Check It Out

Check It Out host Mari McKeeth examines Normal Public Library's science fiction offerings with Kristi Cates, our Teen Librarian and resident SciFi reader and advisor. She also buys all of our SciFi, by the way! Pretty cool job, huh? Titles that our host and guest discuss include: All Systems Red by Martha Wells Space Opera by Catherynne Valente The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill Lock In and Head On by John Scalzi An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Let us know what you think! Email us! Tweet at us!

Check It Out host Mari McKeeth examines Normal Public Library music offerings with four guests: Amy, Kristi, Cedric, and John. John talks folk and trombones, Kristi talks some film, and more! Tim Burton soundtracks? You'll find out all this, about Make Music at Normal Public Library (June 22-23), and what Mari likes in music when you Check It Out with Mari!

Check It Out host Mari McKeeth takes time out to speak with Children's Librarian Lyndsey Carney as she discusses reading and visiting with Margaret Peterson Haddix coming up soon on April 28, 2018. Our visiting author series is sponsored by the Normal Public Library Foundation and other wonderful local sponsors.

Ben Mills recommends a cookbook full of year-round farm-fresh recipes (11:12); Silvia Schuh talks October and November arts and crafts (7:57); and Mari McKeeth recommends some epistolary novels, with the help of the host (19:07). Ben recommends: Dishing Up the Dirt by Andrea Bemis Mari recommends: Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn World War Z by Max Brooks The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Giliad by Marilynne Robinson Jared recommends: Possession by A.S. Byatt   Let us know what you think! Email: ask@normalpl.org Twitter: @NPLTweets

In this episode, Tori Lieggi introduces us to a unique and quirky travel book (9:31), and Kristi Cates recommends a stack of young adult historical fiction (17:16). Plus, we interview visiting antique and fine art appraiser Mark Moran (11:17). Mark Moran's website is here. Tori recommends: Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foehr, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton Kristi recommends: The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee   Email us! Tweet at us!  

In this back-to-school-themed episode, Laura Rocco gives us one last school-themed recommendation before heading back to school herself (17:43); Silvia Schuh ushers in the fall semester with September arts and crafts (6:51); and Mari McKeeth takes us all to school with some quirky and educational nonfiction (15:10). Laura recommends: The Magicians by Lev Grossman Mari recommends: Away With Words by Joe Berkowitz The Not-Quite States of America by Doug Mack The Physics of Everyday Things by James Kakalios How to Hygge by Signe Johansen The Photo Ark by Joel Sartore  Register for Mark Moran's What's It Worth? session by calling NPL on the old-fashioned (but classic!) telephone at (309) 452-1757 (registration opens on August 30th). Email Mark to schedule a private session at moranm1953@gmail.com. (A portion of his fee benefits NPL.) Email us! ask@normalpl.org Tweet at us on Twitter! @NPLTweets  

In this, our thirtieth episode, Kathleen Kirk recommends an especially literary cookbook (7:29); Ally Byerly puts out the call for submissions to our Normal Library Extraordinary Stories project (6:11); and Kristi Cates sorts some YA novels into their appropriate wizarding houses (23:20). Kathleen recommends: Feast: Poetry and Recipes for a Full Seating at Dinner, edited by Diane Goettel and Anneli Matheson Kristi recommends: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart Graceling by Kristin Cashore Have an NPL memory you'd like to share? Normal Library Extraordinary Stories wants to hear from you! Have a podcast-related opinion? Hit us up! Email: ask@normalpl.org Twitter: @NPLTweets  

In this episode, Kathleen Kirk previews a very special visiting poets event (11:31), and Mari McKeeth recommends a pile of novels based on the works of Shakespeare (14:57). Plus, we reveal the name of the new recurring cookbook segment (spoiler alert: it's a really geeky librarian in-joke). Kathleen recommends: http://www.vianegativa.us/ Night Willow and Ode to the Heart Smaller than a Pencil Eraser by Luisa A. Gloria Jared recommends: The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Mari recommends: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley Fool by Christopher Moore From the Hogarth Shakespeare Project: The Gap of Time by Jeannette Winterson Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood New Boy by Tracy Chevalier Email! ask@normalpl.org Twitter! @NPLTweets  

In this episode, Silvia Schuh talks summer arts, crafts, and events (11:29); Laura Rocco recommends a cookbook in an as-yet-unnamed recurring segment (9:12); and Kristi Cates recommends some books she loves that are great for Teen Summer Reading (19:03).   Sign up for Summer Reading! Check out the library's activity calendar!   Laura recommends: Will It Waffle? by Daniel Shumski   Kristi recommends: You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner Exo by Fonda Lee The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer A Face Like Glass by Francis Harding   Have an idea for a great name for our recurring cookbook segment? Tell us via email (ask@normalpl.org) or Twitter (@NPLTweets). Thanks!  

