Best Librarieslead Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 41 (May 2025): IMLS The Little Agency That Could 1:12:37

3d ago1:12:37

1:12:37

Aughhhh!!! We knew this was coming, but it still hurts – even more. As part of the chain-saw destruction of much of the US federal government, the Institute for Museum and Library Services has been eliminated to the maximum extend of the law and ordered to reduce services and personnel to the minimum required by law. All budget requests from IMLS a…

1
Episode 40 (April 2025) March Madness - Info Style 1:08:05

1M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

With Dave on vacation, Beth & Mike also take a break from the challenges and issues facing the library & information field. Since both are both avid sports fans and since it’s “March Madness” (college basketball’s post-season extravaganza) time, they build on last month’s “information perspective” by taking a look at the entire phenomenon while wea…

1
Episode 39 (March 2025): Looking at the World Through Information-Colored Glasses 1:01:10

2M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

All three of us are hopelessly biased. We look at the world through “information-colored glasses.” This means that when we engage in any and all aspects of human life – work, play, learning – we can’t help but consider what’s going on from an information perspective. In any situation or in relation to any “person, place, or thing,” we almost uncons…

1
DeepSeek AI Watch Feb 2025 Episode 38 bonus 12:13

3M ago12:13

12:13

From the Libraries Lead Podcast - February 2025, AI Watch Segment. In this 12 minute video, Dave Lankes explains why DeepSeek is such a big deal. Then, he blows our minds by demonstrating how DeepSeek works and maybe even ... thinks(?) because DeepSeek includes its "chain of thought reasoning and prompting" as it answers questions. Take a look and …

1
Episode 38 (Feb 2025): Stop Calling Them Customers!! 1:03:49

3M ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Library & information science for decades has focused on the “user” perspective in systems and services. This includes HCI (human-computer interaction), interfaces, features in search and catalog systems, and ways of improving services (e.g., online/chat reference, maker spaces, events). We provide systems, resources, and services and users use the…

1
Episode 37 (Jan 2024): Show Me the $$ 1:00:21

4M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

In the beginning … of our dot com digital age (roughly from the late 1970s) … there was a expectation that information and computer technology (ICT) would be a boon to society. Technology could be liberating rather than oppressing. The hope was that new products and services (e.g., personal computers, the Internet, the WWW, search engines, smart ph…

1
Episode 36 (DEC 2024) – The Days After - What Now? 1:05:41

5M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

The election is over, and the reactions are emotional and raw. Some people are cheering; others crying. America is still as divided politically and socially as the day before. Putting those things aside, let’s look ahead from an information & library perspective. What’s in store for us as individuals, families and communities? Are there lessons lea…

1
BONUS EPISODE 36+ - NotebookLM 22:13

5M ago22:13

22:13

Dave explores NotebookLM’s podcasting feature. NotebookLM is an AI system from Google that lets you create a workspace around documents that summarizes, creates study guides, and much more. One of the features is creating an “Audio Overview” that transforms your notes and documents into a two person podcast. Dave was impressed, see what you think. …

1
EPISODE 35 (NOV 2024) A Once in a Lifetime...Again and Again and Again 59:11

6M ago59:11

59:11

Natural and human-made crises, disasters, emergencies, and catastrophes. Whatever the cause (climate change, poverty, disease, overpopulation, war), it's undeniable that communities and individuals are continually facing daunting problems and challenges across the globe. In the first year of this podcast in Episode 11 (Nov 2021), we discussed how e…

1
BONUS INTERVIEW (September 2024) - Rebekah Cummings, Librarian & 2024 Candidate for Lt. Gov of Utah! 28:21

7M ago28:21

28:21

Rebekah Cummings is interviewed by Dave Lankes. Rebekah was chosen to run with Gubernatorial candidate, Brian King. He described Rebekah as: “A mom. A public servant. A librarian. A defender against book banning and censorship. Utahns will be well served by Rebekah’s leadership through her advocacy for intellectual freedom and commitment to empower…

1
Episode 34 (October 2024) AI-Corrosion (and Repair!) of Trust in Public Institutions 1:11:56

7M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

Corrosive AI: Effects On and Expanded Roles Of Libraries and the Information Field Sigh. It’s not enough that our instantly and continually connected information environment has eroded trust everywhere—including in our public institutions. The Internet, World Wide Web, and social media have been super-spreaders for misinformation (unintended mislea…

