Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with James Yang, author and illustrator of The Universe, Big and Small: A Story About Carl Sagan, about his creative process, the influence of libraries and picture books on his career, working with creative people in his family and later at his publisher, and the picture book illustrators who inspired him. And in The Circ Desk segment, April Mazza and Zach Woods from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to James’s book. Read ...
Jul 24, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Sherry Thomas, author of The Librarians, about her love for libraries, learning English from reading books, her Lady Sherlock series, and her writing process, especially for her first contemporary mystery novel. And in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and from April Mazza from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Sherry’s book. Read the transcript! Murder disrupts the routine for four quirky libra...
Jul 16, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Alma Katsu, author of Fiend, about her experiences with libraries, her career in intelligence, the evolving nature of the horror genre, and artificial intelligence. And in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Alma’s book. Read the transcript! Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this te...
Jul 08, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Jayson Greene, author of UnWorld, about his personal experiences with libraries, the emotional and thematic underpinnings of “UnWorld,” including grief and the concept of memory, as well as the novel’s speculative exploration of AI. And in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Zack Moore from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Jayson’s book. Read the transcript! From the author of Once More We Sa...
Jul 01, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Rob Hart, author of The Medusa Protocol, the follow-up to Assassin’s Anonymous, about the importance of libraries in his life (and how he’s fought for them!), the inspiration behind his unique take on the assassin genre, his creative process, and much more! Following the interview, in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Rob’s book. Read the tr...
Jun 24, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Alison McGhee, author of Weird Sad and Silent , about her childhood experiences with libraries, themes like childhood trauma, resilience, and the importance of being seen, and the real life inspiration for the librarian character in the book! And in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Lindsey Dunn from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Alison’s book. Read the transcript! In this touching novel...
Jun 17, 2025
Continuing the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Melanie Sweeney, author of Where You’re Planted , about her experiences with libraries through her life, the inspiration behind Where You’re Planted , her writing process, and how she incorporates intimate scenes with character arcs. And in The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Melanie’s book. Read the transcript! From the author of the “phenome...
Jun 10, 2025
In this kick-off to the 2025 Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Jessie Rosen, author of All the Signs , about the inspiration behind her book, her writing process, personal discovery in her narrative, and how much she believes in astrology! In the return of The Circ Desk segment, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList offer reading recommendations related to Jessie’s book. Read the transcript! Leah Lockhart is more than her astrology. She’ll search the world to p...
Jun 03, 2025
In this episode, Steve chats with Bobbi Newman, editor of Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers , about her path to librarianship, the importance of fostering a wellbeing-centric culture in libraries, and topics including vocational awe, emotional and invisible labor, the key role of communication, recognition and appreciation, addressing loneliness, fostering trust and connection, and tackling burnout and moral injury. Read the transcript! From this essential guide, manag...
May 19, 2025
Steve chats with Terry Baxter and Libby Coyner-Tsosie, authors of Stories on Skin: A Librarian’s Guide to Tattoos as Personal Archives, about the cultural and historical significance of tattoos, how body art intersects with themes like gender, queerness, and community memory, and broader topics related to archival practices, community engagement, and the evolving nature of libraries and archives in preserving diverse lived experiences. Read the transcript! Tattoos are not merely decorative; they...
May 01, 2025
Steve chats with Jason Tyrrell, Executive Vice President, Content at OverDrive, about Jason’s personal experiences with libraries, his journey to Kanopy and then to Overdrive, the impact of streaming services on libraries, and future applications of AI to enhance library services while ensuring data privacy. Read the transcript! Jason Tyrrell is the executive vice president of content at OverDrive, the leading digital media distributor for libraries, schools, and corporations. He oversees the gr...
Apr 14, 2025
Steve chats with C. J. Box, author of BATTLE MOUNTAIN, the 25th novel in the Joe Pickett series, about how the story picks up from the previous book in the series, Nate Romanowski’s journey of revenge, how the story mirrors real-world suspicions about the government, and what’s next for the Joe Pickett series. And stick around for The Circ Desk, where Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and NoveList librarian Yaika Sabat provide readers’ advisory suggestions for fans of C.J. Box, highlighting simila...
Mar 25, 2025
Steve chats with Lindsay Cronk and Maria McCauley, the 2025 candidates for President of the American Library Association, about how they got started in librarianship, their visions of leadership, why they wanted to run for ALA President, digital equity and advocacy, and who inspires them. Read the transcript! Lindsay Cronk currently serves as a member of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. She’s a member of the Core Five-Year Fundraising Team and served as 2021–2022 president of Core. She...
Mar 11, 2025
Steve chats with Allen Eskens, author of The Quiet Librarian , about Eskens’ personal experiences with libraries, his journey into becoming an author, a deep dive into the inspiration and research behind his new novel, the Bosnian War, and Eskens’ writing process. Plus, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from NoveList return to The Circ Desk to offer insightful read-alikes for The Quiet Librarian ! Read the transcript! Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wa...
Mar 03, 2025
Steve chats with Stacy Brown, Director of Innovation and Professional Learning at The Davis Academy and author of Revolutionize Youth Book Clubs, about her extensive experience overseeing library and technology programs, how and why she established numerous book clubs for students, parents, and faculty, and her advice on creating successful book clubs, including how to engage reluctant readers. Read the transcript! Learn to facilitate modern book clubs devoted to elevating the reading experience...
Feb 13, 2025
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with guests Elizabeth Kamper, Gail Porter, and Hunter Dunlap about the ongoing challenges faced by higher education in Illinois due to decades of underfunding, including the devastating impact on librarian positions, particularly at Western Illinois University, which recently eliminated all its faculty librarian roles. Read the transcript! Elizabeth Kamper has been teaching information literacy in libraries for 10 years and received their MSLIS from the University o...
