Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com
Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit http://libraryexchange.etsy.com
To follow Rebeca Fox:
TikTok: @thefoxreads
Click this link for more information and resources: beacons.ai/thefoxreads
Episode Description:
Rebecca Fox, a veteran school librarian who recently moved to a high school position in Texas, shares practical strategies for building relationships with teachers and students, using input forms, creating popular book subscription boxes, hosting homecoming mum-making, and partnering on cultural programming like Día de los Muertos to make the library a welcoming, student-centered space.
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29:41
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29:41
AI in the Library - E120
Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com
Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit http://libraryexchange.etsy.com
You can find more information about Elissa Malespina and her AI information at ElissaMalespina.com. Elissa also has an AI School Librarians newsletter available on Substack.
Episode Description:
Teacher-librarian Elissa Malespina breaks down practical, ethical ways to use AI in K-12 schools. She shares real examples using ChatGPT for content creation, NotebookLM for research organization, Canva Bulk Create for presentations, Storm for topic overviews, and Screencastify for captions. She also explains how librarians can lead AI literacy, support differentiation, and reclaim time for student-facing work.
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29:39
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29:39
Grant Strategies - E119
Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com
Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit http://libraryexchange.etsy.com
Connect with Amy @amybrownlee93 on Instagram and BlueSky or visit bibliobrownlee.weebly.com for more.
Episode Description:
In this episode of Library Exchange, hosts Jan and Julie interview Amy Brownlee, the pre-K-12 librarian in a small public school system in Kansas, about her successful grant work and teacher-study travel. Amy explains how she has secured nearly $97,000 through local and regional grants for books, STEM, technology, and professional learning. She shares practical strategies for securing these grants through application strategies, tracking the funding, and demonstrating student impact.
She also describes several funded professional-learning trips including a Fulbright project in Ethiopia, an NEH institute on graphic novels with Comic‑Con, a transatlantic study trip to Germany, and the White House History Teacher Institute and how she brings artifacts, lessons, and cultural experiences back to enrich student learning in a small, rural district.
Listeners will leave with clear grant-writing tips, examples of funded projects, and resources to explore; connect with Amy at @amybrownlee93 on Instagram and BlueSky or visit bibliobrownlee.weebly.com for more.
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28:33
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28:33
Global Voices for Libraries - E118
Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com
Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit http://libraryexchange.etsy.com
To follow Hajnalka Molloy, search on LinkedIn and Facebook.
For more information and resources for advocating for school libraries, visit Students Need School Libraries website at https://studentsneedschoollibraries.org.au/
Episode Description:
Hajnalka Malloy, president of the School Library Association of South Australia and teacher librarian at Concordia College, discusses results from statewide school library censuses showing a decline in dual-qualified teacher-librarians. She shares practical advocacy strategies aligning library work to school goals, producing annual reports, showcasing student work, using parent brochures, and building relationships with leaders and staff.
She also speaks on the importance of sharing professional research, and joining advocacy groups to strengthen school libraries and emphasize their role in teaching information literacy and supporting student learning.
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28:35
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28:35
Pop‑Up Learning Adventures - E117
Visit the Library Exchange official website to submit a story, ask a question or request to be a guest at https://www.libraryexchangepodcast.com
Looking for some new swag for your library, yourself or a favorite book loving friend? Visit http://libraryexchange.etsy.com
To follow Sharon Amolo:
Instagram and TikTok: @bybookchick
Episode Description:
In this episode, elementary school librarian Sharon Amolo (aka BookChick) shares how she designs pop‑up museums in the media center to bring curriculum to life for K - 5 students. She describes practical, low‑cost strategies - borrowing trunks from parks and museums, soliciting donations, scavenger hunts, make‑and‑take projects, and rotation stations - using examples like a toy timeline for kindergarten and a Westward Expansion museum for fourth grade.
Sharon explains scheduling, classroom partnerships, and the instructional value of hands‑on artifacts that boost engagement and advocacy, plus tips for stretching resources and tying experiences to standards so teachers buy in.
Welcome to Library Exchange, the ultimate podcast for school librarians! Whether you’re a seasoned library media specialist or just starting your journey, this podcast is your go-to resource for all things related to the world of school librarianship. Each episode dives into the role of a school librarian offering practical tips, expert insights, and inspiration.
New Zealand