The Book Drop

This week on The Book Drop, we’re taking a year-in-review look at book trends, favorite reads, and what we think is coming next. We’re joined by Carl Erickson from The Bookworm and Shelby Janke from the Papillion Public Library as we break down the standout literary trends of the past year, share our favorite reads.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast.

Happening at the Library: 

Puzzle Competition | Saturday, Jan. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch | Registration required

Share and Solve: Genealogy Discussion Group | Wednesday, Jan. 7, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Genealogy and Local History Room | Registration required

Calm and Centered: Practices for Stress Relief and Resilience | Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch | Registration required

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.

Join the conversation for the next episode! Tell us “What’s on the top of your TBR (to be read) list for 2026?" Share your answers by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week on The Book Drop, we’re talking about books that fit AND EVEN stretch the final reading challenge theme of the year to read a book in the cozy subgenre, while exploring why “cozy” means something different to every reader.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast. 

Happening at the Library:

• Paint & Sip | Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 to 4 p.m. at Saddlebrook Branch
• Our Musical Stories | Monday, Dec. 22, 6 to 7 p.m. at Willa Cather Branch
• Puzzle Competition | Friday, Dec. 26, 2 to 4 p.m. at A.V. Sorensen Branch

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.

Join the conversation for the next episode! Answer the Query of the Week “What are your life activations for 2026?” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week on The Book Drop, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the technology powering the new Central Library’s creator space and highlight how everyone from young learners to seasoned makers can bring their ideas to life!

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast. 

Happening at the Library: 

• Interactive Movie: Die Hard | Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch
• Jane Austen Tea Party | Saturday, Dec. 13, 2 to 4 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Master
  Cut & Create: Vision & Mood Boards | Wednesday, Dec. 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.

Join the conversation for the next episode! Answer the Query of the Week “How do you get cozy?” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week on The Book Drop, we take you into the world of Dungeons and Dragons with special guests who guide us, like true DMs, through the storytelling and player-driven adventure that is at the heart of the game! THIS IS THE BOOK DROP.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast.

Happening at the Library:

• The Pen and the Sword: D&D Club | Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch
• 25th Annual Teen Poetry Bash | Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch
• Calm & Centered: Practices for Stress Relief and Resilience | Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. at W. Clarke Swanson Branch

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.

Join the conversation for the next episode! Answer the Query of the Week “What do you make or create?” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week on The Book Drop’s monthly mini episode called New Title Drop, Angela and Melanie discuss their favorite picks from the past year and how we decide which books make the cut.

Check out this month's titles and place holds here or visit omahalibrary.org/podcast.

Check in with us on the first Tuesday of every month to hear about books we think you should be excited about.

This week on The Book Drop, we tackle the latest reading challenge to read a book about celebrations and explore how books help us reflect on the joy of coming together with friends, family and community for holidays, milestones and everything in between. This is The Book Drop.

Happening at the Library: Book Clubs! 

• Family Reading Club | Monday, Dec. 1, 5 to 6 p.m. at Saddlebrook Branch
• Under the Dundee Sun Book Club | Tuesday, Dec. 2, 4 to 5 p.m. at A.V. Sorensen Branch
• Elkhorn Eclectics Book Club | Thursday, Dec. 4, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch
• It’s All Relative Book Club | Monday, Dec. 08, 6 to 7 p.m. at Genealogy & Local History Room
• GenreLand Book Club | Tuesday, Dec. 09, 6 to 7 p.m. at Saddlebrook Branch
• Benson Mystery Book Club | Tuesday, Dec. 9, 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Benson Branch
• Chat N Chew Book Club | Wednesday, Dec. 10, noon to 1 p.m. at Downtown Branch
• What Are You Reading? Book Club | Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 to 7 p.m. at Millard Branch
• BookTok Banter Book Club | Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Willa Cather Branch
• Out & About Reading Party | Thursday, Dec. 11, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at The Reading Room (new locations each month)

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or at omahalibrary.org/podcast.  

Join the conversation for the next episode!

