On this episode, Pauline sits down with Brian Bannon, Chief Librarian of New York City (yes, he oversees 88 branches across all five boroughs) for a fascinating look at how libraries are being reinvented - and why they may be more important today than ever.

Together, they unpack the library as today’s ultimate “third space”: part community hub, part cultural institution, part digital lifeline. Brian shares how great branches are designed not just to function well, but to feel welcoming and how collections are curated to reflect both cultural conversation and what readers genuinely devour, from romance and fantasy to literary fiction.

They also dive into one of the most timely debates in modern reading: audiobooks. Brian explains why listening to a book isn’t “cheating,” how neuroscience supports reading with our ears (and even our fingers, through braille), and why audio may be key to rebuilding a culture of deep reading in an otherwise distracted world.

Plus: the “Amazon effect,” the rise of BookTok and book influencers, surprising things libraries lend beyond books, and a forward-looking case for why libraries remain one of the last free, public spaces built for learning, creativity, and real human connection.