah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonahlevenson/Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcuomo/

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, we catch up with Rex Duval, Cofounder and CEO of Nookly! Nookly is a personalized learning tool that utilizes AI to create educational stories for children. In this episode, we discuss what led Rex to cofound Nookly, how the personalized learning application works, and examples of how libraries can leverage these tools in their programming.Learn more about Nookly here.Read the podcast transcription here

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, Bruce Barnet, co-founder of The MindCare Store and SiMPL Technologies, shares his inspiring journey to working with Alzheimer's and dementia communities. Bruce discusses how his personal experiences and passion for improving the quality of life for those affected by cognitive challenges led him to develop innovative tools and resources tailored to their needs. He highlights some of the key products offered by The MindCare Store, including user-friendly communication devices, memory aids, and tools designed to support caregivers and patients alike. Bruce explains the thoughtful design process behind these solutions, focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and their ability to enhance independence.Additionally, Bruce delves into how libraries across the country have adopted these tools as part of their community engagement efforts. He shares stories of how libraries are leveraging these resources to create dementia-friendly spaces and programs, fostering greater inclusion and support for those living with Alzheimer's and related conditions.This episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technology, community, and care, and how libraries can leverage these resources to serve their communities. To learn more about the MindCare store's library resources, visit: https://www.mindcarestore.com/Libraries-s/2199.htm

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, Brian Pichman returns to talk about the tech trends that he thinks will be the hot topic for libraries in 2025. From new facets of AI to cybersecurity, Brian draws on his experiences attending recent library conferences to workshops he has hosted to share his insights. We also may talk about cows....listen to find out!To learn more about Brian, visit https://bpichman.com/#home or listen to his original podcast episode here.Visit here to watch replays from ByWater's AI Innovations in Libraries Virtual Conference.

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we had the joy of talking with Aleisha Amohia, Technical Lead at Catalyst IT at kohacon24!We talk about her experience working with Catalyst IT, what the open source community means to her, and what's to come with kohacon25!!Learn more about Aleisha here: https://www.aleisha.nz/Twitter: @aleishaamohiaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleishaamohia/Aleisha is a Technical Lead at Catalyst IT, an open source software company, where she started out as an intern in 2014. She is a Victoria University of Wellington graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Information Systems).Aleisha Amohia (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) (she/her) is a passionate young advocate for diversity and equity in all spaces, sparked by her experiences as a young Māori-Asian woman in the technology industry.

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we welcome librarian, ByWater friend, and author Lydia Sigwarth to the podcast! Lydia is a Community Engagement Librarian at the Dubuque County Library District in Iowa and the author of "Dear Librarian", a beautifully illustrated children's book about Lydia's childhood experience at the library. Lydia was also featured on an episode of the This American Life podcast called "Growing Shelf-Awareness". In this episode, we discuss Lydia's childhood experience growing up at the library, her journey to becoming and author and librarian, and how libraries can best support children who may be in unstable living situations. Follow Lydia on all the socials @LibraryLydiaPurchase Lydia's book hereListen to Lydia's episode on This American Life here

Guess who's back? Back again? Marshall's back! Marshall Breeding of Library Technology Guides is back on the podcast to discuss all the trends and hot topics of ALA 2024, and recap his Executive Perspectives panel (our very own Nathan Curulla was a panelist!). We also compared our step counts at the conference and our favorite AI tools. Learn more about Marshall's work at librarytechnology.orgJoin us at our FREE virtual Unlocking the Future: AI Innovations in Libraries conference! September 16-17, 2024. Learn more here: https://www.airmeet.com/e/9cd10860-3887-11ef-9cac-83019b5cc2e9

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, Sam Passey, Associate Dean of Library Services at Colorado Mountain College, joins us to talk about his recent switch from public to academic librarianship, his experience and passion for Open Source, and his hopes for the future. Sam formerly worked as the Director of the Uintah County Library and was the co-founder of the Uintah Basin Libraries Consortium. Follow Sam on LinkedIn!

In this episode of the Library is Open podcast, Andrew Auld, Commercial Director at PTFS Europe, joins us to talk about the partnership with ByWater, updates from koha Hackfest, and...sourdough bread??! Listen to the podcast to learn more!

Guess who's back?! Marshall Breeding of Library Technology Guides! Marshall joins us on this episode of the podcast to discuss the trends and topics that were at the forefront of this year's Public Library Association 2024 Conference, as well as the fun events! Follow Marshall at librarytechnology.org

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.

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

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."

