Squirrels & Shiny Things: A Library Podcast

It's February...Black History Month...the Month of Love...whatever you choose, we're here for another episode where Tremain will tell you about a Black History experience in Starbucks and Jessica has a frozen mole she wants to keep as a pet.  Good thing we haven't lost our ability to go off on some wild tangents.  We'll also be discussing:

Library Events: Great adult activities including the Free Tax Assistance program, Mardi Gras Mask making workshops, and some great free movie showings to be on the lookout for including "Remember the Titans," "Air Force One," "Enchanted," and "Gemini Man."

News From Our Library: We're letting you in on some new equipment at your library...we've got Print Kiosks for the public.  An Inside the Library companion video will be coming to tell you all about it and how to use it.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Doctor Sleep," "Last Christmas," "Playing with Fire," and "The House That Jack Built."

Libraries in the News: There's been some resolution for library staff in Cleveland; another insane bill is being proposed in South Dakota targeting the LGBTQ community; someone's trying to kill off Nancy Drew at the age of 90; looking into laptop checkout station kiosks.

We're back for more podcast fun with Tremain and Jessica at your Abilene Public Library.  First off, we apologize for the technical difficulties with the audio, but we never noticed Jessica's microphone went out after about 20-minutes into recording, so her voice is fainter as it's being picked up on the other mic in the room.  In our last episode of the month we're discussing:

News From Our Library: Learn about how construction has begun for the new Abilene Heritage Square facility, and we'll also let you in on our new Inside the Library video series to help keep the community informed on what's going on at your library.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Terminator: Dark Fate" and "Harriet."

Libraries in the News: We've got some stories for you this week including a followup to the Missouri bill that's being presented that could land librarians in jail and cost libraries their funding...but drag queens around the nation have something to say about that; an agreement may have been met for Cleveland libraries; libraries are more popular than going to the movies, sporting events, and concerts in new Gallup poll for 2019; actress Reese Witherspoon is looking for a Librarian-in-Residence for her book club; Wake Forest mom disheartened by her non-verbal, adult, autistic son's treatment.

January is almost over, but the podcasting fun continues with hosts Tremain & Jessica from the Abilene Public Library.  On today's show you'll hear about the struggle with claustrophobia, how our thoughts are still with Australia, and how awful men are at explaining what's wrong when we're sick.  Plus, we'll also be discussing:

Library Events: Great adult activities including a Crafty DIY session making Wax Art Candles, another workshop making Bottle Cap Pincushions, the first Open Mic Night event at your library and free movie showings on Saturday of "The Angry Birds Movie 2,""Judy," and "The Peanut Butter Falcon."

News From Our Library: Well let you in on our new  video series titled Inside the Library as well as the Free Tax Assistance Program being offered in February.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Zombieland: Double Tap," "The Addams Family," and "Countdown."

Libraries in the News: We covered two articles with libraries with a local librarian, Eddy Smith, being appointed to the Texas Governor's Broadband Development Council, as well as a new law from Missouri, that if passed, could allow for the banning of books in public libraries...of if challenged, could lead to loss of funding for the library as well as imprisonment for librarians.

Join Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes for a fresh episode for the new year, and since the year is 2020, let's kick off the year with trying to see things a little more clearly. Today's show will be shorter than our usual shows, but we were a little pressed for time, making sure to cover all the great stuff we usually do including:

Library Events: Great adult activities including the Photo Digitization Workshop, the startup of the Cover-to-Cover Book Club for the new year, a craft workshop making Alice in Wonderland Bookmarks, the next Genealogy Lock-In Session, and a family movie showing of "Wonder Park."

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil," "Gemini Man," "Jexi," and "Code 8."

Libraries in the News: We covered three great articles with libraries in  Gwinnett County shutting down to ditch the Dewey Decimal system; more news on the employees strike at the Cleveland public libraries; and the shiny new technology lab rolling out of Houston that I wish I could run myself because it's taking technology on-the-go in a souped up RV.

Join Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes for a fresh episode just before the holidays.  Jessica's loves the holiday season, but Tremain's a bit indifferent; however, congratulations to Mariah Carey and her hit Christmas Song "All I Want for Christmas is You" for celebrating its silver anniversary of 25 years and finally reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100...long overdue.  Other items discussed includes:

Library Events: Our holiday operating schedule; Family Board Games fun; some South STEAM Holiday fun making Snowflakes; Movie Saturday showings of "The Lion King," "Pixels," and "Men in Black: International."

Abilene Public Library News: We've got so much to tell you about that's been going on at our library including how we're looking to fill some empty seats on the library board and who you can apply to do so; our search for a Director of Libraries begins; ownership of the Abilene High/Lincoln Middle School building has been transferred to Abilene Heritage Square, Inc.; learn how you can register to receive library news and event updates directly to your email; register for new Conversational Spanish series; learn how you can participate in new Open Mic Night series.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Judy" and "The Gallows Act II."

Libraries in the News: We covered three great articles including the possibility of Cleveland library employees going on strike in the new year if agreement isn't met with leadership team by Dec. 27; library system partners with Operation Coats to provide free coats, books, and library cards to families; how a library system found great results with Drag Queen storytimes during LGBTQ history month.

