As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Constitutionally, about his fascinating, immersive journey of living strictly by the U. S. Constitution, delve into the contrasts between originalism and living constitutionalism, and provides insightful commentary on how the founding document shapes modern-day America. And on The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika talk about the readers’ advisory challenges for non-fiction titles!

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A.J. Jacobs is a journalist, lecturer, and human guinea pig who has written four bestselling books—including Drop Dead Healthy and The Year of Living Biblically—that blend memoir, science, humor, and a dash of self-help. A contributor to NPR, The New York Times, and Esquire, among other media outlets, Jacobs lives in New York City with his family.

SHOW NOTES:

The Year of Living Constitutionally
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As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Kirsten Miller, author of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books, about her deep love for libraries, the real-life banned books that inspired her book, and how she tackled book banning, censorship, and the power of literature, all while retaining a humorous and engaging tone. Stick around for another edition of The Circ Desk with Rebecca and Yaika as they discuss different types of satire, “books about books”, and give their read-alikes from Library Reads and NoveList!

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Kirsten Miller is the author of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books and The Change, a GMA Book Club pick, as well as the groundbreaking YA series starring Kiki Strike. Born and raised in a small town in North Carolina, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York. 

SHOW NOTES:

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
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As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Amita Murray, author of Unladylike Rules of Attraction, the second novel in her Marleigh Sisters series, about her experiences with libraries, the inspiration behind her writing, and why incorporating diverse elements into her Regency romances is so crucial. At the Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika talk about Regency romances and give their reading recommendations from Library Reads and NoveList!

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Amita Murray lives in London and can be found writing and tweeting about life and chocolate. Her novels take you on a romp through the edgier streets of Regency England. Her Arya Winters mysteries are under a TV option. Her mystery novel Thirteenth Night won the Exeter Novel Prize and her short story “A Heist in Three Acts” appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She’s been writer-in-residence with the British Council, Spread the Word, Leverhulme, and Literature Works, and she is committed to finding that magic button that creates more diversity in publishing.

SHOW NOTES:

Unladylike Rules of Attraction
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As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Cory Doctorow, author of The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, about the concept of enshittification, Cory’s creative process and prolific writing during the lockdown, his strategies for managing information intake, and much more. And stay tuned for the debut of The Circ Desk featuring Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList, who discuss cyber- and techno-thrillers, and read-alikes for The Bezzle!

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Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, most recently THE BEZZLE (a followup to RED TEAM BLUES) and THE LOST CAUSE, a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency. His most recent nonfiction book is THE INTERNET CON: HOW TO SEIZE THE MEANS OF COMPUTATION, a Big Tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include RED TEAM BLUES, a science fiction crime thriller; CHOKEPOINT CAPITALISM, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the LITTLE BROTHER series for young adults; IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; and the picture book POESY THE MONSTER SLAYER. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

SHOW NOTES:

The Bezzle [bookshop.org affiliate link]
Circulating Ideas 28: Cory Doctorow
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Steve chats with Audrey Barbakoff and Noah Lenstra, authors of The 12 Steps to a Community-Led Library, about the motivations behind writing the book, the principles of community-led library work, emphasizing equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, and practical advice for librarians interested in adopting this model.

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Audrey Barbakoff is the CEO of Co/lab Capacity LLC, which provides community-centered consulting for libraries and social good organizations. During more than a decade in public libraries, her work was recognized by Library Journal Movers & Shakers, the Urban Libraries Council Top Innovators, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. Dr. Barbakoff holds an MLIS from the University of Washington and an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. She is co-author of The 12 Steps to a Community-Led Library, and author of Adults Just Wanna Have Fun: Programs for Emerging Adults and the forthcoming picture book The Schlemiel Kids Save the Moon. 

Noah Lenstra is an associate professor of library and information science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he brings a community organizing approach to the teaching and research of public librarianship. Since 2016, Dr. Lenstra has managed the Let’s Move in Libraries initiative, an online space for sharing stories and resources related to public library participation in community health initiatives related to food or physical activity. Dr. Lenstra holds doctoral and master’s degrees in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

SHOW NOTES:

12 Steps to a Community-Led Library [affiliate link]

Steve chats with Tom Bober and Rebecca Newland, authors of Literature and Primary Sources: The Perfect Pairing for Student Learning, about their time working at the Library of Congress, why primary sources are important, how librarians and teachers can better collaborate, and how today’s digital media will become tomorrow’s shoeboxes full of photos.

