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In honor of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, The Putnam Museum and Science Center and the Davenport Public Library are teaming up to share how the Quad Cities fits into our nation's history!  

Working through a timeline from our country’s founding to recent history, the podcast will feature artifacts from the Putnam Museum and archives from the Davenport Public Library’s Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. The podcast will use these to illustrate the fascinating and surprising stories of our community within the bigger picture of the nation. 

Join us to hear about some of the most notable artifacts you can see at the Putnam Museum (and some that are protected behind locked doors) that connect Quad Citians to national milestones. Learn about the documents housed at the Davenport Public Library that tell the stories of these events, and the books you can check out to learn more about these subjects! 

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On this month’s episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie look back on 2025 with their top titles of the year and what books they're looking forward to coming out in 2026. But first, they discuss their 2026 reading resolutions!

We want to hear from our listeners! What are your reading goals for 2026? Email us at [email protected]

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

All Ages: Winter Reading Challenge 2026

Adults: Formal Wear Dropoff and Giveaway - Friday, January 30th & 31st | Fairmount

Teens/Tweens: Teen Book + Club: Accountable by Dashka Slater - Wednesday, January 28th @ 6:30 | Fairmount 

Kids: Cat Kid Comic Club - Tuesday, January 27th @ 4pm | Eastern 

Helpful links from our discussion:

2026 Online Reading Challenge: Know Your History

2026 Rock Island Arsenal Series - American Revolution on the 250th Anniversary of Our Nation

Adult Book Clubs

Library of Things

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Info Cafe: The Library's Reference Blog

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

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On this last episode of the year, your hosts indulge in the annual Festivus, airing of grievances – book edition! They also give each other the gift of a reading recommendation, as well as share some of their favorite short reads for the shortest days of the year. 

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

Adults: Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center Grand Reopening Open House - Friday, December 12th @ 1:30pm  

Teens/Tweens: Teen Book + Club: Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis - Tuesday, December 30th @ 6:30pm | Eastern 

Kids: Glow-ga - Monday, December 22 @ 1:00pm | Fairmount

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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On this month’s episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie discuss: Dinovember, our new Library of Things, and all things puzzles. They also talk about what they recommend for cozy reading this fall season!

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

Adults: Game and Puzzle Swap- Saturday, November 15th @ 3pm - Eastern

Teens/Tweens: Teen Book + Club: The Way You Make Me Feel with Bonus Korean Snack Tasting - Saturday, November 15th @ 1pm - Eastern

Kids: Kids Craft Series: Painted Tote Bag - Monday, November 24th @ 3:30pm -Fairmount 

Helpful links from our discussion:

Dinosaurs take over the Library!

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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Spooky season is upon us! Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie breakdown everything you need to know about the latest trends and tropes in the horror genre. And they share our own local ghost stories with The Library’s resident spooky storyteller, Amy from Special Collections! But first, Sarah from the Midwest Writing Center joins us to discuss banned books. 

Upcoming programs: 

Adults: Quad Cities Archives Fair - Saturday, October 18th @ Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse 

Teens/Tweens: Teen Movie - Saturday, October 25th @ Eastern

Kids: Monster Mash @ Main - Thursday, October 23rd @ Main  

Helpful links from our discussion:

Midwest Writing Center & Sarah Elgatian's contact: [email protected]

ALA's Banned Books Week 2025

QC Libraries' Teentober Contests | Art, Writing & Film

Bestsellers Club

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at The Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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On this month’s episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie discuss all that September has to offer. Not only is it back-to-school season, but it's also Library Card Sign-Up month! Tune in to hear our hosts interview some special guests and learn what all is coming up this fall at The Library.

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

Adults: Beginning Genealogy Workshop - Thursday, September 11th @ Main  

Teens/Tweens: Teen Anime Day - Saturday, September 13th @ The Figge Art Museum

Kids: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony - Saturday, September 20th @ Fairmount 

Helpful links from our discussion:

Freegal

QC Beats

Mending Mondays

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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On this month's episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie beat the summer heat with their favorite books about dogs! They also prepare for the Perseid (per-se-id) Meteor Shower peaks on August 12 and August 13 with their favorite books that take place in outer space. And think you don’t like poetry? Maybe you do but celebrate Bad Poetry Day with your hosts anyway! 

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

Adults:  DJ Clinic – Thursday, August 28th @ Fairmount

Teens/Tweens: Escape Room - Escape from the '90s - August 13th-16th @ Fairmount  

Kids: Pokémon Club - Saturday, August 9th @ Eastern 

Helpful links from our discussion:

Summer Reading Challenge 2025

Discover Davenport Summer Kids Passes

eBook Expansion & BRIDGES

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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On this month's episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie hit their summer reading stride with Beach Read recommendations! They also discuss an article about the most popular book genres in each state. If you’re like us, you’re just going to skip ahead to Iowa and Illinois. 

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Upcoming programs:

Adults: Resume Writing Workshop - July 22nd @ Eastern

Teens/Tweens: Teen Hike + Read: Sunderbruch Park - July 10th & 19th @ Offsite

Kids: Space Jam Family Puzzle Tournament - July 12th @ Eastern

Helpful links from our discussion:

Summer Reading Challenge 2025

FRIENDS Bookstores

Book Clubs at The Library

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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In this month's episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie get you ready to Level Up with our summer reading program (it’s not just for kids!) They discuss how you can participate in the Midwest Writing Center’s annual David R. Collins Writers’ Conference happening right here in the Quad Cities. They also do a mid-year check in on their reading goals and get a bit bossy with each other’s to-read pile. 

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Helpful links from our discussion:

Summer Reading Challenge 2025 

Bestsellers Club

Midwest Writing Center

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge

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In this month's episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie get a crash course in the Hallyu (Hal –you) Wave as librarian Elena teaches them about the phenomenon of South Korean pop culture. In honor of Mystery Month, they discuss their favorite characters, settings and tropes (spoiler alert – it’s the librarian, in the small town, with a cat sidekick). And finally, they're celebrating Mother's Day with books by, for, and about moms!

Some upcoming programs:
Adults: QCMade: Miss Effie’s Country Flowers – Thursday, May 22nd @ 27387 130th Ave, Donahue, IA 52746 
Tweens/Teens: Teen Gaming – Every Wednesday, 4pm @ Fairmount 
Kids: Yoga Storytime and Pop-Up Library at Autistic & Loved – Thursday, May 22nd, 10am @ 3811 Harrison St Suite 200, Davenport, IA 52806

To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!

Helpful links from our discussion:

Freegal Kpop Playlist 

Newspaper Archive

America’s Newspapers

Community Experience Passes 

Library Links:

Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!

Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!

Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!

2025 Online Reading Challenge