Shush! with Debi - Puyallup Library Podcast

Episode 32: Robin Bradford, Collection Development Librarian at Pierce County Library System
Debi sits down with Robin Bradford, Collection Development Librarian from Pierce County Library System.
Robin selects and purchases adult fiction titles for all the branches of Pierce County Library System. She shares her love of reading and some of the experiences that led her to a librarian career. If you have wondered what goes into the selection of books in a large library system, Robin is the one to ask.
To learn more about Pierce County Library System:
https://mypcls.org/

Episode 31: Elizabeth Lamber, Program Director of Dreams Work at Farm 12Debi has a heartfelt discussion with the Program Director of Dreams Work at Farm 12, Elizabeth Lambert.Elizabeth shares poignant stories of being lifted up by others during hard times in her early life. She now pays that forward by helping women learn job and life skills, find childcare, and access mental health resources via the Step By Step and Dreams Work programs at Farm 12 in Puyallup, WA. Farm 12 offers farm-to-table food while providing work opportunities and training to those in need.To learn more about Dreams Work and the Step By Step Program:
https://www.stepbystepfamily.org/
To find out about Farm 12, their menu, and their mission:
https://www.farm12.org/

Episode 30: Superhero Librarian and Author Nancy Pearl
Debi chats with superhero librarian and author Nancy Pearl, the only librarian to have her own action figure.
Nancy's storied life as a Seattle librarian and writer includes publishing multiple books, a stint as a professor at the University of Washington, talk shows on PBS and NPR, and being named 2011 Librarian of the Year. She reminisces with Debi about running book clubs, her childhood library influences, humorous encounters at work, and her top titles to read today.
To learn more about the life of the fascinating Nancy Pearl:
https://www.knkx.org/people/nancy-pearl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pearl
https://www.nationalbook.org/people/nancy-pearl/
To read about Nancy's action figure:
https://mcphee.com/pages/history-of-the-librarian-action-figure
To see all the books Nancy has written or collaborated on:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/67412.Nancy_Pearl

Episode 29: Travel Q&A - Part Three of a Special Series on Traveling the World and Close to Home
Debi presents the third and final episode in her summer travel series. She and her travel librarian guest, Paul, answer questions submitted by library patrons during the library's Summer of Travel event.
Debi and Paul dish about the best places to travel locally and abroad, give tips on how to save money on the road, and answer intriguing trivia about animals and places of the world, plus a whole lot more.
Puyallup Public Library offers travel resources of all types. Visit our website to learn more:
http://www.puyalluplibrary.org

Episode 28: Meeker Mansion - President Shelly Schlumpf and Curator Holly O'Brien
Debi sits down with Shelly Schlumpf and Holly O'Brien, some of the team who run the Meeker Mansion in Puyallup.
Shelly is the President of the Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion and Holly is the museum's curator. They share stories about the origin and preservation of the mansion, future plans for expansion, and exciting events to come.
To learn more about Meeker Mansion:
https://www.meekermansion.org/
To find out about the Ezra's Hops Gala event on August 16, 2025:
https://www.meekermansion.org/hopgala

Episode 27: Travel Tips & Tricks - Part Two of a Special Series on Traveling the World and Close to Home
Debi hosts part two of three special travel-themed episodes. In this episode, Travel Tips & Tricks, seasoned library staff travelers share the best travel ideas and hacks for everyone, from families to solo travelers and from globetrotters to local road trippers.
Puyallup Public Library offers travel resources of all types. Visit our website to learn more:
http://www.puyalluplibrary.org

Episode 26: Travel Tales - Part One of a Special Series on Traveling the World and Close to Home
Debi hosts the first of three special travel-themed episodes. In this episode, Travel Tales, seasoned library staff travelers share some of their favorite and funniest stories from their trips. There may even be a celebrity sighting!
Puyallup Public Library offers travel resources of all types. Visit our website to learn more:
http://www.puyalluplibrary.org

Episode 25: Washington State Library Part 3 - Sara White and Tien Triggs
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews Sara White, Youth Services Consultant, and Tien Triggs, School and Digital Support Librarian, both from the Washington State Library, in part three of three special episodes.
Sara White and Tien Triggs work together to provide training, ideas, programming, and financial support to school libraries and their librarians across Washington. Their grants help fund learning initiatives, STEM events, and teen internship programs. They share insight into their important work and the impact it has on local communities.
Learn more about the Washington State Library:
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/

Episode 24: Washington State Library Part 2 Plus Special Guest Helena Caughlan
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews more of the wonderful staff of the Washington State Library in part two of three special episodes.
The staff of the Washington State Library provide a stunning variety of historical, archival, reference, and public support services. They sort and organize cultural heritage information, provide access to unique and rare documents, and work to make knowledge and learning available to all Washingtonians. The staff members each share a small piece of what they do every day to bring value to everyone.
Plus, stay tuned for two bonus book reviews from Debi's good friend Helena Caughlan following the main interviews.
Visit the fabulous websites mentioned in this episode:
Washington State Library
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/
LinkedIn Learning (via our digital resources page)
https://www.cityofpuyallup.org/892/Apps-and-Online-Resources
Washington Digital Newspapers
https://www.washingtondigitalnewspapers.org
For the book titles mentioned in the reviews:
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Episode 23: Washington State Library Part 1
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews some of the wonderful staff of the Washington State Library in part one of three special episodes.
The staff of the Washington State Library provide a stunning variety of historical, archival, reference, and public support services. They sort and organize cultural heritage information, provide access to unique and rare documents, and work to make knowledge and learning available to all Washingtonians. The staff members each share a small piece of what they do every day to bring value to everyone.
Visit the fabulous websites mentioned in this episode:
Washington State Library
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/
Digital Public Library of America
https://dp.la/
Washington Rural Heritage Archives
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/