In this episode, host Dawn Brushammar sits down with the unstoppable Clare Bilobrk, whose decades-long journey across school, public, and law libraries has evolved into a career in content strategy and remote knowledge work.
Clare shares how her love of literacy began with cloth books at age three, how a Saturday job at Torquay Central Library set her on the path to librarianship, and why understanding why something matters is the secret superpower of every great information professional.
From law libraries in London to a year picking olives on a Croatian island, Clare’s story is full of detours that reveal just how flexible and global library and information skills can be.
About Clare:
Clare Bilobrk has over 25 years’ experience managing law libraries for national and international firms in the UK. She now works with Simple Little Library System and Lucidea, supporting information professionals worldwide in demonstrating the value of their services and systems. She writes regularly on knowledge management and library practice and has presented at BIALL, AALL, and other professional forums.
Links:
https://lucidea.com/author/clare/
https://simplelittlelibrarysystem.co.uk/about-us/library-software-blog/
In this episode of Shush Free Zone, host Dawn Brushammar speaks with Mairead McKeown, Knowledge and Market Intelligence Manager at Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. They discuss Mairead's journey into librarianship, the evolution of Bord Bia's library services, and the impact of AI and emerging technologies on knowledge management. Mairead shares insights on the importance of lifelong learning, the diverse requests received at Bord Bia, and her aspirations for the future of the library. The conversation also highlights the vital role librarians play in various industries and offers advice for aspiring librarians.
About Mairead McKeown:
Mairead McKeown is Head of Knowledge & Critical Capability at Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. She holds a Higher Diploma in Library & Information Studies and has been recognised as a Senior Associate of the Library Association of Ireland. Mairead is also a Certified Knowledge Manager and a Certified Conversational Leadership Specialist.
In her role she has overseen the transformation of Bord Bia’s library and information services into a forward-looking knowledge hub that supports market intelligence, insights, and decision-making across the food & drink sector. She’s deeply interested in emerging technologies such as AI, lifelong learning, and information governance.
Mairead’s work bridges librarianship, business intelligence, and capability building; she is passionate about how libraries and knowledge services can drive innovation, strategic insight, and continuous learning.
Connect with Mairead here: Mairead Mc Keown Snr. Assoc. SALAI HDip LIS | LinkedIn
In this episode of Shush Free Zone, host Dawn Brushammar speaks with Laura Pike Seeley, a knowledge management and digital workplace strategist. Laura shares her journey from a love of libraries to her current role at HKS, where she focuses on user-centered design and knowledge strategy. They discuss the intersection of history and librarianship, the impact of AI on knowledge management, and the importance of digital literacy. Laura also shares insights from her unique experience as a brand archivist and her creative project, the Book Face Project. The conversation emphasizes the evolving role of librarians in corporate settings and the need for curiosity and flexibility in the profession.
About Laura Pike Seeley:
Laura Pike Seeley has spent 15+ years helping organizations make knowledge work for people. With a background spanning public librarianship, taxonomy consulting, brand archives, and knowledge management, she brings a systems-thinking approach that blends strategy, design, and human experience. Laura is passionate about building world-class intranets, vibrant communities of practice, and digital workplaces where knowledge flows naturally. A lifelong learner and dot-connector, she believes librarians are uniquely equipped to guide organizations into an AI-powered future—while creating work experiences that spark connection and protect focus.
Connect with Laura here: Laura Pike Seeley, MLIS | LinkedIn
In this episode of Shush-Free Zone, host Dawn Brushammar sits down with Jennie Pu, director of the Hoboken Public Library, whose career path in the library world has been anything but linear. From childhood memories of summer reading to leading one of the most dynamic public libraries in America, Jennie shares how she’s turned a traditional institution into a sanctuary for creativity, dignity, and intellectual freedom.
Jennie is also co-leading a statewide push for intellectual freedom, helped draft the Freedom to Read legislation, and presenting her work nationally. Her story highlights how librarianship can be a chutes-and-ladders career—full of unexpected turns, bold advocacy, and deep community service.
Tune in to hear how Jennie champions the right to read, creates safe and accessible spaces, and shows just how varied and revolutionary a career in the LIS world can be.
About Jennie Pu
Jennie Pu is the Director of the Hoboken Public Library and a nationally recognized champion of intellectual freedom. With a career spanning school, academic, museum, and public libraries, she’s led a multimillion-dollar restoration, abolished fines, and launched New Jersey’s first book sanctuary city. A 2024 NJLA Librarian of the Year and Library Journal Mover & Shaker, Jennie also co-authored the state’s Freedom to Read legislation. Her work centers on creating inclusive, accessible spaces that serve real community needs. Jennie’s career path (which she describes in the episode as more chutes and ladders than straight lines) embodies the transformative power of librarianship. Connect with Jennie on Linked in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniepu/
About Hoboken Public Library
Founded in 1889 and housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the Hoboken Public Library connects people with ideas, opportunities, and each other, offering innovative programs, inclusive services, and a vibrant makerspace for lifelong learning and community growth. Learn more at Hoboken Library
Welcome to The Shush-Free Zone!
In this short intro episode, host Dawn Brushammar shares her unexpected path from political science student to librarian, consultant, and podcast host. Get to know the voice behind the mic and the big ideas behind this podcast celebrating librarians who’ve stepped outside the stacks.
The Shush-Free Zone releases new content the first Friday of each month. Please contact Dawn if you have any ideas for future guests or content.
Mentioned in this episode:
Knowledge Fika podcast, Dawn cohosts with Rebecka Isaksson https://open.spotify.com/show/0X7STHKKiIEEj1nrd9hvQa?si=bbbe64d397f94bd5
The Shush-Free Zone is a podcast that celebrates the bold, creative, and unexpected paths librarians are taking beyond traditional stacks and shushed reading rooms. Your host is Dawn Brushammar, an independent knowledge management consultant, advisor, evangelist, and longtime librarian. This show dives into the fascinating lives and careers of library professionals who are redefining what it means to be a librarian today.
In each episode, Dawn chats with library friends and innovators whose work spans everything from tech startups to art galleries, from corporate knowledge hubs to classrooms. The Shush-Free Zone is where library science meets limitless creativity—and where no story is too unconventional.
Dawn brings her own eclectic background to the mic: she's worked as a KM lead in international consultancies, an advisor in the SaaS space, a corporate knowledge specialist, an academic librarian, and even a dinosaur-costumed school librarian in Sweden. Throw in a detour as a professional organizer and a stint building databases for Oprah and you've got quite the mix. Through these experiences, she’s developed a deep appreciation for the versatility of library and information professionals and a passion for helping others see their potential.
If you believe librarians are rock stars (and Dawn certainly does), tune in, turn it up, and help spread the word about The Shush-Free Zone!