Welcome to our three-part series on ByWater partners that were named as Library Journal Movers and Shakers 2025! First up, meet Leah Gregory, School Library Membership Coordinator at the Illinois Heartland Library System. Leah was honored in the Advocates category, and is referred to as the "Librarian's Librarian" for her work supporting school lib…

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we have return guest Brian Pichman and ByWater Aspen Sales Consultant Bill Kessler to talk about all things Computers in Libraries 2025! Brian and Bill both attended and presented at the conference, so we wanted to discuss their key takeaways and highlights from the event. Learn more about our Digital…

In honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to talk to Diana Silveira, President of Novare Library Services, a female-founded library technology, training, and consulting company. Diana is also the author of Library Technology Planning for Today and Tomorrow. In this episode, we discuss Diana's journey in the library world, her experience starting…

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, we have not one, but TWO fabulous guests: Paul Cuomo and Yonah Levenson!! Paul is a Product Specialist at TDNet and host of The Info-Leaders Podcast. Yonah is aMetadata, Taxonomy, and Asset Management Strategy Consultant; Language Metadata Table Chair and Rutgers DAM Certificate Program Co-Director/In…

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, we catch up with Rex Duval, Cofounder and CEO of Nookly! Nookly is a personalized learning tool that utilizes AI to create educational stories for children. In this episode, we discuss what led Rex to cofound Nookly, how the personalized learning application works, and examples of how libraries can le…

In this episode of The Library is Open podcast, Bruce Barnet, co-founder of The MindCare Store and SiMPL Technologies, shares his inspiring journey to working with Alzheimer’s and dementia communities. Bruce discusses how his personal experiences and passion for improving the quality of life for those affected by cognitive challenges led him to dev…

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, Brian Pichman returns to talk about the tech trends that he thinks will be the hot topic for libraries in 2025. From new facets of AI to cybersecurity, Brian draws on his experiences attending recent library conferences to workshops he has hosted to share his insights. We also may talk about cows....l…

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we had the joy of talking with Aleisha Amohia, Technical Lead at Catalyst IT at kohacon24! We talk about her experience working with Catalyst IT, what the open source community means to her, and what's to come with kohacon25!! Learn more about Aleisha here: https://www.aleisha.nz/ Twitter: @aleishaamo…

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we welcome librarian, ByWater friend, and author Lydia Sigwarth to the podcast! Lydia is a Community Engagement Librarian at the Dubuque County Library District in Iowa and the author of "Dear Librarian", a beautifully illustrated children's book about Lydia's childhood experience at the library. Lydi…

Guess who's back? Back again? Marshall's back! Marshall Breeding of Library Technology Guides is back on the podcast to discuss all the trends and hot topics of ALA 2024, and recap his Executive Perspectives panel (our very own Nathan Curulla was a panelist!). We also compared our step counts at the conference and our favorite AI tools. Learn more …

In this episode of The Library is Open Podcast, Sam Passey, Associate Dean of Library Services at Colorado Mountain College, joins us to talk about his recent switch from public to academic librarianship, his experience and passion for Open Source, and his hopes for the future. Sam formerly worked as the Director of the Uintah County Library and wa…

In this episode of the Library is Open podcast, Andrew Auld, Commercial Director at PTFS Europe, joins us to talk about the partnership with ByWater, updates from koha Hackfest, and...sourdough bread??! Listen to the podcast to learn more!By ByWater Solutions

Guess who's back?! Marshall Breeding of Library Technology Guides! Marshall joins us on this episode of the podcast to discuss the trends and topics that were at the forefront of this year's Public Library Association 2024 Conference, as well as the fun events! Follow Marshall at librarytechnology.org…

It's ByWater Solutions' 15th Anniversary!!! What better way to celebrate 15 years of extraordinary service to libraries by talking with ByWater Solutions founders Brendan Gallagher and Nathan Curulla. In this episode, we discuss the ByWater Solutions origin story, starting and growing a business with your best friend, and hopes for ByWaters' future…

