Hamden Library Podcast

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Banned Books Week was established by the American Library Association in 1982 to reaffirm the freedom to read and to highlight the harms of censorship, and is usually held in the last week of September. 

On this episode, Ryan talks to Sam Lee, co-chair of the Connecticut Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, about censorship, the First Amendment and the history and current state of book challenges. 

After that, Hamden Library Board of Trustees member Amber Woodward and I discuss her background, balancing community benefit with individual rights and her role in helping the library ensure all users benefit from the ALA's Bill of Rights, among other topics. 

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This month our roving reporters Kacie and Matt asked staff and younger patrons "What have you been reading this summer and how did you feel about it?" You will hear their honest answers in this episode. Enjoy... and let us know what you've been reading!

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What books would you want with you on a desert island? What book do you think deserves to be thrown into the fires of Mt. Doom? What movies are better than the books they're based on? The podcast team tackles these tricky questions and lots more in this month's episode.

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It's June and we are all about summer reading! Starting June 17, patrons of all ages can participate in our summer reading programs. Learn all about them in this episode featuring comprehensive interviews with our staff!

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Ryan talks to Luis Arata and Mick Martucci of the Sleeping Giant Park Association as well as Hamden Arts & Recreation Administrative Assistant Abdul Bunyaminu. The history of the Giant as well as upcoming festivities are discussed.

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Awareness month or acceptance month? Either way, April is all about autism. In this episode, staff member Rebecca Coates takes the mic to spotlight books and podcasts about autism's history and social experience, with an emphasis on autistic self-advocates. 

Later, she talks to Jennifer Cretella, Kaitlyn Fenner, and Marilena Mademtzi, three representatives from Clifford Beers Community Care Center, about Clifford Beers' services for families with autistic kids, Autism Services & Resources Connecticut (ASRC), and the annual Walk for Autism and Resource Fair.

We hope you enjoy!  

Further Reading

• Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity - Steve Silberman 
• Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity - Devon Price 
• Spectrum | The Transmitter 

• Connecticut State Department of Social Services - Autism 
• Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (USA) | Direct link to Resources Page 

• The ARC 
• Autism Self Advocacy Network 
• Autistic Women’s & Nonbinary Network 
• The Color of Autism Foundation 

• The Reason I Jump and Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 –Naoki Higashida 
• Thinking In Pictures – Temple Grandin 
• Look Me In The Eye - John Elder Robison 
• Autism In Heels – Jennifer Cook 
• Sincerely, Your Autistic Child - Various authors
• Neuroclastic 
• The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism 

See our blog page for April 2024's episode for links to other podcasts and links to authors mentioned in the podcast

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This episode features interviews with Geena Clonan, founding president of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, and Colette Anderson, executive director of the Connecticut Women’s Consortium, which provides gender-informed and trauma-responsive training to behavior health professionals. In March we celebrate the women who have helped build a fairer, more just society. After you listen to this episode, we encourage you to read the Proclamation on Women's History Month, 2024 put out by the White House on whitehouse.gov and spend time on the website womenshistorymonth.gov which is hosted by the Library of Congress and their partners.

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In honor of Black History Month, Teen Librarian Jenny Nicolelli interviewed two of her former colleagues from the New Haven Free Public Library to talk about their careers as librarians. First you'll hear Jenny talk with Marian Huggins, branch manager of the Mitchell Library. Then you will hear her interview with Diane X. Brown, branch manager of Stetson Library. These are great talks – especially if you have ever considered entering the field of librarianship and want to get a sense of what it’s really like.

Additional resources:

Recommended Reading Lists (Inspired by Marian Huggins & Diane X. Brown)
All CT Reads

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This month we are focusing on health literacy, or the ability to find, access, understand and use health-related information. First up, Ryan talks to Kate Nyhan, the founder of Community Access to Ventilation Information, about her mission to make air quality monitors available to the public through libraries. Then Ariana interviews Yale medical librarians and Hamden residents, Kayla del Biondo and Alexandria Brackett, on the importance of health literacy, how it informs their work and what we can do to make sure the health and medical information we are getting is accurate.

Additional resources:

• CAVI website
• CRAAP Test
• NewsGuard
• MedlinePlus
• MedlinePlus Magazine
• Network of the National Library of Medicine
• PubMed Central
• clinicaltrials.gov
• The Model Health Show
• The Huberman Lab Podcast
• @thatgaydoctor (Instagram)