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

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_OXyJ1D3BgKovtgSBoFcQNb7IhixDKOTo learn more about KohaCon'23 visit: https://perlkohacon.fi/Schedule.htmlTo learn more about the koha-US Annual Conference visit: https://koha-us.org/events/conferences/2023-koha-us-annual-conference-portsmouth-nh/

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

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: Box folder with all the DeLaMare Library Makerspace Wrangler and Patron Training resources: https://bit.ly/41lPwPgDeLaMare Makerspace website: https://library.unr.edu/delamare/themakerspaceTara's information page: https://library.unr.edu/radniecki-taraRebecca's information page: https://library.unr.edu/glasgow-rebeccaMaker Literacies website: https://library.uta.edu/makerliteracies/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.

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/

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.

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 NobleMark 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 DiscoveryAspen 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.

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 HolanAngie 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 PolitifactFact-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.

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 PorcaroJP was an American Library Association Presidential Candidate in 2016-2017 and serves as an EveryLibrary Senior Advisor.Follow JP on TwiiterAbout the Bayonne Public LibraryThe 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 LibraryThe 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.

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 LankesR. 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!

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 ReadingA Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order by Judith FlandersAncestral Night (White Space # 1) by Elizabeth BearWhat's Jessamyn Listening toQI PodcastAbout Jessamyn WestJessamyn 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!

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 SpaceThe 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/.

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 KingDavid 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.

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 GouldCheryl 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

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 PearlNancy 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

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 BreedingMarshall 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

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 LeadIan 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 WOLFconWOLFcon 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: WOLFconAbout The Open Library FoundationThe 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: OLFAbout ByWater SolutionsByWater 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

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Mike Wells, Library Director at Benedictine Library at Thomas More University and The Salus Data Consulting team which consists of Hrusto Selimovic, Jared Nelson, Corey Zamrik, Jash Patel, and Spencer White. The group talks to us about their involvement with a library website analytics project and how that grew into a consulting company. Listen as the group discusses taking the project from start to finish and how the library helped them build their new venture. About Thomas More University Thomas More University is a small liberal arts university with a big reputation. Thomas More is consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best regional universities in the South. Founded in 1921 by the Benedictine Sisters as Villa Madonna College, the University now serves more than 2,000 students from across the country and around the world on its beautiful Crestview Hills, Kentucky campus, located just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Read more at: University About Benedictine Library The Benedictine Library serves as the focal point of a student's academic life at Thomas More University (TMU), acting as a gateway for both independent and collective learning, research, and discovery. We provide quality resources and services to our students, faculty, and staff, helping to facilitate access to information, technology, and education. Resources meet the needs of TMU students, faculty, and staff, focused primarily on the student experience and academic curricula. Our Librarians interact with students, faculty, and staff in meeting information needs and achieving instructional goals. Faculty collaborate with librarians to fulfill and support research-based curricula. Read more at: Library About Salus Data Consulting The Salus Data Consulting team consists of Hrusto Selimovic, Jared Nelson, Corey Zamrik, Jash Patel, and Spencer White. They consult with various businesses and institutions in an effort to provide a viable privacy-centric alternative to Google Analytics and other commercial providers. We want people to better protect and collect their data. We seek to not only to provide this service but to educate our audience on how commercial providers monetize the data of users to third party advertising entities. Read more at: Consulting Watch a quick video from Thomas More University: Thankful Thursday - Library Project

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Laura Wright, Assistant Director, Metadata Production at Cornell University. Laura talks to us about why she is so passionate about the FOLIO Open Source Platform. Laura is an active member of the FOLIO Open Source Community. Her FOLIO Project Role is a Functional Expert and her SIG Participation includes Forum Facilitator, Metadata Management SIG. You can read more about Laura's involvement on the FOLIO Wiki. About Laura Wright Read more about Laura here: LinkedIn About Cornell University The mission of Cornell University Library promotes a culture of broad inquiry and supports the University's mission to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and creative expression. It engages with the ongoing transformations of society to deliver world-class physical and digital content and services critical to research, education, and outreach, now and in the future. The Library acts globally, supporting Cornell's land grant mission in New York State and beyond, and builds partnerships within and outside the university. It invests in its staff, collections, and physical and virtual libraries. And, it serves as a neutral and trusted party supporting information access and scholarly communication. Read more at:https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/inside/mission About FOLIO FOLIO is a collaboration of libraries, developers and vendors building an open source library services platform. It supports traditional resource management functionality and can be extended into other institutional areas. Read more at: https://www.folio.org/about/

