Podcasts

Longshots #181: Looking to the Future of Urban Libraries
This episode, Sarah features Susan Benton, newly-appointed president and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC). As former president of the International City Management Association (ICMA), Susan was instrumental in getting the joint ULC/ICMA grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which seeks to find ways for libraries to help make cities stronger. Now in its second phase, Susan explains the next steps for the grant project, including modeling best practices and providing a professional development series to strengthen the relationships between city managers and library directors. Sarah also asks her about what she sees as the future goals of the Urban Libraries Council.

Longshots #180: Developing Libraries' Contributions to Their Communities
Sarah is joined today by Amy Eshleman, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Planning and Partnerships at the Chicago Public Library. Ms. Eshleman also served on the advisory committee for a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to the International City Managers Association and the Urban Libraries Council, which aimed to find ways libraries could help make cities stronger. Amy explains how the grant came about, what the goals of the advisory committee were, and what effect it's had on the Chicago library system and the greater library community since it started.

Longshots #179: Building the Bond Between Cities and Libraries
This episode, Sarah's guest is David Limardi, City Manager of Highland Park, IL, and newly-elected president of the International City Managers Association (ICMA). A strong proponent of libraries, Mr. Limardi was previously involved in ICMA's "Making Cities Stronger" program, which sought to highlight and develop the contribution libraries made to local economic development. Sarah and David talk about his involvment in ICMA, the ways the Highland Park Public Library has become more and more involved with the city, and how the new paradigm to come out of the economic crisis will focus on greater collaborations between government and library services.

Longshots #135 - Jill Hurst-Wahl
Sarah talks with Jill Hurst-Wahl, president of Hurst Associates, Ltd., about digitization practice and trends.