Christie Folsom works at the Chippewa River District Library. Whether you are a regular in the library or are not sure what street you'd drive down to find yours, this episode is for you. Our conversation spans early literacy and the role of libraries in the community. We end our interview with our favorite reads of 2022. We guarantee this interview will is one you'll enjoy.
Links:
Chippewa River District Library
Book Eaters
Fairy Tale
Now What
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
A World of Curiosities
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Intro Music by:
David Biedenbender
Other Music and Sounds:
Coma-Media
Music for Video
Lexin
Pixabay
Nullhertz
Audio Coffee
Find us on social media:
Instagram: cmichcese
Facebook: cmich_cese
Christie Folsom works at the Chippewa River District Library. Whether you are a regular in the library or are not sure what street you'd drive down to find yours, this episode is for you. Our conversation spans early literacy and the role of libraries in the community. We end our interview with our favorite reads of 2022. We guarantee this interview will is one you'll enjoy.
Links:
Chippewa River District Library
Book Eaters
Fairy Tale
Now What
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
A World of Curiosities
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Intro Music by:
David Biedenbender
Other Music and Sounds:
Coma-Media
Music for Video
Lexin
Pixabay
Nullhertz
Audio Coffee
Find us on social media:
Instagram: cmichcese
Facebook: cmich_cese
So before we start this episode properly, let's talk about books. I'm a book person, Julie's a book person. In fact, I'm such a book person that my family teases me because I don't remember some events and big details from get togethers in our childhood. Because I was so deeply engrossed in a book, I was the kid who was burning through books faster than my parents or my teachers could keep pace with. So getting a library card in middle school was a game changer for me. I remember getting stacks of books for summer break, and the covers would all be a bit crispy from that protective film that they put on them. And he would open them up and it would just be this smell and this experience and this excitement of a story that was about to begin. In our interview. Today, we're talking with Christie Folsom, she arguably has the job that my eight to 18 year old self, and even my adult self these days would absolutely love. She works at the library. And our conversation today spans from early literacy skills and theme kits to the role of the library in a community and how Christy's thinking about books and literacy has changed over time. It was great to geek out with Christie over a shared joy found in books. And in reading this episode. If I've been talking and you've been nodding along, you're a fellow library lover, and this episode is for you. But it's also great if you're someone who doesn't quite understand the role that libraries play in the community, especially beyond just the checkout system. If you're a person who's wondering how libraries play into a person's education, this episode is for you as well. Christy's perspective on the role of the library really expanded her now how I think of community spaces. So Christie will say more about this in detail. But libraries are one of a kind. They are a part of a community. And they're one of the few places that you can go and get things without having to give something in return. The library is free, it's open and it's staffed for long hours. It's filled with a book selection that's unique to that location. And it's for you for the community. It doesn't ask anything in return you know, when you check out books from library so you know, when you check out books from the library. So these days I do, it fits our family season, audio books from the library for me, and a bag of picture books selected by my son. But back when I was checking out books by this stack, sometimes you'd find that gentle doggy or in a hardback, and you'd know that someone else had paused at that same page that someone else in my town had read and laughed at that spot or been shocked by a plot twist. And well, I couldn't even at the time, that feeling was the spark of a connection to the people in my town to the fellow readers. librarian that recommended recommended that book for me, you know, when you enter the story library, and that connection is Christian because it fits my family season. I have audio books and the Library app for me and the back of picture books that has been selected by my son. But back when I was checking out books by the stack, sometimes you'd find a gentle doggy or and a hardback. And you'd know that someone else had paused on that same page that someone else in my town had read or laughed at that spot or been shocked by twist or had to pause because family dinner was coming. And I couldn't name that feeling at that time. That feeling was the spark of a connection to the people in my town to the librarians that recommended that book for me into the story. And that connection is something that Christie really explained so well. So I hope you appreciate the insight and joy that we found in this interview today. links that we mentioned will be in the show notes. There's also going to be a bonus section at the end of this episode that you will not want to miss.