In this episode, Laura Rocco recommends a classic narrative that blends fiction and nonfiction (9:52); Kristi Cates gives us the rundown of the library's summer programs for teens (15:06); and Mari McKeeth talks about some 2016 books that won Major Awards (15:30).  Laura recommends: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien Some of Kristi's Summer Programs For Teens™: Teen Summer Reading (and all the Summer Reading) Teen Maker Wednesdays Mari recommends: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Evicted by Matthew Desmond Lab Girl by Hope Jahron A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny   Email us, please! ask@normapl.org Tweet at us, pretty please! @NPLTweets  

In this Check It Out podcast extra, Kristi Cates recommends a murder-and-mayhem themed nonfiction book about forensic science for teens. Kristi recommends: Blood, Bullets, and Bones by Bridget Heos  

In this episode, Silvia Schuh talks May arts and crafts (7:41); Julia Cozad-Callighan explains the library's Lunchtime Yoga program (2:49); and Kristi Cates recommends some YA novels full of murder and mayhem (18:14). Please fill out our survey! It's anonymous and it will only take a couple minutes. Promise. Kristi recommends:  Fake ID by Lamar Giles White Cat by Holly Black The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni Tell us what you think! Complete our short survey, email us at ask@normalpl.org, or tweet us @NPLTweets!    

In this podcast extra, Rashod Taylor talks in more detail about the wet plate collodion technique. If you haven't already, be sure to listen to Episode 25, found in your podcast feed or available on our website at normalpl.org/podcast. You can find Rashod's work here: rashodtaylor.com Email us and tell us what you think!    

In this special episode, Bloomington-Normal artist Rashod Taylor talks about his work as a photographer specializing in the wet plate collodion process. Taylor's work is on display at the Normal Public Library through July 2017. An artist reception will be held on April 7th, 2017 from 4:30 to 6:30 in the gallery. Be sure to check out the bonus extended discussion of Taylor's technique, released as a podcast extra in your feed or available on our website at normalpl.org/podcast. You can find Rashod's work here: rashodtaylor.com Email us and tell us what you think!

Please take our survey! It'll take less than five minutes! Check It Out Listener Survey In this episode, Julia Cozad-Callaghan gives us an update on her Read Harder 2017 reading challenge (12:26); Silvia Schuh updates us on March and April crafts, and puts out a call for some charitable knitting (9:07); and Mari McKeeth talks 2017 Oscar Nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay (22:05). Plus, we ask for your feedback! Julia recommends: The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess by Jeremy Whitley Mari recommends: Arrival: screenplay by Eric Heisserer, based on “Story of Your Life” in Stories of Your Life by Ted Chiang Fences: screenplay by August Wilson, based on his play Fences Hidden Figures: screenplay by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi, based on Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly Lion: screenpl

In this very special episode, we present a two part interview with local author and educator Scott William Foley. First, Scott recommends a novel that blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction (11:41); and then he talks about the rewards and pitfalls of balancing the roles of working writer, high school English teacher, and family man (23:03). Some books Scott talks about: Moonglow by Michael Chabon The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon Andropia by Scott William Foley Scott's website is scottwilliamfoley.com.   Email us! ask@normalpl.org Tweet us! @NPLTweets Thanks for listening!

tIn this episode, Tori Lieggi recommends a memoir that comes to terms with family and mental illness with sharp wit and a lot of heart (8:02); Silvia Schuh gives us the lowdown on February (and some March) arts and crafts (6:43); and Kristi Cates recommends a handful of books for teens and adults that serve as funny diversions during the doldrums of February (14:55). Plus, we invite young writers to the Teen Writer's Workshop.   Tori recommends: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Silvia recommends: Brainfuse Help Now Brainfuse Job Now Kristi recommends: No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman Going Bovine by Libba Bray  Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern Nimona by Noelle Stevenson   As always, we'd love to hear from you! Email us: ask@normalpl.org Twit us: @NPLTweets