Check It Out

Mari talks travel on this episode. Hear from Laura, Jane, and Kristi about all things nonfiction and fiction related to making that journey—sometimes of the mind, the heart, and often around the bend. Leave the driving to us. Sit back and check it out!

Mari speaks with Ally, Jennifer, Ron, and Laura about their summer reads and shares some insights about what makes it all so summer-like. So sit back, press play, chill down, and Check It Out.

Our podcast host Mari McKeeth interviews Kathleen Kirk about quarantine reads and electronic formats. Kathleen Kirk is a library staff member, actor, poet, and avid reader.

In this special episode of Check It Out! Mari and guests Jane, Kristi, and Laura talk about pandemic reads and comfort reads to stimulate the mind. Sit back, stay safe, and Check It Out! Contact us about our podcast and let us know what you think! ask@normalpl.org    

In this special episode of Check It Out! Mari and guests Jane, Kristi, and Laura talk about free resources for use at home while sheltering in place. Sit back, stay home, and Check It Out!

It's bracket time! Four Normal Public Library librarians share their bracket picks for best book and the finish is an all out book-off! March madness with book bracketology.

This episode includes Mari and Laura discussing Academy Awards and related titles, an annual episode topic. Books discussed: "I Heard You Paint Houses": Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran and Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa -- by Charles Brandt Little Women -- by Louisa May Alcott The Pope: Francis, Benedict, and the Decision That Shook the World -- by Anthony McCarten Caging Skies -- by Christine Leunens

Best of the year, best of the decade with Mari, Laura, and Kristi.

Winter is a time that features holidays celebrated around the world -- Hannukah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Los Posadas, Eid-al-Adha, Diwali, and many, many more. There is celebrating of the light, friends, culture, feasting, and giving to others. Today Kristi, Laura, Rachel and Mari will be talking about some favorite gifts - books, music, or film - that they have received, or given. Let us know what you think after you check it out! Email us!

Welcome to our fiftieth episode of Check It Out! We celebrate Normal Public Library and our favorite, favorite reads with several staff visiting back to the studio.

Our 49th episode may chill you to the bone. Please join our co-hosts Kristi Cates and Mari McKeeth talk with Laura Golaszewski about some of the most frightening title available on our shelves. It's an episode of horrors to fill you with fear. This episode has a listener advisory at the top, so please be aware that some material discusses sensitive topics. Your discretion is advised. Pull the covers over your eyes, bite your lower lip, and check it out... if you dare.   Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm by William Bass A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller Where the Woods End by Charlotte Salter  A Taste for Monsters by Matthew J. Kirby Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff   Music in this episode... Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/   Let us know what you think after you check it out! Email us! Tweet at us!

Check It Out is the Normal Public Library’s podcast that features book, audio, and movie recommendations, timely info about the library’s programs and services, and fun discussions with talented people. Listen to individual episodes below, or subscribe in iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts to download the latest episode automatically!   We don't know how you did. But you did it. You found our 48th episode, the mystery episode. Co-hosts extraordinaire Kristi Cates and Mari McKeeth talk about all of their favorite mysteries this time of year. It's an episode for the mystery seeker and you don't want to miss it. So grab a magnifying glass and a deerstalker hat, settle back and Check It Out!    Every Little Thing — Laura Lippman The Lady in the Lake — Laura Lippman Wolf Pack — CJ Box Bitterroots — CJ Box The Dry — Jane Harper Force of Nature — Jane Harper Lost Man — Jane Harper Black Ascot — Charles Todd Cruel Deception (out in October 2019) — Charles Todd American Agent — Jacqueline Winspear One of Us is

It's our 47th episode! Co-host Kristi Cates and Jane Jankowski talk about all of their favorite podcasts and books about podcasts. It's an episode for the podcast lover and you don't want to miss it. So settle back and Check It Out!

Summertime, the living is easy, the reading is beachy. Quite often the beachy reading choices are fiction. However, Mari McKeeth and Laura Golaszewski will recommend some fascinating nonfiction books to read during the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Don't be afraid—nonfiction is great! Daily Rituals of Women at Work: 143 Artists on How They Paint, Write, Perform... by Mason Currey Fashion Climbing: A Memoir with Photographs by Bill Cunningham Vivian Maier: A Photographer's Life and Afterlife by Pamela Bannos Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth

June: a month of reading in the sun. It's time for Episode Forty-Five of Check It Out and your hosts Mari McKeeth and Kristi Cates join Children's Librarian Jennifer Williams as she reviews and recommends some of her favorites of new and interesting for teens and tweens. Summer reading means adventure, treasure, romance, and mystery. Click play and Check It Out!

Wow. Is it already time for Episode Forty-Four?  Yes it is, and joining us today are NPL staff members Laura Golaszewski and Julia Cozad-Callighan, here to tell you about some of the newest nonfiction and young adult titles. We also highlight a local event, the Next to Normal Story Slam. Books mentioned in this episode: In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum The Moth Presents Occasional Magic: True Stories about Defying the Impossible, edited by Catherine Burns Enchantée by Gita Trelease Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Congratulations! You have found Episode Forty-Three of the Normal Public Library podcast, Check It Out! Mari McKeeth welcomes children's librarian Lyndsey Carney to the show as Lyndsey interviews visiting author Lisa McMann. Lyndsey and Lisa talk books, art, acting, and British baking shows! Events with Lisa coming up at the library include:  Double Identity: A Night of Discovery featuring Lisa McMann Unwanteds Going Wild Let us know what you think after you check it out! Email us! Tweet at us!

Are you looking for Episode Forty-Two? It's here! Co-hosts Kristi Cates and Mari McKeeth talk newest in teen fiction with a little insight into what we find interesting, a preview along the way (Lisa McMann), and a few laughs. We even have a book about a cactus!

Cohosts Mari and Kristi discuss all things Academy Awards in this annual round up! Check It Out!

It's our 40th episode! Co-hosts Kristi Cates and Mari McKeeth celebrate the return of Check It Out! by highlighting staff favorites from 2018. Some of our library staff have provided an eclectic list of books, music, and films—and all are available for checkout or streaming from Normal Public Library.   Some of the items discussed in this podcast: Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix On Writing by Stephen King Sweetener by Ariana Grande Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory Clock Dance by Anne Tyler The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang Juliet, Naked Broadchurch: Season 1