I am conducting interviews with librarians across the state who are excited to share their knowledge and expertise. This is your opportunity to recognize community partnerships successes, highlight new programs and spaces and reach out to others in the field. Let me know if your library would like to demonstrate leadership and tell your story that could change what other librarians do. I would love to interview you and share all ideas and experiences with all of South Dakota's librarians to energize and feed us forward to accomplish our goals!

Remember LIBRARIANS are not buns and shushing anymore!

December 2021: with Josh from SDBTBL!

Laura visits with Josh Easter about the Winter Reading programs!

November 2021: with Kayla and Thea!

Laura visits with Kayla (United Way of the Black Hills) and Thea from Custer County Library on collaborating with Race to Read!

  • As Featured in the Cornerstone!
  • Resources:
  • Katherine's Book Recommendations:
    • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
    • The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
    • Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey
    • I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis
    • Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
    • How Not to Die by Michael Greger M.D. FACLM |
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear |
  • Thea's Book Recommendations:
    • Turkey Trouble series by Wendi Silvano
    • Pigeon series by Mo Willems
    • Anne Early Reader books adapted by Kallie George
    • Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
    • Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
    • Untamed by Glennon Doyle |
    • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern |

October 2021: Brookings' Katherine Eberline

Laura visits with Katherine from Brookings Public Library about hiring performers and engaging your community.

September 2021: Langford's Nicole Hoines

Laura visits with Nicole from Langford Public Library about the entrepreneurship summer programming.

August 2021: SDSL's New Staff!

Laura introduces us to three new SDSL Staff: Kate Kosior, Scottie Bruch and Cheyenne Chontos. We talk a bit about their jobs, how they can assist you, and some book recommendations!

  • As Featured in the Cornerstone!
  • Kate's Book Recommendations:
    • No More Water in the Tub by Tedd Arnold
    • From the Mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L Konigsburg |
    • Silo series by Hugh Howey
    • Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
  • Cheyenne's Book Recommendations:
    • Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks
    • Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love |
    • Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock |
    • Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty |
  • Scottie's Book Recommendations:
    • Skippyjon Jones by Judith Byron Schachner |
    • Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne |
    • His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman |
    • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho |

July 2021: Watertown's Jamie Formanek

Laura talks with Jamie about the Subscription Book Box program that Watertown Regional Library has implemented. This is a new way to engage teens and adults that has had surprising results!

Jamie is the Young Adult Specialist at Watertown Regional Library. She and Maria Gruener, Assistant Director at Watertown Regional Library, have been working hard on this program and will be presenting the Subscription Book Box program at SDLA this fall .

June 2021: Vermillion's Amanda Raiche

Bring Virtual Reality (VR) into your library! Discover ideas for programs that introduce the Oculus Go headset to your community.

Amanda is the Youth Services Librarian at Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library.

May 2021: Siouxland's Jenna Neugebauer

Learn how to create reading kits for your library that help families practice reading at home.

Jenna's passion for teaching and working with children keeps her reaching for new ways to promote learning.

Special thanks and credit go to the Denver Public Library for sharing resources and information, which was used to create reading kits for Siouxland Libraries.

At Siouxland Libraries, Jenna would like to thank Stephanie Bents, Kiesha Dykstra, Elizabeth Berg, and Alysia Boysen for their role in creating the reading kit collection.

For questions about the reading kits:

April 2021: South Dakota State Librarian Daria Bossman

Watch this special interview with Daria Bossman, South Dakota State Librarian. During this episode Daria reflects on her 40 plus years of library experience and offers words of wisdom for librarians. Find out what is next after her retirement!

  • As Featured in the Cornerstone!
  • Daria's Book Recommendations:
    • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    • The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
    • All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
    • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
    • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    • In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III
    • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
    • Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerburn
    • My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

March 2021: Siouxland Libraries' own Amanda Bremmon and Jamie Buswell

Check out the latest LOUD LIBRARIANS LEAD! with Amanda Bremmon and Jamie Buswell from the Siouxland Libraries. These two librarians team up to create virtual programming for their patrons to interact with during the pandemic. Acquire tips and tricks to help you bring alternative programming to your library!

February 2021: Sarah Overvaag, Watertown

Check out the second LOUD LIBRARIANS LEAD! vlog interview with Sarah Overvaag, Children's Programming librarian at the Watertown Regional Library. We discussed in detail a READsquared program called Explore America that was created exclusively by Sarah.

January 2021: Misti Burns, Winner

Our first episode features Misti Burns from the Tripp County Grossenburg Memorial Library in Winner, SD. We discuss the NASA Space Kits, virtual programing and book recommendations!

Youth Services Coordinator

Amanda Raiche

1-605-773-3131 (Option 5, 1)
1-605-773-5066
email