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Tom Bober is an elementary librarian in Clayton, Missouri, USA; a former teacher in residence at the Library of Congress, a member of the Teachers Advisory Board at the National Portrait Gallery, and a 2018 Library Journal Mover and Shaker.

Rebecca Newland is a high school librarian in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA. She is a former Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress where she specialized in creating resources for teachers to bring primary sources into the English Language Arts classroom and libraries. She contributes regularly to the blog of the Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress is the author of Engaging Students with Library of Congress Primary Sources in the ELA Classroom with NCTE and the Library of Congress.

SHOW NOTES:

Literature and Primary Sources: The Perfect Pairing for Student Learning [affiliate link]

Steve chats with Max Brallier, author of The Last Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains, the second book in the Last Comics graphic novel series spun off from his bestselling Last Kids on Earth series. They chat about balancing an apocalyptic background with a light-hearted tone, the differences between the Last Kids and Last Comics series, which jokes may’ve been 4am jokes that slipped through editorial, and much more!

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During a quick pause from defeating monsters, Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk face their trickiest challenge in THE LAST COMICS ON EARTH: TOO MANY VILLAINS!, the second graphic novel in the best-selling spin-off starring the beloved heroes, monsters, and side-kicks from THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH series.

Set on creating an epic follow-up to their Z-Man: Defender of Apocalyptia spin-off graphic novel, Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk plan an action-packed story featuring tougher villains, puzzles, and more in THE LAST COMICS ON EARTH: TOO MANY VILLAINS! Their superhero alter-egos discover that supervillains will do whatever it takes to stop the even more mysterious evil boss from carrying out the biggest evil plan ever and destroying the world, featuring monsters our heroes have battled in the pages of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH.

THE LAST COMICS ON EARTH: TOO MANY VILLAINS! is the second story in a four-book spin-off series features original content in Max Brallier’s signature witty storytelling style along with Emmy-Award-winning writer, Joshua Pruett. Full-color illustrations by Jay Cooper and Douglas Holgate share bright and engaging scenes that’ll bring readers into the middle of the action. Leaping into new territory, younger and newer fans, as well as existing fans can enjoy new adventures within the apocalyptic world of THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH.

THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH novels continue to bring monsters into the lexicon with over 10 million copies in print worldwide, toys, video games, an Emmy-award-winning animated Netflix series, and a graphic novel spin-off series in THE LAST COMICS ON EARTH.

Max Brallier is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His books and series include The Last Kids on Earth, Eerie Elementary, Mister Shivers, Galactic Hot Dogs, and Can YOU Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? He is a writer and producer for Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning adaptation of The Last Kids on Earth. Visit him at MaxBrallier.com.

SHOW NOTES:

THE LAST COMICS ON EARTH: TOO MANY VILLAINS! [affiliate link]

Steve chats with Sylvie Golod and Thomas Maluck from Richland Library about why financial literacy is an important topic for libraries to cover, the programs and services Richland offers in its Business, Careers, and Resources Center, how to make the subject appealing to teens and adults, and the importance of community partners. Plus, a Secret Stacks recommendation from Thomas!

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Sylvie Golod is a Career Services Specialist for Richland Library Business and Careers Center. Since 2011, she has worked with an impressive team who were recipients of the 2022 National Career Development Association Exemplary Career Center Award. She is a Certified Master of Career Services, Professional Résumé Writer, and Entrepreneurship Teacher. She has presented at conference for the National Career Development Association (NCDA), SC Career Development (SCCDA) and American Library Association (ALA), educational institutions, businesses, agencies and community organizations. On the state level, Sylvie was the 2018 Founding President of SCCDA, a division of the NCDA and recipient of the NCDA 2019 Outstanding Emerging State Division Award. She continues to serve as Emeritus and Communications Chair.

