Episode Six
On this episode of The Nichols Library Podcast, Aisilyn and William discuss The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly, Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls, The Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olsen, and Saving Time by Jenny Odell. The two also discuss two new thrillers: Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke and One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus. Putting their history caps on for this episode, the two hosts discuss how history informs the historical fiction and nonfiction books featured in the Reader’s Rundown. This episode’s discussion highlights the Interlibrary Loan system, particularly the aspects of the system that many people may not be fully aware of. The two shine a light on how Interlibrary Loan items are ordered and processed, and they also discuss how the system improves the relationship between libraries and patrons as well as what the Nichols Library uniquely contributes to the New Hampshire Interlibrary Loan system. Towards the end, Aisilyn and William speculate on ways the system could continue to grow and better serve the people of New Hampshire!
Here is a video featuring historic photographs of the NH State Library Van
Dr. Jenna Hartel’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChqa6SRUOK9pj4o5bzzOZcQ
Episode Five
On this episode of the Nichols Library Podcast, Aisilyn and William introduce a new segment to the show called “A Minute’s Worth of News,” a bite-sized, news story from the library world that reflects major trends and developments in the field. The first edition of this segment provides an update on the dispute between the Internet Archives and several major publishers that was discussed in Episode Three. The Readers’ Rundown on this episode includes Saved by Benjamin Hall, Victory City by Salman Rushdie, Lone Women by Victor Lavelle, and Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood. All of the items featured on this episode are highly anticipated, and we feel that all of our patrons will enjoy at least one of them.
This episode’s discussion marks the end of The Nichols Library’s celebration of National Poetry Month. Aisilyn and William reflect on all things poetic including their experiences with poetry, why some people may be reluctant to read it, the power of poetry in its ability to inspire wonder, the role of Inaugural poetry in American culture, Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb,” and the contemporary renaissance of poetry as a genre!
Articles referenced in this episode
Episode Four
On this episode of The Nichols Library Podcast, Aisilyn and William discuss six of the first new arrivals at The Nichols Library for the year 2023. These books include How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham, and The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg. The level of excitement is especially high in this edition of the Readers’ Rundown as the two discuss books with genres ranging from history and science to romance and horror!
For the second part of this episode, grab your thinking cap and some brain food because this episode gets at the theoretical core of the American library! Aisilyn and William provide a glimpse into the academic work done in the library field through a discussion of Information Science/Information Studies (The “I” in a librarian’s MLIS degree). The two discuss the origins of Information Science, how it is different from Library Science, and some of the ideas, frameworks, and theories used by scholars within the field of Information Science. Most importantly Aisilyn and William discuss the importance of Information Science in the day-to-day work of librarians and library staff and how this knowledge helps them better understand their patrons.
Episode Three
This episode of The Nichols Library Podcast runs the gamut of the past, present, and future. Aisilyn and William kick off the show with a special edition of the Readers’ Rundown focused on perhaps the most popular kind of texts in libraries today – graphic novels. The two discuss the importance of graphic novels for developing readers and the unique aspects of the graphic novel as a form. The Readers’ Rundown itself highlights four important historical nonfiction graphic novels including John Lewis’s March (which will soon be in The Nichols Library collection) and Art Spiegelman’s Maus. As always, the second portion of our discussion is about the public library. In the second part of this episode, Aisilyn and William discuss the important trends, questions, technologies, and developments that are driving the future of the American public library. The talk will give you a glimpse of what the public library may look like in the coming decades… there probably will be robots!
Articles referenced in this episode
https://time.com/6108581/internet-archive-future-books/
https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-news/egfnf/libraries-are-thriving-in-the-new.html
Episode Two
In this episode, Aisilyn and William provide a new reader’s rundown and discuss six new arrivals including, Five Survive by Holly Jackson, The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacey Schiff, and The Last Chairlift by John Irving. The two then discuss the unique challenges of reading in 2023 – specifically why many of us often don’t read as much as we would like to. Yes, technology is a major factor. Aisilyn and William go over Nicholas Carr’s article “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” share their own experiences with regards to technology and reading, react to some statistics, and examine a library program that may hold the key to developing better reading habits.
Links to articles cited in the episode
21 Captivating Reading Statistics and Facts for 2022
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/
https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/learning/global-reading-challenge
Episode One
In the first episode of The Nichols Library Book Report, you’ll get to know a thing or two about the hosts, Aisilyn and William. The two provide the “Readers’ Rundown,” a segment that serves as a heads-up about recent library arrivals that they find to be especially noteworthy and important. Important books highlighted in this episode include All That She Carried by Tiya Miles and the two new novels by Cormac McCarthy. Aisilyn and William then discuss the importance of public libraries in our current times including the various services libraries provide, libraries as “social infrastructure,” how library buildings expand and renovate to meet changing needs, and how public libraries seek to provide equality in the face of various forms of inequality.
The James E. Nichols Memorial Library 