Sunshine & Stories from the Colorado State Library
Sunshine & Stories is a Colorado State Library (CSL) podcast dedicated to all things public and school libraries. Our podcast aims to offer fresh insights, as well as spark creative and practical ideas for diverse public & school library settings. Whether you’re a veteran in the library world, a newbie looking for a little professional support, or someone who's considering shaking things up in your library (a little or a lot), we hope this podcast will be a valuable resource for you.
During our 2025-26 season, keep an eye out for new episodes from September to May. This season, we're expanding our scope and exploring not just summer programming, but all sorts of exciting library topics featuring interviews with our fellow library professionals around the state and lively discussions between Colorado State Library consultants.
If you want to dive into various topics further and hear even more about what other Colorado folks are up to in their libraries, check out LibrariesLearn.org for all our past and future learning opportunities.
This podcast is offered at no cost to listeners thanks to the time, effort, and dedication of CSL Library Development consultants, as well as our State Library colleagues and all our volunteer guests from across the field.
CSL projects like this one are funded in part by the Grants to States program which is administered by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado Department of Education, the Institute of Museum and Library Services or the U.S. Government.
Episodes
27 episodes
Ep. 212 Exactly What or Who is "State Pubs"? -- Introducing the CO State Publications Library!
Episode Summary: Join Kate Compton as she talks with Samantha Hager and Miranda Doran-Myers from the Colorado State Publications Library, who share the library’s mission of providing free, permanent access to Colorado state g...
Ep. 211 The Beginner's Mindset: Finding Clarity in Library Values
Sunshine and Stories Episode 211: The Beginner's Mindset: Finding Clarity in Library Values Episode Summary: Kieran Hixon, CSL's Small and Rural Library Senior Consultant, has a conversation with Sharon Mor...
Ep. 210 Weeding Together: The Collection Crew Approach with Len Bryan
Sunshine and Stories Episode 210: Weeding Together: The Collection Crew Approach with Len Bryan Episode Summary: Join Suzi Tonini as she talks with Len Bryan, Partner of Library Services at Cherry Creek Sch...
Ep. 209 Nursery Rhymes and Reasons
Sunshine and Stories Episode 209 Nursery Rhymes and Reason with Mary Lanni Episode Summary: Kate Compton chats with Mary Lanni, the Youth Literacy and Outreach Specialist from Douglas County Libraries. Mary sh...
Ep. 208 I'm on the Library's Board, Now What!?
Sunshine and Stories Episode 208: I'm on the Library's Board, Now What!?Episode Summary: Polly Gallagher sits down with trustees Scarlett Ponton, President of Nederland Community Library Board & recipient of t...
Ep. 207 Library Joy at the Colorado Talking Book Library
Sunshine and Stories Episode 207: Library Joy at the Colorado Talking Book Library Episode Summary: Kate Compton chats with Lorrie Spoering, the wonderfully passionate Reader Advisor Librarian from the Colora...
Ep. 206 Unearthing CSLP Summer Program Resources
Sunshine & Stories Episode 206: Unearthing CSLP Summer Program ResourcesEpisode Summary: The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s 2026 program manual is now live! So the Kates chat about all things summer fr...
Ep. 205 Compassionate Makerspace Projects
Sunshine & Stories Episode 205: Compassionate Makerspace ProjectsEpisode Summary: Suzi Tonini chats with Carin Barrett, Teacher Librarian at Berthoud High School, about implementing compassionate makerspace pro...
Ep. 204 “Health access should never depend on your Zip Code.”: Telehealth and Rural Communities
Sunshine & Stories Episode 204: “Health access should never depend on your Zip Code.”: Telehealth and Rural Communities Episode Summary: Kieran Hixon chats with Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne P...
Ep. 203 Trends in Colorado Public and School Libraries
Sunshine & Stories Episode 203: Trends in Colorado Public and School Libraries Episode Summary: Sit down with Polly Gallagher, Kieran Hixon, Suzi Tonini, Kate Brunner, and Kate Compton, members of CSL’...
Ep. 202 Creating Autism-Friendly Libraries Through Sensory Audits
Sunshine & Stories Episode 202: Creating Autism-Friendly Libraries Through Sensory Audits Episode Summary: Kate Compton and Suzi Tonini chat with Gloria Perez Alvarez and Terri Faulkner from Jefferson C...
Ep. 201 CSL Kits: A Librarian's Library
Sunshine and Stories Episode 201: CSL Kits: A Librarian's LibraryEpisode Summary:Kate Compton learns all about Colorado State Library book club and circulating program kits from Mike Peever the CSL Kits Program Coordina...
Season 2 Trailer
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Ep. 114 Today's Teen Volunteer, Tomorrow's Future Librarian
Sunshine and Stories Episode 114: Today’s Teen Volunteer, Tomorrow’s Future Librarian If you give us a listen, please let us know what you think by completing a ...
Ep. 113 Summer is for Everyone
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Ep. 112 Summer Fun for Tweens & Teens
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Ep. 111 Don't Get Burned By Summer
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Ep. 110 Summer is for Adults Too
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Ep. 109 Artful Play for Itty Bitties & Kids
Sunshine and Stories Episode 109: Artful Play for Itty Bitties & Kids Episode Summary: Kate Compton, Early Literacy Consultant at the Colorado State Library, chats with all of us about her ideas for art-th...
Ep. 108 Performers, Experts, & Marketing, Oh My!
Sunshine and Stories Episode 108: Performers, Experts, & Marketing, Oh My! Episode Summary: Kate and Kate share their own experiences working with performers and experts to provide a variety of public libr...
Ep. 107 The Nuts & Bolts of CSLP and CSL Summer Resources
Sunshine and Stories Episode 107: The Nuts & Bolts of CSLP and CSL Summer Resources Episode Summary: The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s 2025 program manual is live! So we’re digging into all the resourc...
Ep. 106 Hispanohablante Communities & Your Library
Sunshine and Stories Episode 106: Hispanohablante Communities & Your LibraryEpisode Summary:The Kates were thrilled to have Cristy Moran, Adult Library Services Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library join t...
Ep. 105 To Prize or Not to Prize
Sunshine and Stories Episode 105: To Prize or Not to Prize Episode Summary: This week Kate & Kate talk summer library program tracking strategies, as well as the pros and cons of offering different types o...