East Lansing Public Library Podcast

The Director‘s Cut: Episode 20 - Deborah Mikula, MLA

In honor of Library Appreciation Month, Library Director Kristin Shelley talks with  Deborah Mikula, Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association (MLA). For over 35 years, Deborah has been a passionate advocate of arts and culture in the state and on a national basis – leading the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, ArtServe Michigan, Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies, and the League of Historic American Theatres.

Deborah has a bachelor's degree in Theatre from Michigan State University and earned her Graduate Certificate in Arts Management from The American University in Washington DC. She currently serves as a board member on the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, is the President of the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan, and also serves on the faculty at Michigan State University, teaching Arts and Cultural Management.   

The Director's Cut: Episode 19 - Shelia Scott, LAFCU

Shelia Scott is the Community Financial Education & Business Development Officer at LAFCU. She earned a master’s degree in human resources administration at Central Michigan University.

In her role, she looks for ways to grow the number of PreK - 12 schools participating in the credit union’s financial literacy programs. Shelia is passionate about financial education and enthused about building partnerships between LAFCU and the schools, organizations, and businesses in the communities the credit union serves.

The Director's Cut: Episode 18 - Women's History Special

This is a special episode in honor of Women's History Month. Library Director, Kristin Shelley talks with Elaine Hardy and Kelli Ellsworth Etchison. Elaine is the Equity and Inclusion Administrator at the City of East Lansing, and an active member with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan. Kelli is the Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Diversity Officer with 30 years experience at LAFCU. 

They talk about their experiences and goals in these roles. 

The Director's Cut: Episode 17 - Reggie Harris & Greg Greenway - Deeper Than the Skin

Reggie Harris is a songwriter of great depth and passion. His songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history.

Greg Greenway’s musical abilities reflect inspiration from all over the map – gospel, blues, jazz, and world music. But his center is in the singer/songwriter tradition that traces its roots all the back to the social awareness of Woody Guthrie.

The Director's Cut: Episode 16 - Mackenzie Smith, My New Normal

Mackenzie Smith is a 7-year-old first grader from Lansing, and the author of the book titled, “My New Normal”, which was published November 23, 2020. Her book talks about how her life completely changed due to Covid-19. The virus turned the whole world upside down, and she wanted to share what she was experiencing in hopes that it would help others cope with their new normal way of life.

The Director's Cut: Episode 15 - Dr. Joseph Salem, Dean of Libraries at MSU

East Lansing Public Library Director Kristin Shelley has a conversation with Dr. Joseph Salem, Jr., Dean of Libraries at Michigan State University. Salem joined the MSU Libraries as director and university librarian in August of 2018. A year later, the trustees approved a title change to Dean of Libraries. 

Salem discusses MSU Library's deep collection, including the digital and unique poster collection; the five core values of the library's Strategic Plan and that all residents of Michigan can sign up for a MSU Library Card and use the library's resources and services due to the Land Grant. 

 

The Director's Cut: Episode 14 - Monica Ramirez-Montagut, Director of the Broad Art Museum

Dr. Monica Ramirez-Montagut is the new director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, also known as the MSU Broad. Dr. Ramirez-Montagut currently serves as the director of the Newcomb Art Museum at Tulane University in New Orleans. She led a dynamic rebrand of the Newcomb Art Museum, developed an exhibition program focused on issues relevant to the community, and made the museum a popular gathering place for students and locals alike. Dr. Ramirez-Montagut will bring nearly 20 years of experience to MSU and begin her new role on July 1, 2020.

The Director's Cut: Episode 13 - Special Message from Kristin Shelley, Director of ELPL

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the East Lansing Public Library temporarily closed on March 16, 2020 and is not scheduled to re-open until May 1, 2020. Kristin Shelley, Director of the Library thanks the community for continuing to support the library during the closure, provides an update about special virtual programming from the staff and explains how to stay connected. She also discusses some changes that will need to be implemented after the library re-opens.  

The Director's Cut: Episode 12 - Allison Stoutland, Author of Children's Books

Allison Stoutland is a published author of children’s books, a teacher, a football coach’s wife and a mother of two. As a young child, Allison played school every single day with the dream of one day becoming a real teacher.  In second grade she won a writing award that sparked her second dream of being an author. Allison lives her life daily with the goal of making the world a happier place. She has a knack for touching the heart of every person in the room and leaving determined to be a kinder and better person.

The Director's Cut: Episode 11 - Leslie Alexander, My Fair Lady Musical

Leslie Alexander plays Mrs. Higgins in the musical My Fair Lady. My Fair Lady is based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, with book by Alan Jay Lerner. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins so that she may pass as a lady. 

Henry Higgins, an English professor of phonetics, makes a bet that he can transform Eliza.