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Christine Peterson, Engagement and Emerging Technologies Coordinator at Amigos Library Services. Christine talks to us today about their involvement in the SimplyE project developed by the New York Public Library. SimplyE was developed as an open source project that allows libraries to provide a single platform for their ebook collections. Listen as Christine discusses hosting, marketing and their support of the SimplyE platform. About SimplyE SimplyE is The New York Public Library's free e-reader app that makes it easier than ever to borrow e-books. Developed by NYPL as an open source initiative, now other libraries can provide a consolidated and clear view of their e-book collections. Read more at: NYPL SimplyE SimplyE Open Reading Platform on GitHub: An Open Source Ebook platform to simplify finding and reading ebooks from libraries. About Amigos Library Services Amigos is a not-for-profit membership-based organization dedicated to serving libraries. They are one of the largest library service networks in the nation. Whether it's for continuing education, member discounts, or professional advice, they are there for their members. Amigos Library Services is a hosting provider for the SimplyE app, which combines titles from multiple ebook and audiobook providers into a single, easy-to-use list for your patrons. Browsing, searching, and downloading is simple, without the complication of Adobe IDs for your patrons. Read more about Amigos at: SimplyE About Christine Peterson, Engagement And Emerging Technologies Coordinator As the Engagement & Emerging Technologies Coordinator, Christine works with members to identify their needs and create services to assist them. She also follows technology trends to discover how Amigos can promote and support these project, possibly bringing them to our members as Amigos services. Currently, she guides the implementation of the SimplyE service, an open source app that brings multiple ebook feeds into a single, easy-to-use interface for patrons. She is also known for her technology training throughout the Southwest, making complicated topics easy for librarians to understand. Prior to joining Amigos, she was the Manager for Continuing Education & Consulting at the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, guiding and supporting libraries statewide. She also worked for both San Antonio College and the Florida Institute of Technology as their systems librarian, converting their library catalogs to automated systems.

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Lisa Sjögren, Librarian at Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Communication and Learning in Science. Lisa pours her energy into why their Library has chosen the FOLIO Open Source Platform for their new LSP. Chalmers University of Technology was named the first FOLIO Beta Partner for EBSCO Information Services. https://www.folio.org/about/news-events/article/chalmers-university-of-technology-named-first-folio-beta-partner-for-ebsco-information-services/ You can read more about the Chalmers implementation on the FOLIO wiki at: https://wiki.folio.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=14461407. They plan to go live in Autumn of 2019. Chalmers Library has a wonderful blog where they discuss journeys of a FOLIO early implementer, a new library system built from scratch and more at https://blog.lib.chalmers.se/tag/folio/. About Lisa Sjögren Lisa is a systems and metadata librarian. She works to ensure the visibility, retrievability and accessibility of their collections, through data quality and the smooth operations of their ILS and discovery system. Currently, within the framework of Chalmers' beta partnership with EBSCO, Lisa is working with the implementation at Chalmers of open source, community driven, library service platform FOLIO. As a core member of the Chalmers FOLIO implementation team, she works closely with EBSCO and the FOLIO community to ascertain that FOLIO will provide a seamless and intuitive user experience for library staff and patrons. Read more about Lisa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamsjogren/ About Chalmers University of Technology | Department of Communication and Learning in Science Chalmers University of Technology is researching and educating in technology, science, shipping and architecture, with a sustainable future as a comprehensive vision. Chalmers is known for its efficient innovation environment and has 13 institutions. Graphene Flagship, one of the European Commission's first research initiatives within Future Emerging Technologies, is coordinated by Chalmers. Located in Gothenburg, Chalmers has about 10,300 full-time students and 3,100 employees. Read more at: http://www.lib.chalmers.se/ About FOLIO FOLIO is a collaboration of libraries, developers and vendors building an open source library services platform. It supports traditional resource management functionality and can be extended into other institutional areas. Read more at: https://www.folio.org/about/

