Surviving The Stacks Podcast

Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW + Jane Garner, PhD
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Featuring stories and examples from across the globe, Surviving The Stacks podcast seeks to increase support to library workers and administrators experiencing challenges, bring awareness of the public to common library concerns, improve understanding about the reasons why libraries are seeing these challenges, and share innovative solutions for libraries to consider using in their own community. Hosted by Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW + Jane Garner, PhD. Website: http://www.survivingthestacks.com

  1. 07/07/2025

    When It's Time For A Change (54:13)

    Sometimes it’s time to move on from a job, either because the environment is toxic and unhealthy, the job is not a good fit for the person’s interests, skills, or priorities, or just because the person is ready for a change or a new challenge in their career. In this episode, Beth and Jane talk with Alison King, a career coach, job search guide, and former librarian who specializes in what she calls “Leaping Librarians.” Alison talks about signs that it’s time to move on, other types of roles often pursued by library workers, limiting beliefs that often hold library workers back from new opportunities, and practical steps for exploring new career options.  Key Links:King Career ServicesLibrarian Linkover Podcast

    54 min

  2. 06/02/2025

    Restorative Practices (53:30)

    As many libraries continue to experience significant behavioral problems from visitors, they are often looking for ways to address these challenges from a trauma-informed approach. In this episode, Beth and Jane talk with Stephen Jackson, a licensed professional counselor, consultant, and trainer who specializes in restorative justice. Stephen has spent years overseeing restorative approaches in libraries and other public spaces and provides guidance to the STS audience about strategies for preventing behavioral problems as well as strategies for responding when challenges occur. Stephen also compares how approaches might differ for youth versus adults.

    54 min

  3. 05/05/2025

    Hiring + Supporting Staff (46:20)

    As library visitor needs have changed over the years, libraries have found that they often need staff to have different skills and characteristics compared to what they may have needed in the past. If there is a mismatch between someone’s skills and the needs of a particular position, this increases staff stress as well as impacting the customer experience of the library.  In this episode, Beth and Jane discuss some of the training needs of staff to help them be as prepared as possible for the contemporary realities of the work. They interview Anne-Maree Pfabe, Library Manager at the City of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia). Anne-Maree shares strategies she uses for hiring staff who are a good fit for the library environment as well as ways her library tries to support the ongoing professional development needs of staff.

    46 min

  4. 04/07/2025

    Meeting Your Community's Needs (38:22)

    With libraries struggling for limited resources in many communities around the world, growing politically motivated protests, and some people questioning libraries’ relevance, it is more important than ever to ensure a library’s services and programs meet the needs of the local community. Small and rural libraries, in particular, struggle to survive if not well supported by their community members. In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Dianne Connery, previous Director and current Development Director of Pottsboro Area Public Library in Texas (US). On the verge of closing its doors, Dianne led a group of dedicated stakeholders who transformed this small, rural library into the vibrant community-gathering place it is today. She shares her experiences and strategies that worked for her to engage her local community and ensure the library met their needs. She also shares her opinions about how this process may look different for rural versus larger or more urban libraries.

    38 min

  5. 03/03/2025

    Partnering With Local Government (50:42)

    Libraries can’t do their work alone, and many benefit from collaborating with local government partners. In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Leanne Mitchell, a private consultant and previous government worker from Australia who focuses her work on helping local government bodies address issues related to homelessness. She has collaborated with a number of libraries throughout her work, including supporting libraries to implement and carry out innovative programs and services for their most marginalized patrons by partnering with other local government entities. She shares her experience and guidance for libraries trying to build collaborations with local government partners to meet the needs of their communities, users, and staff.

    51 min

  6. 02/03/2025

    Serving The Unhoused (55:21)

    Libraries increasingly serve many people who are unhoused, especially since they are often one of the only free, accessible spaces in most communities for people without many resources. However, this population is one with many additional and sometimes complex needs, which can often cause stress for library staff. In this episode, Beth and Jane share strategies used by libraries to effectively engage and serve this population, including discussing the recommendations from the recently released Leadership Brief for Addressing Homelessness distributed by the US Urban Libraries Council. They also interview Sarah Garnett, Managing Director of the Footpath Library in Australia. Sarah discusses her work bringing mobile library resources to communities of unhoused individuals, including sharing her reasoning for starting the Footpath Library, strategies for engaging and serving unhoused individuals, and recommendations for other libraries serving this population.

    55 min

  7. 01/06/2025

    Getting Buy In (55:48)

    When libraries seek to add innovative programming or services, especially those that aim to serve vulnerable or marginalized populations, it can be difficult to get buy-in from decision-makers and stakeholders; without buy-in and support, these new programs or services can struggle and even fail. In this episode, Beth and Jane interview Tonya Garcia and David Perez from the Long Branch Free Public Library in New Jersey (USA) about some of their library’s programs and how they successfully got buy-in. They have been successful implementing nontraditional library programs such as the Fade to Books Barbershop Literacy Program and the Fresh Start re-entry program, and were the first library in New Jersey to add an on-staff social worker. They share the strategies that have been helpful in their area and suggestions for other libraries seeking to gain support for new programs or services aiming to meet patron and/or staff needs.

    56 min

  8. 12/02/2024

    Lack of Resources: How Measuring Outcomes Can Help (42:09)

    Access This Episode Transcript Beth and Jane discuss the struggle many libraries have for financial resources, and how necessary it is for libraries to know how to measure outcomes and show the impact of their services to help bring in or justify continued or added financial support. They interview Darren Smart, Head of Service for Somerset Libraries in the UK, about the importance of being able to measure and report outcomes to demonstrate to partners and funders the benefits of working with or supporting the library. Darren shares suggestions for ways libraries can turn qualitative information and patron/customer stories into usable outcome data.  Connect with Darren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-smart-b-e-m-5637a234/?originalSubdomain=uk

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Featuring stories and examples from across the globe, Surviving The Stacks podcast seeks to increase support to library workers and administrators experiencing challenges, bring awareness of the public to common library concerns, improve understanding about the reasons why libraries are seeing these challenges, and share innovative solutions for libraries to consider using in their own community. Hosted by Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW + Jane Garner, PhD. Website: http://www.survivingthestacks.com

Information

  • Creator
    Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW + Jane Garner, PhD
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW + Jane Garner, PhD
  • Show Website
    Surviving The Stacks Podcast