1
Episode 33 (May/June 2024): TikTok—Is the Clock Really Ticking for TikTok? 1:11:00

11M ago1:11:00

1:11:00

TikTok! Used regularly by over half the US population, why do so many either love or loathe TikTok? Is it simply a fun and terrific platform for creating, sharing, and consuming content? Is it an addictive, mental health hazard destroying America’s youth? Is it a major national security threat of Chinese infiltration? Is it all of the above…and mor…

1
Episode 32 (April 2024): Optimistically Realistic (or Realistically Optimistic) About AI? 57:24

1y ago57:24

57:24

In this episode, we return to one of our favorite topics– the new AI. But rather than focus on the latest “gee whiz” or OMG capabilities, we turn to the societal implications and impact side of the topic. Dave raised this topic wondering if it’s another case of, “this is why we can't have nice things anymore.” Why is it that for world-changing tech…

1
Episode 31 (March 2024) Ack! School Libraries Under Attack! 1:04:42

1y ago1:04:42

1:04:42

What could be less controversial than school libraries? School libraries - dedicated to children and American values. School libraries- keeping school information collections & technology up-to-date and secure. School librarians - seeking to promoting literacy and ensuring that students gain essential information & technology skills. Mom, apple pie…

1
Episode 30 (February 2024): INFORMATION Everywhere All At Once 1:04:11

1y ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Information and technology are a ubiquitous part of our lives. We cannot escape. Many of us walk around with multiple devices, receiving hundreds of notifications, emails, alerts, texts each day. Much like the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once we are all navigating a multiverse of devices and information sources. We used to talk about and…

1
Episode 29 (Jan 2024) Deaths of Despair: Isolation and Despondency 1:07:21

1y ago1:07:21

1:07:21

ContentWarning: This episode includes discussions about mental health, addiction, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please seek professional help. It is important to prioritize your well-being and the well-being of those around you. In this episode, we get serious about a seriou…

1
EPISODE 28 (Dec 2023): More AI: 'I’m Afraid I CAN do that, Dave' 1:03:33

1+ y ago1:03:33

1:03:33

In recent weeks, Dave's gone down the AI rabbit hole and, in this episode, we’re following him. Besides using AI for creating graphics, Dave’s is using an AI app called Poe to create “answer bots” – AI chats based on one's own content. This differs from ChatGPT and others which are based on large language models of massive amounts of general conten…

1
EPISODE 27 (Nov 2023): EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER! Now, what was the question? 1:05:20

1+ y ago1:05:20

1:05:20

We - Beth, Mike, & Dave - are educators, so naturally we all believe deeply in the value of learning at all stages of life. We advocate for “education” as an answer to many if not most questions, problems, concerns, and issues that people face individually and collectively. But, let’s get more specific about what this really means today and tomorro…

1
EPISODE 26 (October 2023): Pitchforks and Torches and So Much More! 1:04:28

1+ y ago1:04:28

1:04:28

We’re back and where do we begin? Beth, Dave and Mike return to the podcast microphones after a summer break from recording, but certainly not a break from incredible developments in the library, information, and technology worlds. Headlines include: Not just censor, but actually close libraries! Invasion of the AIs, aka large language models (LLM)…

1
Episode 25 (May 2023): Celebrating Libraries 1:03:10

2y ago1:03:10

1:03:10

Enough of the downer, doom, the sky is falling mentality that seems to pervade our lives and media. Let’s celebrate! Join us as we highlight libraries and librarians and their role in our lives. Libraries are great. Libraries are thriving. Libraries are cool. Beth, Mike, & Dave talk about why we love them and give specific examples of unique and in…

1
Episode 24 (April 2023): The New AI...It's Complicated 1:06:48

2y ago1:06:48

1:06:48

In this podcast episode, Beth, Mike, and Dave dive into the latest advancements in AI, including ChatGPT, Bing, Dall-E, and others. They acknowledge that the new AI technologies are complex and not simply good or bad, black or white. Instead, they explore the nuanced capabilities of these tools and their potential impact on society. The hosts discu…