In our latest episode of The Library is Open Podcast, we chat with one of our good friends Telishia "Tee" Murray, Director of Library and Learning Resources at Galveston College in Texas. Tee shares about her path to becoming a librarian, her unique experiences serving as both a public library and academic library director under the age of 40, her …

On today's episode of the Library is Open Podcast, we have the joy and honor of talking with Mychal Threets!! Mychal is a Supervisory Librarian at the Solano County Library in California. He has become a social media sensation and won over countless followers for his heartwarming and authentic stories about his interactions with library users. In t…

Today, we have two special guests you may recognize from the koha-US Terrific Every-Other-Thursday Training videos, Christopher Brannon of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and George Williams of NEKLS (Northeast Kansas Library System). They share their journeys into the library world, their passion for the Koha Community, and why the upcoming Koha-…

Chances are, if you are a ByWater partner, have attended a library conference, or are part of the Koha Community, you have seen Jessie and Kelly. For those who may not know this dynamic duo, Kelly is the Library Accounts Coordinator at ByWater Solutions and Jessie is the Director of Library Sales and Outreach at ByWater Solutions. For four years, J…

We are THRILLED to have a library social media icon on the podcast: The Memeing Librarian! In this episode, we explore the evolution of the Memeing Librarian from a modest library meme account to a full-fledged social media titan! We also have some real talk about book censorship, the issues libraries are facing today, and the ever-evolving nature …

Welcome to a new season of The Library is Open Podcast! In this episode, we talk with Rebecca Glasgow and Tara Radniecki of the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library at the University of Nevada, Reno! At the 2023 Computers in Libraries Conference, Tara and Rebecca gave a presentation on Course Management Learning Systems for Makerspace Training.…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Mitchell Davis, Senior Director at BiblioLabs. Today we will be talking about the power of creativity, innovation, and of course our love for libraries. Mitchell is a believer in the power of reading and the power of creativity and …

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Justin Hoenke. Justin is the Team Leader: Libraries & Community Spaces at Wellington City Council in New Zealand. Justin and Jessie talk about libraries, communities and most importantly kindness. Justin is a community focused libra…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Mark Noble, Aspen Discovery Team Lead at ByWater Solutions. Mark and Jessie talk about the future of open-source discovery, the global community and what’s on the roadmap for Aspen Discovery in this episode! About Mark Noble Mark gr…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Angie Drobnic Holan, editor-in-chief at PolitiFact. Angie and Jessie talk about misinformation, tools to organize and keep accurate records, partnerships to help stop the spread of misinformation online, and educating people to dist…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with JP Porcaro, Director, Free Public Library & Cultural Center of Bayonne. JP and Jessie talk about everything libraries, lifelong learning, communities, and just why libraries are the cornerstone of a child’s learning process. About J…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with R. David Lankes, he is the director of the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science, and recipient of the American Library Association’s 2016 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship. About R. David Lankes R…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Jessamyn West, a librarian and community technologist living in central Vermont. Jessamyn returns to the Library is Open Podcast to chat about how librarians are adapting during the pandemic, tools she uses to help with technology n…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! This session features an interview with Michael Sauers, Director of Technology and Allison Sillik, Director of Community Learning at Do Space, a community technology library in Omaha, Nebraska. Listen as Michael, Allison and Jessie discuss their digital presence and how t…

We are pleased to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with David Lee King. David is the Digital Services Director at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Listen as David and Jessie discuss digital experiences during the pandemic, emerging technologies and what they see the library dig…

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Cheryl Gould, learning facilitator and training consultant with Fully Engaged Libraries. Listen as Jessie, Nate and Cheryl discuss change management, communication methods, invigorating organizational culture and preparing for the …

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Nancy Pearl, a best-selling author, librarian, literary critic and READING ENTHUSIAST. Listen as Jessie and Nancy discuss the different facets of reading, why libraries matter, and of course her love of books. About Nancy Pearl Nan…

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Marshall Breeding, an independent consultant, speaker, and the author of Library Technology Guides. Listen as Jessie and Marshall discuss the current ILS landscape and the Open Source Community. About Marshall Breeding Marshall Bre…