Gear up for another solo show as Tremain Jackson takes the helm while Jessica Reyes is out on vacation.  There may be a little less banter, but we still have some great content to give to everyone including a lot of news coverage to make up for last week's slow news cycle.

Library Events: There's a good number of programs to take advantage of including the knitting club, a family coloring club session, some holiday STEAM fun for youth, and a great family movie showing.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "Downton Abbey," "Abominable," "Ad Astra" (my pick of the week), and "Rambo: Last Blood."

Libraries in the News: Take a listen at some of the news stories I've found to dish on this week including a stabbing at a library that led to a 9-hour manhunt; Los Angeles Public Library System to eliminate late fees in Spring 2020; burning of banned books in China; Seattle Public Library in spotlight over "controversial" event; libraries in Florida lending out colorblind glasses; library in Las Vegas to offer sensory-friendly movie showings; Boston Public Library looking to build apartments over select library branches.

Join Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes for a fresh episode, and our longest yet, where we really let you in on who we are from understanding the the injustices of bathroom layouts to answering Vogue's 73 questions challenge.  Unfortunately, there will not be a technology issue of the week that we'll cover (as we ran out of time to fully research a topic) and it was a slow news cycle for libraries, so here's what we've got for you this week:

Library Events: There's plenty of great activities for adults this week including a workshop on Harvesting Your Family Recipes, a Medicare 101 workshop, great movie showings, and fun craft sessions like a DIY Sugar Cookie Sugar Scrubs session and learning to make Dream Catchers.

New DVD Releases: This week we'll be telling you about the DVD releases to look out for at your local public library including "It Chapter 2," "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," "Hustlers," and "Freaks."

Vogue's 73 Question Challenge: We looked at the questions we've seen online that were asked of celebrities and we decided to answer them ourselves...which is why our show ran longer this week than usual.

Hello everyone, it's Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes coming at you, post-Thanksgiving, for some library talk to dish on some holiday selections you might want to ease into as well as all of our fun library topics...with our own spin of course.  In today's show, we're covering:

Library Events: It's City Sidewalks time in Abilene, which is a big Christmas holiday celebration and we'll have tons of great holiday activities for you to participate in this week so listen up and be sure to attend some of them.

Technology Issue of the Week: We'll be talking about GPS and Location Services on smartphones and tablets.  Is it a good thing?  Is it evil?  We'll tell you about it, cover the pros and cons, and let you decide for yourself.

New Movie Releases: We'll give you the inside scoop on two movies being released to DVD this week including our top pick "Ready or Not," (which everyone should watch, enjoy, and love as much as we did) and "The Goldfinch," based on the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize winning novel that didn't translate to film at all.

News Stories Featuring Libraries: We'll have a few to dish on this week including a development project for the Milwaukee Library System that would feature a library built below three floors of apartments (lovin' that), a newly opened Queens library branch that's been called a marvel but is now in a lawsuit for not being ADA compliant; and more complaints coming from staff about their safety from the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, AZ.

In our latest episode, Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes are tackling the following topics when it comes to the library world:

Library Events: None to cover this week because it's the week of Thanksgiving. May you all spend it with family and friends and have a great one!

News From Our Library: We have a lot to tell you about that's changed at the Abilene Public Library including the retirement of the library director, progress on the Abilene Heritage Square project, and a new website for the library and city coming in December!

Technology Issue of the Week: We bumped this segment this week because we knew we were going to run long. It'll return next week.

New Movie Releases: We'll be talking about three new movie releases for the day that you should look for checking out at your local public library including "Angel Has Fallen," "Where'd You Go, Bernadette," and "Don't Let Go."

News Stories Featuring Libraries: We have so much news to cover this week that should certainly get under your skin. We'll tell you about how thousands of students in Houston ISD never check out a book from their school libraries; a library had to cancel their Drag Queen Storytime after receiving violent threats; an ex-librarian embezzles over $260,000 from her library; director of the Lincoln Library fired by governor for loaning an original Gettysburg Address to a pop-up museum of Glenn Beck; three guns found in a bathroom in Phoenix library, fully loaded; library debates the removal of "Prince and Knight" children's books, which got the attention of the ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom; director of the library in Leander, TX fired for hosting Family Pride Storytimes, Mayor blames her and library staff.

In our latest episode, Tremain Jackson & Jessica Reyes are tackling the following topics when it comes to the library world:

Library Events to Attend: Hear about some great events for adults to attend this week including a Crafty DIY Session learning to make Wine Cork Pumpkin decorations; a Family Board Game Night event starting at the South Branch Library; a great workshop on Harvesting Family History led by representatives from Abilene Christian University's Special Collections Department; finally the next Genealogy Lock-In session for local enthusiasts.

Technology Issue of the Week: This time around, we're discussing texting as being one of the top forms of communication over voice calls and voice mail.  Is it true?  We'll share some facts and discuss pros and cons.

New Movie Releases: We'll be talking about the following movies being released today that you should look for checking out at your library including "47 Meters Down: Uncaged," "Good Boys," and "The Angry Birds Movie 2."

News Stories Featuring Libraries: Hear our coverage on a Florida County that tried to cancel a subscription to the New York Times for their library; a mother that could face 93 days in jail for two overdue books; the positive change for the Fort Worth Public Library system now that it's expanded hours and eliminated fines.