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Libraries in Bloom
Libraries in Bloom’s (LIB) mission is to cultivate a diverse library workforce by providing professional pathways for young adults of color and elevate innovative and equitable library practices that more fully serve communities. Follow along as we capture the various ways in which libraries bloom, impacting the environment around them.
Episodes
28 episodes
Ep 27: Library Apprenticeship Feature: Amari Brown
Meet Amari Brown, college student studying Business Management at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. She completed her apprenticeship at the Appleton Public Library in Wisconsin and was mentored by Yee Lee Vue, Adult Services and Community ...
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30:13
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Ep 26: Library Apprenticeship Feature: Moua Yang
Meet Moua Yang, senior undergrad studying English at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and an individual passionate about creative writing and storytelling. Moua’s background being Hmong American and working closely with youth at the Bo...
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30:21
Ep 25: Lobby Stops: Increasing Information Accessibility for Seniors
Meet Elkid Alvarez, the first Community Engagement Specialist at the Kenosha Public Library, WI. In her role, she leads a library service, Lobby Stops, that makes literacy and information more accessible for seniors. Listen to Elkid share mo...
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38:29
Ep 24: Doodle It: Inspiring Creativity in Virtual Spaces
Meet Julia Wright, Youth Services and Outreach Librarian for the Alameda County Library in California. Julia fuses her passions together to bring a virtual drawing program, Doodle It, to families in her community. Julia reminds us that we are a...
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37:49
Ep 23: Teejop and Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations of the Great Lakes
Meet Neeyati Shah, Community Engagement Librarian with the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin. She fosters community relationships and understanding of indigenous peoples and culture through the "Teejop and Beyond: Celebrating Native Nation...
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30:55
Ep 22: Self-Publishing through Amazon
Meet Na’imah Ali, Acquisitions Lead at the Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha, WI. Na'imah is also a writer, illustrator, and lover of all things creative. She published her first children’s picture book titled, “The Purple Around Us” in...
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15:55
Ep 21: PBS Kids Library Educator & Community Learning Cohort
Meet Mouna Algahaithi, Education Engagement Specialist with PBS Wisconsin. We discuss an exciting professional development opportunity for library professionals to access and activate the high-quality early learning resources at PBS Kids ...
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23:25
Ep 20: Book Bans and Censorship
Meet Joel Bangilan, librarian of the Laurie and Milton Boniuk Library at the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Texas. Come listen to Joel speak more about his role, the spread of book bans, and the inequities he's seen in his 25+ years of working...
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49:42
Ep 19: Utilizing YouTube's Popularity for Library Programs
Meet Shiela Keaise, the first African American children's librarian at the Colleton County Memorial Library in South Carolina. Shiela, also known as Ms. Literacy, has built an impressive 27-year career in libraries, embracing the changes that c...
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34:54
Ep 18: Moving Toward Antiracism
Meet Victor Flores, Outreach Specialist with the award-winning Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha, Wisconsin. Victor uses his bilingualism to inform families about literacy, media, and libraries as an institution. Come listen to him spea...
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38:12
Ep 17: College and Career Pathways for Teens
Meet Emely Villanueva, Teen Services and Engagement Librarian with the Appleton Public Library. Applying her professional background in higher education, she launched the College and Career Pathway Series in early 2020. The series collaborates ...
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40:27
Ep 16: Navigating the Workplace as BIPOC Professionals
Meet Nikhat Jehan Ghouse, Associate Librarian at the American University and founder of Jehan Consulting in Washington D.C. Drawing on her 20+ year career in libraries and experience as an organization development consultant, she shares advice ...
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44:38
Ep 15: A Family Literacy Storytelling Project
Meet Yer Vang, Hmong American Library Assistant for the Fresno County Public Library System, discusses a service she developed for Hmong families, the Family Literacy Storytelling Project. The project reflects Hmong values and strives to improv...
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38:36
Ep 14: Outreach Strategies to Connect with Newcomers
Meet Norma Oliveras, born and raised in Puerto Rico and the Hispanic Family Outreach Specialist with the Appleton Public Library. Norma relates to the barriers and struggles of immigrants and refugees resettling in a new community. Come listen ...
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36:25
Ep 13: Insights from a Librarian at a Black Knowledge Institution
Meet Jameka Lewis, Senior Librarian for the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Denver, Colorado. Jameka discusses the importance of having cultural institutions, building trust with black communities, and ensuring libraries’ ef...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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46:37
Ep 12: Community Chords Creates Lively & Cultural Spaces
Come listen to Pa Ja speak about an exciting community project she led in celebration of Hmong American Day and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, 2021. The project, Community Chords: Engagement through Music and A...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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25:35
Ep 11: Elevating Racial Equity in the Workplace
Meet Dominic Davis, a black, white, Native American queer man from the eastern upper peninsula of Michigan. He is currently a Library Assistant at the Pinney library location within the Madison Public Library system in Wisconsin. Dominic is als...
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42:59
Ep 10: Designing Inclusive Musical Storytimes
Meet Betsy Kowal, singer, musician, lover of children’s picture books, and Library Assistant in Children Services at the Appleton Public Library in Wisconsin. Betsy designs storytimes that features different cultural music traditions around ...
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32:27
Ep 9: Being a Bubblerarian
Meet Rob Franklin. Rob has been working in The BUBBLER at the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin for the past five years as the Media Projects Bubblerarian. He uses his hip hop and jazz musical expertise and vocals to help teach class...
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35:42
Ep 8: Examining Representation in Wind Band Music
Meet Connor Bowman, a Library Associate in Youth Services at the Milwaukee Public Library in Wisconsin. For his graduate thesis, he used an equity model to audit a radio show named Wind and Rhythm. Connor was interested in understanding what...
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28:29
Ep 7: Small Business - Big Impact
Meet Yee Vue, Adults Services and Engagement Librarian for the Community Partnerships team at the Appleton Public Library in Wisconsin. Yee spearheads an initiative, Small Business - Big Impact, that is funded by the American Library Associatio...
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36:02
Ep 6: Bookmobile Operations during the Pandemic
Meet Lex Gee, Library Associate for Dane County Library Service in Wisconsin. Lex has been driving a bookmobile throughout the pandemic and bringing literacy and leisure to the homes of many residents in their area. Bookmobile services are not ...
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32:44
Ep 5: Online Gaming: Among Us with Alicia Woodland
Meet Alicia Woodland, the Young Adults Services Manager for the McMillian Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Alicia runs an online gaming service centered on the game, Among Us, for children, teens, and young adults. Come learn mo...
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37:12
Ep 4: Job Assistance in Libraries with Zephyr Kendzierski
Meet Zephyr Kendzierski, the Assistant Supervisor for their Public Services team at the Appleton Public Library in Wisconsin. Zephyr and several other team members run a successful Job Connections service for individuals in the Fox Cit...
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34:52
Ep 3: Outreach Archivism in Alaska with Julie Varee
Meet Julie Varee, the Outreach Archivist for the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. Julie jumped into her new role in early 2020 to improve the museum's collection of archives to be more reflective of the diverse community. Julie's position was cre...
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35:25