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features a LIVE interview with Ian Walls, from WOLFcon20 at Texas A&M University. Ian Walls and host, Jessie Zairo, discuss the OLF Community, the current state of FOLIO and Ian’s role in the community. About Ian Walls, FOLIO Implementation Lead Ian earned h…

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Mike Wells, Library Director at Benedictine Library at Thomas More University and The Salus Data Consulting team which consists of Hrusto Selimovic, Jared Nelson, Corey Zamrik, Jash Patel, and Spencer White. The group talks to us a…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Laura Wright, Assistant Director, Metadata Production at Cornell University. Laura talks to us about why she is so passionate about the FOLIO Open Source Platform. Laura is an active member of the FOLIO Open Source Community. Her …

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Christine Peterson, Engagement and Emerging Technologies Coordinator at Amigos Library Services. Christine talks to us today about their involvement in the SimplyE project developed by the New York Public Library. SimplyE was deve…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Lisa Sjögren, Librarian at Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Communication and Learning in Science. Lisa pours her energy into why their Library has chosen the FOLIO Open Source Platform for their new LSP. Chalmers …

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Sarah Sawicki, Planning & Projects Director and Phillip Higgins, Marketing and Digital Strategy Director at the Richland Library in South Carolina. They are joined by Sally Shaughnessy, Director, Project Management at Aten Design …

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Brian Pichman, the Director of Strategic Innovation at the Evolve Project. He speaks a lot about innovative technology within libraries and loves collaborating with both libraries and companies. About Brian and the Evolve Project …

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Michael Kucsak, Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff at Virginia Tech University Libraries. In this session Michael discuses why the freedom, flexibility and support system offered by ByWater and Koha was the best choice for the Univ…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Trey Gordner, Founder and CEO of Koios. Trey’s goal is to help libraries fulfill their mission in the digital age. In this session of The Library is Open Podcast, Trey discusses Koios, working with libraries, and what is on the ho…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Spencer Smith, McKinney Public Library. Spencer Smith is currently the Director of Libraries at City of McKinney. As a library leader, Spencer’s goal is to provide top quality service to his citizens. In this session of The Librar…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Michael Sauers from Do Space in Omaha, Nebraska. Michael Sauers is currently the Director of Technology for Do Space. Michael has been training librarians in technology for the past twenty years and has also been a public library …

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Robert Hilliker from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. Rob is the Director of the Edsel Ford Memorial Library. He joined the School in 2013 and set the stage by rolling out the new ILS for students by switching to Ko…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features question and answer with Kyle Hall, Lead Developer or otherwise known as Lord of the Code for ByWater Solutions. Join us as we discuss the 17.05 release for Koha Open Source ILS where Kyle volunteered as Release Manager. Listen to what is on the ho…

We are happy to announce our newest session for The Library is Open Podcast! Today’s session features an interview with Myka Kennedy Stephens, Seminary Librarian and Assistant Professor at the Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Myka has been working in libraries for more than a decade and has a strong background in library l…

In this week’s podcast are guests Lori Ayre, Library Technology Consultant at Galecia Group, and Jessamyn West, Librarian and Community Technologist. Lori works with libraries to optimize their operations and find ways to leverage state-of-the-art technologies to reduce operating expenses without reducing service quality to library patrons. Jessamy…

We are happy to announce our newest podcast for The Library is Open! Today’s session features an interview with Henry Bankhead, Assistant Library Director at the City San Rafael in California. Henry has been working in libraries for more than a decade. His degrees in Art and Library Science have added a creative twist to his career, broadened his o…

We are happy to announce the third of our monthly podcast series titled The Library is Open! It features an interview with John Chrastka, Executive Director and Patrick Sweeney, Political Director of EveryLibrary. Your hosts Nate Curulla and Jessica Zairo discuss the current political climate affecting libraries in 2017, advocating for libraries an…

We are happy to announce the second of our monthly podcast series titled The Library is Open! It features an interview with Brendan Gallagher, Co-Owner and Chief Executive Officer and Nate Curulla, Co-Owner and Chief Revenue Officer. Join us as we talk through the journey of friendship, librarianship and starting the ByWater Solutions Company. You …