Library Exchange Podcast

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 
Follow Rachael Welsh on Instagram @RachaelReads and TikTok @RachaelReads_
Episode Description:
Hosts Julie and Jan interview middle school librarian Rachael Welsh about practical strategies for building a visible, schoolwide reading culture. Rachael describes easy, low-cost ideas like using digital photo frames for student book graphics, a Post‑it recommendation wall, an Adopt‑a‑Shelf display program, and teacher book‑cover signs that encourage peer recommendations and student ownership.
The conversation also covers motivation and competition through Beanstack and themed incentives, a campus and district Battle of the Books, and two inclusive book clubs (one bilingual) that deepen community connections across students and staff.

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 
Follow Alyssa on Instagram @international.school.librarian 
Episode Description:
Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson interview Alyssa Trommler, an international school librarian in Germany, about revitalizing a K–12 library with no budget. Alyssa shares practical strategies: Instagram wishlists, used-book sales, GoFundMe, community partnerships, repurposing furniture, and makerspace planning. Strategies that add high-interest books and create a welcoming space for students from 30+ countries.
This episode highlights creative fundraising, a summer reading incentive with local restaurants, eco-friendly solutions for refurbishing furniture, and advice to persistently pursue funding and community support to improve student library services.
 

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 
Episode Description:
Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson explore how school librarians can claim leadership in their buildings and beyond. They share concrete strategies, running an active library media committee, sharing instructional partnerships, using proactive advocacy, and increasing visibility through presentations and community partnerships.
Guest Tiki Love discusses her own path from classroom teacher to district and state leadership, offering examples of saying “yes,” presenting at conferences, mentoring peers, and building coalitions that help librarians be recognized as instructional leaders.
 

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 
Episode Description:
Julie and Jan interview Craig Coleman about selecting and maintaining school library collections. They discuss district selection and reconsideration policies, the collection life cycle, collaborating with teachers and library media committees, and practical steps front office staff should follow when concerns arise.
The episode walks through realistic scenarios and offers clear communication strategies and escalation paths so librarians can confidently manage purchases, respond to concerns, and maintain high quality book collections.

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 
For US listeners, get 20% off professional development books for school librarians using code LIBRARYEXCHANGE20 at bloomsbury.com/BLU
Learn more about Malcolm Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation, dedicated to promoting reading, at readwithmalcolm.com.
 
Episode Description:
In this episode Julie and Jan talk with former Super Bowl champion Malcolm about his personal journey from a sports-focused childhood to becoming a passionate literacy advocate. Malcolm shares how he learned to read as a young adult, founded the Share the Magic Foundation, and created Read with Malcolm programs, including the global Read Bowl challenge that reaches classrooms in multiple countries.
The conversation highlights why school librarians must be welcoming, culturally relevant, and actively pursuing reluctant readers while making books accessible for every child.

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 learn more about the studies discussed in this episode visit LibSlide.org or KeithCurryLance.com. 
Episode Description:
Hosts Julie Saunders and Jan Wilson speak with researcher Dr. Keith Curry Lance about how school librarians influence student achievement, the importance of leadership and technology integration, and the critical role of information literacy. The episode highlights decades of research, the SLIDE data tools, and practical strategies for advocacy.
Listeners are directed to resources like LibSlide.org and KeithCurryLance.com to explore staffing trends and research findings and learn how to use data to demonstrate library impact.

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 
Follow Amanda Hunt on Instagram or TikTok @thenextgenlibrarian.
Episode Description:
In this episode Julie and Jan talk with Amanda Hunt (The NextGen Librarian) about her work on the AASL standards, strategies for middle school collection development, and practical ways to reignite student reading using tools like Beanstack and social media.
They discuss balancing professional reviews with knowledge of your student community, partnering with teachers, leveraging equitable ed-tech like Adobe Express, and Amanda’s plan for moving to the high school level to build a culture of reading.

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 
Follow Billy Allen on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @3Kingvisions
For more information about Billy Allen's Hip Hop Storytime visit https://3kingvisions.com/
Episode Description:
In this episode we feature Billy Allen, founder of Three King Visions, who reinvents storytime by pairing hip‑hop and R&B with read‑alouds to spark a love of reading across ages and communities. We discuss his journey from public librarian to youth advocate, his community work in Las Vegas, and the impact of creative programming on families, teens, and lifelong learning.
Billy explains how libraries offer limitless learning and social services, why outreach and partnerships matter, and what’s next as he grows Three King Visions to bring hip‑hop storytimes, teen empowerment events, and professional development to more schools and libraries.

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 
Follow Mike Rawls on Instagram @thebookwrangler 
Through Mike's Instagram bio, access Google Freebies or visit his Teacher Pay Teachers store.
Episode Description:
Mike Rawls, aka The Book Wrangler, discusses building a diverse, intentional elementary library collection, embracing all reading formats (from graphic novels to audiobooks), and using creative passive programming like character height charts and passport displays to spark curiosity.
He shares practical tips for creating designs while encouraging educators to welcome multiple pathways to literacy.

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 
Follow Allie Cornejo on Instagram or TikTok @alliethelibrarian.
 
Episode Description:
Allie Cornejo, 2026 School Librarian of the Year, describes serving a border community in Harlingen, Texas, and supporting a health-professions high school through creative, hands-on library programs.
She discusses 3D-printing, stop-motion and graphic design projects, energized book talks, and leading district AI literacy. Plus the recap of this episode describes how you can be eligible for a Demco giveaway for your library!