The Modern Scholar Podcast

Join me for another inspiring conversation with Chris DeCristofaro, co-host of The Library Pros Podcast and now Assistant Director at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Dix Hill, New York! We talk about technology, experimentation, community engagement, and more!

Enjoy this encore presentation of Becoming Veterans with Dr. Sarah Parry Myers! Dr. Sarah Parry Myers⁠ [https://www.messiah.edu/a/academics/facultydir/faculty_profile.php/?directoryID=9&entryID=2754] is an Associate Professor of History at Messiah University in central Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses on 20th century United States history, gender, public history, and military history. She is the recent recipient of a Dialogues on the Experience of War grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, focused on generating dialogue with female veterans. Sarah’s work has appeared in edited collections released by Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge, and her book ⁠Earning Their Wings: The WASPs of World War II and Their Fight for Veteran Recognition⁠ [https://uncpress.org/book/9781469675039/earning-their-wings/], recently released from the University of North Carolina Press, explores the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots—and this book is the subject of our conversation today!

Kieran Hixon has over 16 years of experience offering professional development, both in-person and online, for rural libraries throughout the United States. Kieran serves nationally on committees as a rural library expert and has broad experience working in rural public libraries, and serves as Senior Rural and Small Library Consultant for the Colorado State Library. Kieran is passionate about rural libraries and is known for his high energy, humorous stories, and insightful examples when providing instruction. Former Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) President, long-standing ARSL Board Member, and Rural Library Expert, Kieran is Co-lead of the Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute. Take a listen to my earlier conversation [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-scholar-podcast/id1616557700?i=1000571208429] with Kieran and Dr. Sharon Morris from Season One!

Growing up to be a certified bookseller in Germany, and acquiring a European Master’s Degree in Literature and Publishing/Marketing, Simone Kirk never gave libraries much thought, since reading books, and having to give them back, seemed pretty cruel to this passionate reader. Her goal to work in the publishing industry in Germany was redirected with a move to Star City, Arkansas in 2004. After arriving in this very rural area of the States, she became the Branch Manager at the Star City Branch Library, which changed everything! Simone fell in love with libraries, and decided to put her knowledge of book selling, marketing, and customer service training to work. Simone is constantly trying to invent new ways to serve her community, developing programs, and spread her love for literacy in Southeast Arkansas. She has been a member of Arkansas Library Paraprofessionals (ALPS) since 2009, is still active as an ALPS Representative, and served as ALPS Chair in 2018.

Welcome to Season 7 of the show, and Happy New Year! If you are just joining the show, welcome! I'm glad you are here. Plans for this season include conversations with some of my favorite people in the library profession - exciting! Today's discussion focuses on how libraries are an expanding universe of opportunity [https://www.philipcshackelford.com/posts/modern-libraries-are-an-expanding-universe-of-opportunity]. The studies referenced in today's episode: * Making Cities Stronger [https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/46006/1001075-Making-Cities-Stronger.PDF] * Economic Vitality [https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/publication/online/How-Arts-and-Culture-Catalyzes-Economic-Vitality.pdf] * The Importance of Place [https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Importance-of-Place.pdf?x85095] * Libraries and Workforce [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6197797102be715f55c0e0a1/t/65fd9c4de2d281464cc72a78/1711119438195/Reimagining+the+Public+Librarys+Role+in+Local+Workforce+Development+-+03192024.pdf] Check out my conversations with David Johnson [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-scholar-podcast/id1616557700?i=1000650476235] and Shelby Fleming [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modern-scholar-podcast/id1616557700?i=1000641024130] from the Fayetteville Public Library!