1
Episode 23 (March 2023): March Info Madness – Sports, Information, and Libraries 59:47

2y ago59:47

59:47

It’s March Madness, and we both readily admit it – we are sports junkies. We are VERY dedicated fans taking our teams’ successes (or lack thereof) way too seriously. But we also enjoy looking at sports through our “information-colored” glasses. Sport has always been an information as well as physical contest, and it’s even more so today. We have Mo…

1
Episode 22 (Feb 2023): Higher Education: For Better, Not Worse! 1:03:08

2y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

In our last episode, #21 – January 2023, we articulated our concerns about what’s going on in higher education. We lamented the striving for status and money instead of access and affordability for students. We also felt that there’s an over-emphasis among students and families on jobs and financial benefits rather than learning and gaining a well-…

1
Episode 21 (Jan 2023) Higher Education: Please Come to Your Senses!! 1:03:15

2+ y ago1:03:15

1:03:15

The three of us are proud academics. While we come from very different backgrounds, we are all examples of the power of higher education to change lives. Furthermore, each of us has dedicated our lives to “paying it forward” through teaching, mentoring, research, and professional practice. However, things seem different now on campuses. The promise…

1
Episode 20 (Dec 2022): Ding Dong The Twit is Dead? 56:23

2+ y ago56:23

56:23

Meltdown at Twitter? Advertisers leaving, Apple may delist the Twitter app, many have canceled their Twitter accounts. What does this mean? Is there something more meaningful, valuable, and humane to replace it -perhaps a trustworthy, digital platform for the exchange of information and ideas moderated for credibility and trust? Should librarians s…

1
Episode 19 (Oct 2022): What in the World? 58:12

2+ y ago58:12

58:12

Episode 19: WHAT????? February 21st. 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg What is going on in this world? Librarians in the crosshairs! Book censorship and actual book burnings! Heavy-handed government control of schools, curriculum, higher education, libraries! Handmaid’s Tale-like nightmare in terms of women’s rights! Climate catastroph…

1
Episode 18 (May 2022): The Censors are Coming! The Censors are Coming! 54:25

3y ago54:25

54:25

Episode 18: The Censors are Coming! The Censors are Coming! May 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg It is happening here. Again. There’s a huge increase in efforts to censor what is taught or even discussed in school along with banning, and in some cases even burning books in schools and libraries. In this episode, we delve into the natu…

1
Episode 17 (April 2022): Video Sharing & So Much More 53:41

3y ago53:41

53:41

Episode 17: Video Sharing & So Much More April 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg YouTube has more than 2 billion active users collectively viewing over 5 billion videos totaling a combined 1 billion hours of video viewing every day!! Tik Tok is the new kid on the block, just 4 years old worldwide, and already with over 1 billion active…

1
Episode 16 (March 2022): FACEBOOK: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly 1:03:12

3y ago1:03:12

1:03:12

Episode 16: FACEBOOK: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly March 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg This episode continues our conversation about social media. We zero in on the 800 lb gorilla – make that the 1.6 BILLION pound gorilla that dominates social media, FACEBOOK. That’s 1.6 billion because over 1.6 BILLION people (on average) visit Fac…

1
Episode 15 (Feb 2022): Life, the Universe and Everything Social Media. 59:08

3+ y ago59:08

59:08

Episode 15: Life, the Universe and Everything Social Media. February 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg This is the first of a series of episodes about the phenomenon of social media. Social media dominates and affects almost all aspect of life and society, sometimes purposefully and often not. In the series, we hope to inform as well a…

1
Episode 14 (Jan 2022): Info Literacy - Now More Than Ever! 54:21

3+ y ago54:21

54:21

Episode 14: Info Literacy - Now More Than Ever! January 2022 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg Information literacy relates to every aspect of human existence – individually or in communities. Almost all human activities and endeavors are information-based, especially in our turbocharged, networked, overloaded info world. In this episode, w…

1
Episode 13 (Dec 2021): Politics R Us? 58:32

3+ y ago58:32

58:32

Episode 13: Politics R Us? December, 2021 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg Aughhh! The po·lit·i·ci·za·tion of everything! We don’t seem to be able to escape increasing polarization and the division into rival groups identified by politics and worldviews as well as the demonization of the other side. Is this the new normal? Even for librari…