Answer the Query of the Week “Do you have a D&D character? Tell us everything” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week on The Book Drop, we’re on location at Spielbound Board Game Cafe to talk about the power of table top and board games to build community and spark storytelling! This is The Book Drop, featuring specials guests Kaleb Michaud and Ali Thariani.

Happening at the Library

• Stories After Dark: Found Family | Friday, Nov. 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch
• Bookbinding Workshop: Pamphlet Stitch Binding | Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at Downtown Branch
• Omaha Public Library is hiring: https://go.cityofomaha.org/3150
• Opening day for OPL’s new Central Library is Sunday, April 19, 2026! 
• Use OPL's temporary catalog while our behind-the-scenes software upgrade continues. The MyOPL app and the main website login are temporarily unavailable.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found below!  

• Link: Omaha World-Herald Article from 2012 about Kaleb Michaud via OPL's Newsbank resource
• “Around the World in Eighty Games: From Tarot to Tic-tac-toe, Catan to Snakes and Ladders, a Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the World's Greatest Games” by Marcus du Sautoy
• “It's All a Game: the History of Board Games From Monopoly to Settlers of Catan” by Tristan Donovan
• “Across the Board: How Games Make Us Human” by Tim Clare
• “Your Move: What Board Games Teach Us About Life” by Joan Moriarity
• “Storytelling in the Modern Board Game: Narrative Trends From the Late 1960s to Today” by Marco Arnaudo

Join the conversation for the next episode!
Answer the Query of the Week “Do you have a tradition or something you always do when you're in a celebratory mood?” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

This week, we talk with Nebraska Library Commission's Tessa Timperley, and local author, Tosca Lee.

Happening at the Library

• Imagine, Write, Explore! with Danielle Herzog | Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Benson Branch
• Repujado Art Workshop | Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 2 p.m. at South Omaha Library
• It’s All Relative Book Club Monday | Nov. 10, 6 to 7 p.m. at Genealogy & Local History Room

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found below!  
“The Book With No Pictures” and “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” by B.J. Novak

Nebraska Celebration of Books on Nov. 15 

Nebraska Center for the Book: centerforthebook.nebraska.gov 

Nebraska Celebration of Books: bookfestival.nebraska.gov/2025/index.aspx 

One book One Nebraska: onebook.nebraska.gov/2025/index.aspx 

Tosca Lee: toscalee.com

“The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific” by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee

Tosca’s Book Recs

“K-Jane” by Lydia Kang

“Where He Left Me” by Nicole Baart

“Circle of Days” by Ken Follett 

“The Egypt Game” by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

“Midnight Creed” by Alex Kava

“Parents Weekend” by Alex Finlay

Tessa’s Book Recs

“That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You” by Elyse Myers

The English Patient” by Michael Ondaatje

Amy’s Book Recs

“Ted Kooser: More Than A Local Wonder” by Carla Ketner  

“The Antidote” by Karen Russell

“Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky” by Joel Sartore

“North Woods” by Daniel Mason

“Gumbo Life Tales From the Roux Bayou” by Ken Wells

“The Bookshop: a History of the American Bookstore” by 
Evan Friss 

“Night Watch” by Jayne Anne Phillips

Query of the Week Responses

The Big Short movie

“The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine” by Michael Lewis

“Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed” by Maureen Callahan

“Everything Is Tuberculosis: the History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection” by John Green

“Death March: The Survivors of Bataan” by Donald Knox

Join the conversation for the next episode!
Answer the Query of the Week “What’s your favorite board game?” by email at [email protected] or DM on social media!

On the latest episode of the new title drop, Angela and Melanie preview what's coming out in November and December.

Check out this month's titles here or visit omahalibrary.org/podcasts.

Check in with us on the first Tuesday of every month to hear about books we think you should be excited about.

This week on The Book Drop, our conversation takes us to the past and connects us to the present as we highlight Family History Month with one of our genealogy and local history librarians! This one’s for the history buffs and family researchers.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast.

Happening at the Library:
Writers Workshop: Food Writing | Monday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at W. Clarke Swanson Branch

Share and Solve: Genealogy Discussion Group | Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 5:30 to 7p.m. at Genealogy and Local History Room
 
Lotus Lantern Craft Workshop | Thursday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Genealogy and Local History Room  

 Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.