Libraries Beyond Books

Think a library is just shelves and a reference desk? Spend a few minutes with us and librarian Jenny Lao from Richland Library Northeast, and watch that picture shift. Recorded at the South Carolina Library Association gathering in Columbia, our conversation dives into how thoughtful programming and equity-focused leadership can turn a branch into a true community hub.

Website: spotlight4success.com

Chapters

• 0:06 Welcome And Guest Introduction
• 0:32 Why Jenny Came To SCLA
• 1:10 EDI Committees And API Alliance
• 1:57 Rethinking Library Services
• 2:28 Cooking Programs And Cultural Exchange
• 3:03 Closing And Thanks

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:06

Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book Company. I am Devin Pentosi, your host. We are here at the wonderful facility in South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. And we are here at the South Carolina Librarian Association meeting, and we are so excited to be here with our special guest. This is Jenny Lau. Jenny Lau, thank you for joining us today.

SPEAKER_00: 0:30

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01: 0:32

Jenny joins us from the Richland Library Northeast branch, and we are so excited you could be here. Can you tell me, Jenny, a little bit about what brings you here to the SCLA?

SPEAKER_00: 0:47

So this is an annual conference that we have here in South Carolina. I've been working in libraries for about four years now. This is my second time here, and this time I do have three presentations at the conference, so that's my main reason for being here.

SPEAKER_01: 1:05

Oh, uh can you tell us about your presentations?

SPEAKER_00: 1:08

Oh yeah, sure. So yesterday I was part of a poster presentation that focuses on EDI committees, uh, especially at Richland Library. Um I am actually the chair and co-founder of our API Alliance Committee, which highlights um Asian American Pacific Islander events here in uh South Carolina. We plan different programs just kind of highlighting uh API voices and holidays uh throughout the year.

SPEAKER_01: 1:41

Oh, that is wonderful, Jenny. And uh that is great. So um what uh what kind of things would you like to share? Do you have anything you'd like to share specifically with the SCLA community about maybe uh some of the topics that you covered?

SPEAKER_00: 1:57

Um yeah, so uh my other presentations are going to be about different programming in the library, uh such as like health and fitness programs. Um, a lot of times when people think of libraries, they think, you know, just reading or like getting access to the computer, which are very important factors of what library workers do. Um, but there's also the other stuff to engage our communities and give them access to things that they may not have thought of accessing at the library, such as Zumba classes, yoga classes. Um we also do cooking programs at Richmond Library Northeast. I do a lot of the Asian cooking programs, and that you know not only introduces our customers or our uh patrons to new cultures, but it gives them a chance to try maybe foods they may not have tried on their own.

SPEAKER_01: 2:53

So wonderful. Well that sounds like a great uh great thing, and it's nice to hear about some of those features that you know the the scope of what a library can offer has changed so much.

SPEAKER_00: 3:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 3:05

So it's great that you're doing that there in uh Richland Public Libraries, and uh we wish you all the best in your future endeavors, you know, continuing on with your work there. That sounds great. Uh, once again, this is Jenny Lau. Uh Jenny Lau from Richland Public Library Northeast. Thank you for joining us today.

SPEAKER_00: 3:23

Yeah, thank you for having me.