1
Episode 12 (Nov 2021): Truth or Dare: A New Normal in Education and Human Services? 51:05

3+ y ago51:05

51:05

Episode 12: Truth or Dare: A New Normal in Education and Human Services? Nov 2021 Beth Patin, Dave Lankes, & Mike Eisenberg Starting this, our second season, we have a huge change to the Libraries Lead podcast. In the last episode (#11) of the first season, Beth Patin, assistant professor at the Syracuse University iSchool joined us. She was fantas…

1
Episode 11: Emergency! Being Prepared in the New Normal. 47:42

3+ y ago47:42

47:42

Episode 11: Emergency! Being Prepared in the New Normal. October 1, 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg with Beth Patin Unfortunately, the dire future predictions of crises due to environment and climate change, disease, poverty, and social justice are today’s realities. Across the globe, communities, individuals, and governments are trying to cope w…

1
Episode 10: Data to the Rescue? 52:39

3+ y ago52:39

52:39

Episode 10: Data to the Rescue? Sept 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg We agree on something “data to protect you" is an oxymoron. Data can be dangerous–particularly in the hands of corporations, governments, hackers, scammers, & even well-intentioned non-profits, public service providers, and even libraries and librarians. Public libraries monitor…

1
Episode 9: BACK TO THE FUTURE 53:35

3+ y ago53:35

53:35

June 2, 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg Are we going back to offices and city living or will a new normal emerge? Judging from the articles and posts, it’s not clear at all. That means it’s likely to be a combination of both depending on contexts of nature of activity (e.g., business), geography, and the economics (jobs, commerce, supply chain). …

1
Episode 8: Help, I Need Somebody! 45:27

3+ y ago45:27

45:27

May 26, 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg In the last episode, Mike ranted about his frustrations and hours spent in trying to reach a human being for assistance with airline reservations, prescriptions, and insurance. In this episode, we dive deeper into the topic of help and information services of all kinds– human, mediated (telephone, digital),…

1
Episode 7: “Whatever the Need!” Says Angela Craig 1:13:41

4y ago1:13:41

1:13:41

May 12, 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg 74 minutes Mike and Dave are joined by a very special guest – the talented and enthusiastic Angela Craig, Executive Director, Charleston County Public Library. Charleston County is a cutting-edge regional library system. In addition to offering all that we expect from public libraries, Charleston has been p…

1
Episode 6: The Post-Pandemic Workplace 45:38

4y ago45:38

45:38

April 19, 2021 Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg 44 minutes As we start to see some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, what does it mean for the locus and nature of work? Will everyone simply return to their offices, businesses, and schools as if nothing has changed? Or has the lockdown been a catalyst for reconsidering location, work-home balance…

1
Episode 5: Library Activism 38:46

4y ago38:46

38:46

March 17, 2021 45 Minutes Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg In this episode, Mike and Dave start with a brief exchange on the changing nature of work and the need to help low-wage earners find out about high demand jobs, requirements, and opportunities for getting access to quality training. Mike & Dave then pick up the conversation about education in t…

1
Episode 4: Education: Old Normal No More 45:11

4y ago45:11

45:11

March 17, 2021 45 Minutes Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg In this episode, Mike and Dave start with a brief exchange on the changing nature of work and the need to help low-wage earners find out about high demand jobs, requirements, and opportunities for getting access to quality training. Mike & Dave then pick up the conversation about education in t…

1
Episode 3: EDUCATION CHALLENGED! 1:14:56

4y ago1:14:56

1:14:56

March 3, 2021 75 Minutes Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg It pretty much happened overnight: schools are closed, kids are home, teaching and learning are online, parents are responsible for coordinating it all. While every aspect of life has been affected by the pandemic, no sector has been more quickly and more significantly by the pandemic than educa…

1
Episode 1: Libraries Lead! Our very first episode! 1:09:05

4y ago1:09:05

1:09:05

January 20, 2021 109 minutes Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg This is the first episode of our new podcast - Libraries Lead in the New Normal. We aim for a wild conversation between two close friends who share a passion for all things library & information but frequently disagree on specifics. This episode which was recorded in January 2021 and simulta…

1
Episode 2: Shots & Systems 57:39

4y ago57:39

57:39

February 3, 2021 57 minutes Dave Lankes & Mike Eisenberg In this second episode (and our last simultaneous broadcast as part of the Publishers Weekly Skillset Podcast), Mike is all upset about how difficult it was to get an appointment for a Covid vaccine. “This should be a very manageable information problem! Why can’t we set up an easy system for…

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