Check It Out

After a bit of a hiatus, Check It Out is back! In this episode, Mari McKeeth explains how the library chooses items to add to its adult print collection (10:59); Laura Rocco recommends a funny book about a Depressing topic (8:59); and Kristi C. talks up two YA sports novels with universal themes (12:05). Plus, we invite you to read along with us in preparation for our upcoming spinoff podcast.

Laura recommends:

Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell

Kristi recommends:

Losers Take All by David Klass

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

The library's new podcast stars will discuss:

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

As always, we'd love to hear from you! Our email is [email protected], and we can be found on Twitter @NPLTweets.

In this episode, Kristen Bauder and host Jared Johnson talk about what a "library assistant" does, Silvia Schuh gives the rundown of May arts and crafts and previews the plans for summer, and Mari McKeeth recommends two very different books that both have a Muslim protagonist.

Mari recommends:

The Unquiet Dead, by Ausma Zehanat Khan

The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu, by Joshua Hammer

As always, please contact us with praise, criticism, or random musings. Our email is [email protected], and you can tweet us on Twitter @NPLTweets.

In this episode, Rachel Weishar talks about Poetry Is Normal, a new semi-regular poetry reading event held in the library's cafe (6:34); Amy Kubica explains the Staff Picks and Patron Picks programs (5:06); and Kristi Cates recommends three recent prize-winning young adult novels (12:05). Plus, we inaugurate a new segment in which we talk to a kid about the library. (This week, it's Montana's turn. Thanks, Montana!)

Amy recommends:

Before We Go (2015)

Montana recommends:

The Princess and the Pig, by Jonathan Emmett and Poly Bernatene

Kristi recommends:

Please tell us what you think! Our email is [email protected], and you can find us on Twitter @NPLTweets.

In this episode, Kristi Cates explains how the Teen Advisory Council contributes to the library's mission (4:33), Silvia Schuh talks up April's arts and crafts programs and fills us in on National Library Week activities (6:19), and Mari McKeeth makes some recommendations to fill the Downton-Abbey-shaped gap in patrons' lives (13:46). Plus, there's a new classic first line challenge!

Take a look at the Teen Advisory Council schedule and sign up for April arts and crafts using our Activity Calendar.

Check out Mari McKeeth's Downton-Abbey-style recommendations:

As always, please contact us about anything and everything using our email, [email protected], or check out our Twitter account, @NPLTweets!

In this episode, Rebecca Gopinath invites us to attend a screening of the hit Bollywood film Bajrangi Bhaijaan (5:38); Jennifer Williams gives the rundown of kids' spring break activities that we're calling Spy Training (6:01); and Kristi Cates recommends two great but often overlooked young adult novels (8:30).

Check out our activity calendar to register for Spring Break programs.

Check out Kristi's recommendations:

The Year of Secret Assignments* (print) by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Year of Secret Assignments* (audiobook)

The President’s Daughter by Ellen Emerson White

As always, please tell us what you think! Our email is [email protected], and we're on Twitter @NPLTweets.

Jennifer Williams talks about Mo Willems' new chapter book, The Story of Diva and Flea (5:45); Silvia Schuh gives us the lowdown on March arts and crafts programs (3:50); and Mari McKeeth recommends Val McDermid's latest mystery, Splinter the Silence (12:33). Plus, Mari talks about two services for finding great books: Novelist and eSequels.

Please tell us what you think by emailing us at [email protected], or tweeting us @NPLTweets!

In this episode, Perry Kaufman explains the difference between "hard" and "soft" science fiction and makes a couple recommendations (13:21), and Kristi Cates talks about books that readers of The Martian might also like (13:39). Plus, there's a new prize challenge.

Perry's recommendations:

Blindsight by Peter WattsRevelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Kristi's recommendations:

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars)Packing For Mars by Mary RoachAlone In Antarctica by Felicity AstonAdrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan

Please let us know what you think! You can email us at normalpl.org, or tweet us @NPLTweets.

In this episode, Meghan Rogers explains the Adult Winter Reading Program, and Mari McKeeth talks about all the great books that were turned into movie scripts and nominated for this year's Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar:

And as always, you can register for library programs on our website. Please write us at [email protected] and tell us what you think!

In our first episode of 2016, Silvia Schuh recommends the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, starting with the first novel in the series, A Discovery of Witches. Holli Khober recommends Suicide Squad, a series of comics that patrons can access through Hoopla. Plus, we talk February arts and crafts (register here), and we bring our first literary interpretation challenge to a close.

The translation of Dante's Inferno by Mark Musa referenced in this episode is excellent, by the way.

Comments, questions, suggestions, and random thoughts are welcome at [email protected]!

In the final episode of 2015, Amy Kubica recommends the Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop, Laura Rocco recommends The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Noble (which is based on a popular Youtube series), and I have some thoughts about libraries as we bring 2015 to a close. Plus, we check in on last episode's literary challenge.

The book I refer to in my editorial is Among Others by Jo Walton. You can see pictures of the remarkable JT and EJ Crumbaugh Memorial Library here.

To respond to the literary challenge or to give us feedback, please contact us at [email protected].