Jan 27, 2025
Steve chats with Billey Albina, Elizabeth Nelson, and Rebecca Uhl, editors of Inclusive Cataloging: Histories, Context, and Reparative Approaches about their journeys into librarianship, the importance of inclusive cataloging, and how to implement inclusive practices even in small libraries. Read the transcript! Filling a gap in the literature, this volume provides librarians and catalogers with practical approaches to reparative cataloging as well as a broader understanding of the topic and its...
Jan 08, 2025
Steve chats with Eliza Evans, author of The Christmas Cookie Wars , about Evans’s experiences with libraries, her inspiration for the book, the influence of her journalism background on her writing, and her process of getting into the Christmas spirit during non-holiday seasons. And Rebecca and Yaika return to The Circ Desk with recommendations for similar holiday-themed reads! Read the transcript! Eliza Evans pens heartwarming holiday rom-coms. When not writing, Evans can be found teaching Pila...
Dec 09, 2024
Steve chats with Sandra Hirsh, editor of Library 2035: Imagining the Next Generation of Libraries , about her journey into the field of librarianship, insights into the critical role libraries will play in the coming years, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and why she retains an optimistic outlook on libraries despite the challenges they face. Read the transcript! Building on the success and impact of Library 2020: Today’s Leading Visionaries Describe Tomorrow’s Library by Joseph Janes, Libr...
Nov 19, 2024
Steve chats with Melissa A. Wong and Laura Saunders, authors of Reference and Information Services: An Introduction , about their paths to librarianship, how they approached writing and editing a textbook, the evolving role of reference librarians in the face of changing technologies and societal issues, and the practical applications of the book in LIS education, including their own classrooms. Read the transcript! Written as a textbook for LIS students taking reference courses, this fully upda...
Nov 09, 2024
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Nora Wiltse, school librarian at Chicago Public Schools, about the current state of librarians in Chicago Public Schools, the impactful role that librarians play in education, her involvement with the Chicago Teachers Union’s efforts in advocating for better resources and support for schools, including through collective bargaining, and CTU’s broader social justice initiatives. Read the transcript! Nora Wiltse has been a school librarian with Chicago Public Sch...
Oct 01, 2024
Steve chats with Madeline Martin, author of The Booklover’s Library, about the inspiration and research behind her latest novel, set in a unique library during World War II, and the emotional ties between the characters and books. Later, Rebecca Vnuk from Library Reads and Yaika Sabat from Novelist return to the Circ Desk to recommend read-alikes for book-themed novels, highlighting the enduring appeal of stories about books and libraries. Read the transcript! Madeline Martin is a New York Times...
Sep 17, 2024
Steve chats with Amanda Jones, school librarian and author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America , about her path to librarianship, her harrowing experience after speaking out against censorship at a public library board meeting and the aftermath, and her determination to stand up for what’s right. Read the transcript! Amanda Jones has been an educator for 22 years and is the President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians. She was the 2021 School Library Journ...
Aug 27, 2024
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Wayne Bivens-Tatum, author of Libraries and the Enlightenment and Virtue Information Literacy , about the concept of “information anarchy,” the relevance of cultivating intellectual virtues like open-mindedness, intellectual humility, and epistemic justice to thrive in today’s complex information landscape, and integrating virtue ethics and Buddhist mindfulness practices to improve information literacy and ultimately achieve a well-lived life. Read the transcri...
Aug 13, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Brian Freeman, author of THE BOURNE SHADOW and four previous Bourne novels, about his early experiences with libraries, the impact of Ludlum’s work on his work, and how he aims to modernize Jason Bourne while staying true to the original character. And in our final visit (for now!) to The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika chat about Freeman’s work, page-to-screen adaptations, and cinematic novels! Read the transcript! It’s been over a decade...
Aug 06, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with librarian Eva Jurczyk, author of That Night in the Library, about her unique journey from a bibliographer’s kid to a renowned author, the inspiration behind her gripping mystery novels, and the intersection of librarianship and fiction writing. Over on The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika discuss dark academia, locked room mysteries, and their read-alikes for That Night in the Library! Read the transcript! Eva Jurczyk was born in a mining t...
Jul 30, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Gwenda Bond about her career journey, her fascination with heist stories, her experiences with licensed content, including writing for Lois Lane and Stranger Things, her approach to magic in storytelling, and the vibrant writing community she’s fostering in Lexington, Kentucky. And on The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika find interesting read-alikes for the Frame-Up and discuss new exciting new subgenre of romantasy! Read the transcript! Gw...
Jul 23, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Andy Runton, creator of the graphic novel series Owly, about how libraries influenced his work and life, the origins of Owly, the process of converting the series from black and white to color, and advice for educators and librarians on how to use Owly in their teaching. And on The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika discuss graphic novels and why Library Reads solely focuses on titles for adults. Read the transcript! Andy Runton has always lo...
Jul 16, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with Jessie Rosen, author of the new book, The Heirloom, about the profound impact libraries have had on her life, the inspiration behind her novel, and how her personal experiences and superstitions shaped her writing. At the Circ Desk Rebecca and Yaika discuss how “women’s fiction” has morphed from “chick lit” to “relationship fiction.” Read the transcript! Jessie Rosen got her start with the award-winning blog 20-Nothings and has sold ori...
Jul 09, 2024
As part of the Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Constitutionally, about his fascinating, immersive journey of living strictly by the U. S. Constitution, delve into the contrasts between originalism and living constitutionalism, and provides insightful commentary on how the founding document shapes modern-day America. And on The Circ Desk, Rebecca and Yaika talk about the readers’ advisory challenges for non-fiction titles! Read the transcrip...
Jul 02, 2024