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Sarah Sawicki, Planning & Projects Director and Phillip Higgins, Marketing and Digital Strategy Director at the Richland Library in South Carolina. They are joined by Sally Shaughnessy, Director, Project Management at Aten Design Group in Denver, Colorado. In this podcast we discuss Intercept, an open source event, room, equipment management and customer tracking system. About Intercept Intercept is made for libraries by libraries, but in the end, it's all about the customer. Libraries are evolving! No longer are they simply a place where books are stored – now they're increasingly a place where learning, in its many forms, takes place. In fact, while some libraries have experienced a decrease in visitors and circulation, nationwide event attendance is up 30% over the past ten years. Read a complete breakdown on: Why Intercept?. About Sarah Sawicki, Planning & Projects Director An experienced project manager, Sarah Sawicki joined Richland Library in 2012 as Virtual Services Project Manager and has been championing the 12-location system ever since. Now serving as Planning and Projects Director, she guides cross-functional teams through human-centered design to plan and execute new and improved products, services and spaces. She advises other staff serving as project managers on strategic initiatives and ensures the use of data to make informed decisions. Outside of the library, she taps her way through life using her project management superpowers to raise teenaged twin girls, a tween boy, and a pre-teen Oktoberfest Columbia. About Phillip Higgins, Marketing and Digital Strategy Director Phillip serves as the Director of Marketing and Digital Strategy for Richland Library - one of the most progressive, award-winning public libraries in the country. There, he leads a team of developers, marketers and creatives on a mission to deliver and implement innovative strategies that enhance the customer experience while continuously growing the library's brand. A self-described Agile evangelist, Phillip leads the web development efforts for Richland Library's website as well as other digital assets. Phillip regularly speaks at events around the country, talking about the work that Richland Library does for the community and the strategies and tactics that his team employs to support that work. He is “uber happy” (his words) to share what he's learned with others and to help everyone reimagine what it means to be a 21st century library. About Sally Shaughnessy, Director of Project Management Sally has been working in digital strategy and delivery since 2005, mostly with creative agencies developing cross-channel campaigns for the likes of Starbucks, Pepsi, Quicken, and The Home Depot. She thrives on helping the creative “makers” bring ideas to life and delivering beautiful, intuitive digital experiences. Sally is a certified Scrum Master and uses her experience as a news reporter to value diverse perspectives, drive collaboration, and bring the best out of teams. When she is not retooling a roadmap or gathering site requirements, Sally is an avid camper and homebrewer. She also sits on the board of Bella Boutique, a unique Denver non-profit providing free prom gowns to teens in financial need.

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Brian Pichman, the Director of Strategic Innovation at the Evolve Project. He speaks a lot about innovative technology within libraries and loves collaborating with both libraries and companies. About Brian and the Evolve Project Brian Pichman is an entrepreneur, innovator, and collaborator.As Director of Strategic Innovation at the Evolve Project, he works with libraries to create makerspaces and fab labs, and provides the coaching and guidance needed to take their environments to the next level. Brian speaks a lot about innovative technology as a presenter and loves collaborating with both libraries and companies. He is dedicated to bringing libraries into the future using cost effective measures and strategies. Much of Evolve's work includes bridging the digital divide, breaking away from “traditional library views”, becoming trend setters and finding or building innovative works geared towards interaction and collaboration. He has also been working with start-up companies across the country, promoting libraries and encouraging people to work closer with libraries in developing new ideas and concepts.

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Michael Kucsak, Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff at Virginia Tech University Libraries. In this session Michael discuses why the freedom, flexibility and support system offered by ByWater and Koha was the best choice for the University Libraries. He also talks about managing change, setting the stage for a migration, successful communication and other aspects that prepared them for a migration from a propriety ILS to open source. About Michael Kucsak Michael is a graduate of Florida State University's School of Library and Information Studies. As a professional librarian, Michael has worked for non-profit library consortia, public, private, k-12 and University libraries. He has been a library technology consultant for several different libraries including the State Library of Florida. While in the private sector, Michael became a Six Sigma Black Belt. Today he combines his skills in process improvement with his experience in library technology as the Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff for Virginia Tech. He continues to present around the country on topics that include process improvement in the library, eBooks, and enhanced discovery services. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Trey Gordner, Founder and CEO of Koios. Trey's goal is to help libraries fulfill their mission in the digital age. In this session of The Library is Open Podcast, Trey discusses Koios, working with libraries, and what is on the horizon. Koios began when Trey pitched a library software idea at Startup Weekend Columbia in November 2014. The idea was a browser extension that checked the library for you from Amazon. A great team came together, built a prototype in just 54 hours, and won the competition. This wasn't Trey's first run-in with libraries: he'd been working in and out of them for 5 years, and had just finished consulting with Richland Library on attracting young professionals and technologists. Read more about Koios and how they help libraries. About Koios Koios makes free library resources visible in Google search results. They combine a proprietary technology platform (http://www.readlibre.com) with expertise in search engine marketing and search engine optimization, so that libraries appear side-by-side with Amazon. This increases the use of public resources, engenders support for public libraries, and lowers the barrier to lifelong learning. Learn More Looking for more information about Koios to get your library started? Contact them today.

