This month, co-hosts Danny Rice and Marion Archer (and even Unofficial Sound Engineer Rob, at one point!) talk with a few local business owners and experts about different types of, “Retro Gaming”.  Whether this means classic arcade games, tabletop and/or card games, or pinball, we wanted to better understand why these gaming styles are experiencing … Continue reading 12 – Retro Gaming →

This month’s episode of Shelf Understanding focuses on efforts by two local organizations who care for both exotic and native animals.  Host Danny Rice and this month’s co-host Marion Archer talk to Adrienne Bauer of Wildlife Prairie Park and Jay Tetzloff of the Miller Park Zoo.  We’ll learn about conservation efforts at both locations and … Continue reading 11 – Zoos and Wildlife Conservation →

On this month’s episode of Shelf Understanding (where you can really learn to understand yourshelf), host/librarian Danny Rice talks with cyber security guru Craig Yarbrough about the primary types of malware, how you can protect yourself from “Bad Guys”, and how emerging technologies will also lead to additional vulnerabilities.  But fear not!  Because we will … Continue reading 10 – Cyber Security →

This month on Shelf Understanding, librarian/host Danny Rice talks with Deborah Halperin and Karen Schmidt from the West Bloomington Revitalization Project about all of the wonderful things that the WBRP is doing in our community.  From the Tool Library, Book Bike, and Veggie Oasis to the Bed/Bench Blitz and Home Restoration Project, the WBRP is … Continue reading 09 – The West Bloomington Revitalization Project →

Do you think Comics and Graphic Novels are just for nerds?  Do you think they’re just for little kids?  Do you think people who enjoy books with illustrations are bad at reading?  Well, join host Danny Rice this month as we buck all of the stereotypes surrounding this genre of literature.  Danny talks with “nearly … Continue reading 08 – Comics & Graphic Novels →

Bloomington (IL) Public Library is bringing New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson to Bloomington on April 12, 2017, to discuss his book, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, during a free author presentation at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. This month on Shelf Understanding, host … Continue reading 07 – Erik Larson Interview →

Often, technology advances faster than we can keep track.  Virtual Reality is one such example, so let’s get to the bottom of what makes this tech craze so appealing.  We’ll also look into some of its more meaningful uses, and try to defuse a virtual time bomb.  “Try” being the key word…

Everyone learns differently.  But did you know that your brain might learn differently simply based on your given situation?  Join host Danny Rice, librarian Rachel Park, and Heartland Community College professor Zach Petrea as we discuss a new way of learning, teaching, and thinking: Universal Design For Learning.               … Continue reading 05 – There Is No Average Person →

This month, Shelf Understanding host Danny Rice discusses Tiny Houses with contractor Mike Robinson, a member of a local makeshift task force that is working with the City of Bloomington to reshape zoning laws in an effort to provide space for tiny houses for those in need of housing. Robinson is part of a team … Continue reading 04 – Tiny Houses →

On this month’s edition of Shelf Understanding, our librarians are talking about puppetry with Samantha Anne Maggio who co-owns Suspended Belief Theater in Bloomington, IL, and with Michael Vetere, Associate Professor in the School of Theater and Dance at Illinois State University where he teaches creative drama and puppetry classes. We love them! We’re scared … Continue reading 03 – Puppetry →