Thomas Maluck is a Teen Services Librarian for Richland Library and adjunct LIS instructor for The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has worked in public libraries, including youth services and readers advisory, for over fifteen years. He was the 2019 recipient of the F. William Summers Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina. He co-presented the keynote address with Kristin LaLonde at the Quebec Library Association about graphic novel collections and their impact on readers. He has been a panelist and moderator at American Library Association, South Carolina Library Association, New York Comic Con, Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Dragon Con, and C2E2 conferences. He has served on YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels For Teens book selection committee as well as School Library Journal’s Best Graphic Novels team. He reviews for Kirkus and uses his Accredited Personal Finance Instructor ℠ credential to provide financial education.

SHOW NOTES:

Richland Library Business, Careers and Research Center
National Financial Educators Council
Operation HOPE
Project: NAS (Not A Statistic)
US Small Business Administration
Clark Howard
Next Gen Personal Finance
SC Student Loan
Libraries Build Business Playbook [PDF]
Morningstar Investment Research Center
LinkedIn Learning
Portfolio Visualizer (suggested alternative for X-Ray Tool)

Steve recommends:
iTunes Terms of Service: the Graphic Novel by R. Sikoryak

Sylvie recommends:
The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelley [affiliate link]

Thomas recommends (bonus Secret Stacks pick!):
How to Money: Your Ultimate Visual Guide to the Basics of Finance by Jean Chatzky, Kathryn Tuggle, and Nina Cosford [affiliate link]
The Index Card by Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack [affiliate link]

Steve chats with Elizabeth A. Wahler and Sarah C. Johnson, authors of the book, Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons, about how they came to work with libraries, what a person-centered approach to library work looks like, why it’s important for both library staff and administration to buy in to the approach, and what future trends they see in this area.

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Elizabeth A. Wahler is Professor and Director of the School of Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA, and founder of Beth Wahler Consulting. She has collaborated with libraries and library systems across the United States to conduct assessments of their patrons’ psychosocial needs and staff challenges with these types of patron needs; provided training to library staff about trauma-informed librarianship and other approaches to addressing their patrons’ needs; and created and piloted various interventions to address patron needs and support library staff. She is recognized internationally for her work on library and social work collaborations.

Sarah C. Johnson, MLIS, LMSW, is adjunct lecturer at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois, where she teaches a course on library social work. She is a licensed social worker, and her research focuses on the impact of social work students conducting their field placements at public libraries. Her aim is to foster quality internships by building alliances among students, public librarians, and social work educators, with the goal of enhancing services to library patrons and their wider community.

SHOW NOTES:

Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons

Steve chats with Sam Helmick and Ray Pun, the 2024 candidates for the President of the American Library Association, about why they want the role, how the profession can live up to its diversity goals, how they would help make the organization more attractive to new and prospective members, and whether libraries are (or ever can be) neutral.

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Sam Helmick is the Community & Access Services Coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, immediate Past President of the Iowa Library Association, and the current ILA Government Affairs chair. Helmick is a current member of the ALA Executive Board and previously served as chair-elect on the Freedom to Read Foundation as well as chair of the Iowa Governor’s Commission of Libraries. They have served on committees for the Network of the National Library of Medicine, the Stonewall Book Awards, the ALA Policy Monitoring Committee, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Michael L. Printz Committee, on the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Sophie Brody Award Committee and on the YALSA Fundraising Task Force. Helmick is a 2017 Emerging Leader as well as an author, consultant, and instructor for management, social media marketing, and graphic design.

Dr. Ray Pun (he/him) is an ALA Presidential candidate for 2025-2026. Pun is the academic and research librarian at the Alder Graduate School of Education, a teacher residency program in California, where he supports graduate students, teachers, and teacher educators. Pun previously worked as librarian at The New York Public Library, New York University Shanghai, Fresno State, and Stanford University. An active member of the American Library Association, Pun is also a member of several library groups such as the American Indian Library Association (AILA), the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. From 2021-2022, Pun served as President of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and from 2022-2023, Pun served as President of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA). Pun holds an Ed.D. from Fresno State, a Master of Library Science from the City University of New York – Queens College, a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from St. John’s University. Learn more about Dr. Ray Pun at https://www.raypun.info.

SHOW NOTES:

Sam’s campaign site
Ray’s campaign site