This past summer, American Library Association (ALA) President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. toured the US—virtually—to spotlight issues affecting libraries across the country, in particular small and rural libraries. In Episode 54, Dewey Decibel speaks with Jefferson, as well as two librarians whose work was showcased on his tour. First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart discusses small-library concerns with Corey Christians, director of Yavapai County (Ariz.) Free Library District. Next, Morehart talks with Stacey Russell, interim executive director of Musk ..read more

In Episode 53, Dewey Decibel explores new ideas and issues in library architecture and design. First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with Wardell Ross Jr., director of Houston operations for architectural firm Moody Nolan, who was project manager for Texas Southern University’s new Library Learning Center. Morehart and Ross discuss the library’s features and how its design reflects and showcases the heritage of the historically Black university. Next, Morehart talks with Susan Nemitz, director of Santa Cruz (Calif.) Public Libraries, about how the ..read more

In 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) added sustainability as one of the core values of librarianship. Libraries across the US are working to reduce their environmental footprint and raise awareness about resilience, climate change, and a sustainable future. In Episode 52, Dewey Decibel talks with librarians who are implementing sustainable practices in both their libraries and their lives. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with Gabrielle Griffis, assistant youth services librarian at Brewster (Mass.) Ladies Library, about the Blue Marble Libr ..read more

In Episode 51, Dewey Decibel welcomes two winners of 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards for illustration to discuss their work in the lead up to the American Library Association’s Book Award Celebration on June 28. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with James E. Ransome, author and illustrator of The Bell Rang, a 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Honor Illustrator Book. An excerpt from The Bell Rang Next Morehart talks with April Harrison, whose illustrations in What Is Given from the Heart by the late Patricia McKissack earned her a 2020 Co ..read more

In Episode 50, Dewey Decibel looks at privacy issues in libraries, including how COVID-19 is affecting privacy for patrons and librarians alike. First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart speaks with Becky Yoose, a library data privacy consultant with LDH Consulting Services, about Zoombombing—what it is, who it targets, and how to stop it. Next, Morehart talks with Peter McCracken, electronic resources librarian at Cornell University, about a privacy-services program instituted by the library to protect patron data and how the pandemic is affecting those serv ..read more

Five years ago this week, the city of Baltimore was upended by protests and riots following the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old unarmed black man who died while in Baltimore Police Department custody. Wes Moore, a Baltimore native and author of The Other Wes Moore and The Work: Searching for a Life That Matters, looks at Gray’s death and its aftereffects in his upcoming book, Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City, cowritten with former Baltimore Sun reporter Erica L. Green and available August 18 (One World/Penguin Random House). In this special bonus episode of the Dewe ..read more

In Episode 49, Dewey Decibel looks at the library world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Felton Thomas Jr., executive director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library, about the library’s use of 3D printers to make personal protective equipment for emergency workers. Then Morehart talks with Evan Knight, preservation specialist at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, about how to safely sanitize and clean collections to prevent the spread of the virus. If you have feedback for the Dewey D ..read more

It’s Women’s History Month, and librarians looking to supplement lesson plans and readings for students can find a wealth of resources in Gale’s Women’s Studies Archive, an online repository of primary sources and other materials that examine the social, political, and professional aspects of women’s lives and the experiences and achievements of women throughout history. In this special bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, sponsored by Gale, a Cengage Company, American Libraries Associate Editor Sallyann Price speaks with a librarian doing just that. Kimberly M. Gay, head of refere ..read more

In Episode 48, Dewey Decibel celebrates Women’s History Month with conversations about feminism, storytelling, and the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which granted women the right to vote 100 years ago. First, American Libraries Editor-at-Large Anne Ford speaks with author and activist Mikki Kendall about her book Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women a Movement Forgot (Viking, 2020). Next, American Libraries Senior Editor Amy Carlton talks with author and cultural critic Roxane Gay, who will serve as honorary chair of Preservation Week, April 26–May 2, about the importanc ..read more

On February 24, Tracie D. Hall took the reins at the American Library Association as the new executive director. In this special bonus episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, Hall sits down with American Libraries Editor and Publisher Sanhita SinhaRoy to discuss the changing face of the Association, the future of librarianship, library work with social justice issues, her favorite music, and more. If you have feedback for the Dewey Decibel team, email deweydecibel@ala.org. Tell us what you like, what you don’t like, or what you’d like to see us cover. Follow us on Twitte ..read more