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Spencer Smith, McKinney Public Library. Spencer Smith is currently the Director of Libraries at City of McKinney. As a library leader, Spencer's goal is to provide top quality service to his citizens. In this session of The Library is Open Podcast, Spencer discusses how his library uses statistics from Koha's Reports Module to generate collection development at their library. Read more about McKinney Public Library. McKinney, Texas, is unique by nature; as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., McKinney has a current population of nearly 168,000. Incorporated in 1848, the city is located 30 miles north of Dallas and is the county seat of Collin County. McKinney offers rolling hills, lush trees, a historic downtown square and unique neighborhoods and developments. In 2014, Money Magazine ranked McKinney as the #1 Best Place to Live in America. Visit the city's website at www.mckinneytexas.org. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Michael Sauers from Do Space in Omaha, Nebraska. Michael Sauers is currently the Director of Technology for Do Space. Michael has been training librarians in technology for the past twenty years and has also been a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, serials cataloger, technology consultant, and bookseller since earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy. Michael publishes a blog entitled “The Travelin' Librarian” where he talks about everything libraries, technology traveling and more! This session of our podcast explores Michael's role at Do Space, their programs, and their plans to expand the project. Read more about the Do Space Library here. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Robert Hilliker from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. Rob is the Director of the Edsel Ford Memorial Library. He joined the School in 2013 and set the stage by rolling out the new ILS for students by switching to Koha. The Edsel Ford Memorial Library provides students with a wealth of research tools — and an ideal place for both individual and group study. Beyond the library's collection of books and multimedia, students can access a wide range of online databases for research. Each academic department has a designated librarian to help students make the most of the library's resources, and a knowledgeable staff is available during library hours to provide assistance. Read more about the Edsel Ford Memorial Library. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features question and answer with Kyle Hall, Lead Developer or otherwise known as Lord of the Code for ByWater Solutions. Join us as we discuss the 17.05 release for Koha Open Source ILS where Kyle volunteered as Release Manager. Listen to what is on the horizon and what we will see in Koha 17.05. Kyle received his M.S. in Information Technology from Edinboro University of PA. He has been fulfilling the IT needs of librarians for over a decade at the Crawford County Federated Library System, where his department secured sponsorship for the integration of Zebra into Koha. His work not only included enhancing Koha itself, but also authorship of the Koha Offline Circulation tool and the maintenance of the Koha Virtual Appliance. He is also the author of Libki, an Open Source library kiosk management system. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our Library is Open Podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Myka Kennedy Stephens, Seminary Librarian and Assistant Professor at the Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Myka has been working in libraries for more than a decade and has a strong background in library leadership and open source information systems. Over the last 3 years at Lancaster Theological Seminary Library, Myka has developed and implemented several innovative library services including embedded library services, seminary archives, library systems administration, and open source initiatives. In this podcast we will be discussing moving to an Open Source ILS, how the move opened the door to other Open Source options, and the benefits her library has seen. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

In this week's podcast are guests Lori Ayre, Library Technology Consultant at Galecia Group, and Jessamyn West, Librarian and Community Technologist. Lori works with libraries to optimize their operations and find ways to leverage state-of-the-art technologies to reduce operating expenses without reducing service quality to library patrons. Jessamyn can teach anyone to use a computer and enjoys using free and open source tools to help libraries better serve their patrons. Join us as we talk about Bookpoints, software that helps public libraries manage their summer reading programs. Bookpoints allows library staff to connect more people with summer reading through gamification and an engaging interface. This program helps librarians assess and demonstrate the their programs' impact using built-in evaluation tools. Bookpoints also efficiently manage and report on their summer program. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy! Interested in Learning more about Bookpoints? Check out Reading By Design for more information.

We are happy to announce our newest podcast for The Library is Open! Today's session features an interview with Henry Bankhead, Assistant Library Director at the City San Rafael in California. Henry has been working in libraries for more than a decade. His degrees in Art and Library Science have added a creative twist to his career, broadened his outlook, and given him the energy to be a risk taker. Hear his views on embracing change in the library world through the use of open source, as well as his outlook on providing outstanding customer service to the public, colleagues and partners. You can watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel, listen right here, subscribe to our podcast, or all of the above. Enjoy!

We are happy to announce the third of our monthly podcast series titled The Library is Open! It features an interview with John Chrastka, Executive Director and Patrick Sweeney, Political Director of EveryLibrary. Your hosts Nate Curulla and Jessica Zairo discuss the current political climate affecting libraries in 2017, advocating for libraries and “get out and vote” techniques with John and Patrick. EveryLibrary is the first and only national organization dedicated to building voter support for libraries. Learn more about about what they do and how they support libraries at Action. Enjoy!