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Sarah Long Marks 100th Podcast with Blogger Michael Stephens

NEH Chairman Cole Discusses “Picturing America” on June Podcast

NEWS RELEASE
June 6, 2008

For further information contact:
Judy Hoffman, (847) 353-7137

jhoffman@nsls.info

Sitting down and talking with library leaders has been such an engaging experience, that North Suburban Library System Executive Director Sarah Long recently posted her 100th Longshots podcast. The milestone interview was conducted with popular blogger and author, Michael Stephens.  All 100+ podcasts are available at www.librarybeat.org/podcast.

On the 100th podcast, Long and Stephens discuss the importance of the transparent and hyperlinked library.  In addition to his popular Tame the Web blog (tametheweb.com), Stephens is co-author of “The Transparent Library” column in Library Journal.

Long’s first podcast, posted in February 2006, was a discussion on podcasting, which was still in the infancy stage for most libraries.  Since then, the long list of key national figures interviewed on Longshots have included library futurists Stephen Abram and George Needham, children’s lit expert Peggy Sharp, social networking guru Aaron Schmidt, school library researcher Keith Curry Lance, PR expert Thom Clark, poet Larry Janowksi, and library advocate Illinois State Representative Kathy Ryg.

For a “hot off the press” discussion of the new National Endowment for the Humanities initiative, “Picturing America,” catch Long’s podcast interview (#104) with NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. They spoke as he traveled from the airport to the media event for the Chicago launch of the national project presented in partnership with the American Library Association. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.

The North Suburban Library System podcast series was developed with the goals to present discussions with recognized experts on topics of interest to library professionals, and to engage libraries in the use of new outreach techniques.

“Libraries historically have not had to think about marketing, and are often reluctant to embrace new technologies for that purpose,” said Long. “With the competition of the Internet and ever increasing financial challenges, libraries must expand their visibility and become comfortable with technologies their customers are using on a daily basis. We decided to first teach ourselves, and in turn promote the effectiveness by example.”

Located in Wheeling, Illinois, the North Suburban Library System (www.nsls.info) is one of nine multi-type library systems funded through the Illinois State Library.