Storytelling is an artform. Here’s a story as told by Assistant Circulation Supervisor, Sandra.

The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach celebrates National Library Week (April 4-10, 2021) for an entire month with Fine Forgiveness! In this minisode, Reference Librarian Emily and Circulation/Technical Services Manager Theresa share the news of the four-week amnesty period and going fine free. 

Sophie and Kristine discuss what they've been reading lately (Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko and Rebel by Beverly Jenkins respectively), Emily shares information about programs like Get That Job Workshop that can help jump start your career, Sarah recommends the Brown Sister Series by Talia Hibbert, Faith talks with Sophie about Sweethearts Book Club and the romance genre with its "beautiful love stories between people that highlight different perspectives and lived experiences," and kids Kalil and Jada share their coding projects about the lives of Mae Jemison and Harriet Tubman from Tech Lab Celebrates Black History Month. 

In this episode, Kristine and Sophie discuss shifting roles as youth services librarians and how they stayed occupied in a socially distanced world. In the What’s New segment, Emily shares the Winter Reading Program keeping readers of all ages motivated virtually via Beanstack. Children’s Librarian Jeanne talks about how she leveraged technology to make storytime virtual and discusses details of creating Grab and Go kits for children. Circulation assistant Leah shares how patrons responded to walk-up pickup service after the library closed due to the pandemic. And Kate, a regular patron for at least 7 years, lets us know how librarians and resources offered by the library helped to create and inspire an engaging curriculum for her homeschooled family of four. Did you discover new hobbies or revisit old ones in 2020? Pages Javontae and Wendy play 2020 bingo and talk about the impression that the year made on them.

Libraries are innovative places that help people at any stage of life reach their goals and realize their dreams. While 2020 was a unique year, libraries have always been creatively pivoting and asking how we can continue to be the heart of the community. Let us know how we supported you in 2020 and give us ideas on how the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach can support you in 2021 and beyond, by reach out to the Voices from the Stacks podcast team at [email protected]. 

The hashtag “#LibrariesRespond” was started by the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services. Its purpose: to create a space for libraries “to help keep current events in conversation with libraries' ongoing work in and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.”

In solidarity with this ongoing conversation and our communities’ stand against racism, this episode of Voices From the Stacks, features conversations with staff about race, injustice, and issues that affect the daily lives of BIPOC. And this is a library podcast; you know we’ll talk about our diverse collection and our programs that strive to inspire understanding and community healing too. 

Visit wpbcitylibrary.org to check out “#LibrariesRespond: A Black Lives Matter Reading List” on our Notes from the Stacks blog

A list of all materials recommended on this episode and transcripts are available on the Voices from the Stacks website.

This episode is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Music Used in this Episode:

Last week we covered our favorite movies and TV shows. Today, our library staff are sharing what they're reading. (Makes sense for a library podcast, right?)

You asked and we're telling. In this episode, our staff shares our favorite movies and television shows to watch.  

Join us Thursdays on Instagram and Facebook stories to ask us anything live. 

Stay tuned to hear what we're reading in our next episode!  

In this miniepisode of Voices from the Stacks, meet technical services staff Claudia and Ionnie. Claudia discusses how the library is practicing shipment distancing and putting newly delivered books in quarantine while Ionnie discusses her favorite books of last year and shares what she's reading right now. 

Our library, like most libraries in the United States and all libraries in South Florida, is currently closed to help prevent the spread of the pandemic known as the Coronavirus – or COVID-19. We will continue to offer virtual services – references services via telephone and access to downloadable ebooks, e-audiobooks, and downloadable movies and music. 

Reference Librarian, Emily, announces the library's new blog "Notes from the Stacks"and recommends "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer.

Stay tuned for mini-episodes where we'll be sharing what's new and our recommendations on what to read now!

The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach reaches out to inspire, inform, and create a delightful quality of life. Let's get expansive and make some soundwaves. Haven’t you heard? Libraries aren’t that quiet anymore.

Voices from the Stacks empowers library users by sharing their stories. In this podcast, you’ll meet and get to know our staff and our community members and maybe even find your next great read. 

In our very first episode Teen Librarian, Sophie, and Associate Librarian, Amris, go into the digital recording studio to talk about how libraries made an impact on their lives and helped them become lifelong readers. They also discuss their reading goals last year. Hispanic Outreach Librarian, Tara, talks with technology librarian Stephen about his goal of reading the top 100 books as chosen by viewers of PBS's The Great American Read. Stephen found that audio books were helpful while commuting to work and caring for a newborn at home. Tara also speaks to volunteer Sister Vivian who helped to facilitate the Community ID of the Palm Beaches ID Drive which provides a reliable form of ID useful for law enforcement, health centers, schools, businesses, and more. Sister Vivian discusses her reading habits, her book club, and how she loves to come to the library to smell the books.  Reference Librarian, Emily, speaks with participants of Millennials Ruin a Book Club who talked about how joining the book club helped to expand their reading horizons. Reference Librarian, Bethany, then invites listeners to join the book club.  

Children's Librarian, Kristine, was the host and editor for this episode. 

Music by Ketsa.