Christie Folsom:Sure, so my name is Christy Folsom, and I am the Youth Services person here at the Chippewa River District to library which basically means I am working with the ages birth to five. For the most part. We have a whole team and that's kind of my category that I mostly work in. We also have a family programmer who does things for family ages, early elementary, middle school a little bit and then a teen person who does all of our teen programs. I'm
Julie Cunningham:Christie when you say that you're with the Chippewa River District Library. Does that mean the Mount Pleasant branch only? Or do you also oversee any of the satellite locations?
Unknown:Yes, so So the Chippewa River District Library is the whole system that includes our five branches. So the Veterans Memorial Library is our main branch here in Mount Pleasant. And then we also have branches branches in rosebush, Shepherd Blanchard and when.
Ashley O'Neil:So, have you always been with the birth to five group? Or has that been? Like, has that always been your old library? Or how did you get there?
Christie Folsom:No. So when I started off in libraries, I did. All ages, I was still doing, you know, programming mostly for kiddos, I actually started a little farther north working at a library open Claire. And there I did, you know, teens to storytime, the whole gamut of things. It was just smaller library. So we, so I did everything. And storytime was actually one of the things that I think was like, most intimidating at first, because I'd never worked with kiddos that young before. And I, it was definitely a learning process to educate myself on that age range. And, and since I've just found it, it's so amazing. I remember when I first started working there, I felt like I was just sort of like singing all these songs to myself, because we had a really young group, and, and then all of a sudden, one day, one kiddo comes in, and he starts like singing along and you. So it's a really amazing group to work with. Because they are just absorbing everything, even when you think that they're not. And then, you know, everyone's from while you get this like reward where they start showing you all of the things that they've learned. So
Ashley O'Neil:that's awesome. So what guides you when you plan your programming? I know you mentioned story hour. So do how do you pick those books? Or how does that come about for you.
Christie Folsom:So we do different themes, and try to pick themes that incorporate kind of like larger themes within the library. So like right now, the whole library is doing a whole die November kind of theme. So we've got lots of different programs, we're working with the STEM center on a couple of dyno themed programs. And so then my storytimes are also themed with that diagnosis theme. So when the kids come in, they've got a lot of reinforcement of that theme, and different activities that they can do. Throughout the library. Sometimes I pick themes based on the season. So before that, we were doing a not so spooky storytime and a fall storytime. And then more generally, I tried to pick beyond just like theme I tried to pick books that are not just age appropriate, but are going to engage the kids in kind of a group kind of activity. I like to pick books where, you know, for example, in our storytime today, we did dinosaur versus library. And we did a lot of roaring along with the dinosaur and getting the kids really involved. But I also like to pick books that would be good books for parents to read with children. So we can kinda like model that that's part of what storytime is about is building, not just building early literacy skills with the kiddos, but building like a confidence for parents who might feel like a little intimidated about the idea of one on one reading a story. So I tried to pick books that fit both a storytime niche and can be used with parents as
Julie Cunningham:well. How often does that group meet?
Christie Folsom:So we meet once a week on Thursdays at 1030. And my coworker Tina also has a she runs the storytime I plan it for her and then she runs it in Shepherd at 2pm. Every other week. We have a storytime in rosebush, on Wednesdays at 1030. And then every other Friday, we have a music and movement program, which is just all of the dancing and music that we do in storytime but put into one activity for the especially good for our wiggly kids who like to do lots of dancing and moving so
Julie Cunningham:so so basically, you probably see repeat families then once a week or repeat children. Yeah, yeah,
Christie Folsom:we do a lot. And in fact, we're we just started our music and movement back and you definitely see the first time maybe one family comes and then you definitely build a rapport where it becomes part of the family's routine and stuff.
Ashley O'Neil:That's great. So when you talk about building early literacy skills, this isn't a question I told you I was gonna ask. You sit down and you talk about like modeling or kind of sharing with adults or caregivers. This is how you could read, what are some things you like? Keep in mind. So if I was wanting to read at home with my, my child, what were some things that you kind of keep in mind are things you hope parents take back with them?
Christie Folsom:Yeah, well, some of it is just reinforcing that no matter what you do, you're doing a great thing just to pick up a book and read from the get go. It seems like super simple to us. But like a young child, just learning which way a book opens, and, like engaging with them. And flipping the pages is, like, a huge thing that that just really helpful to them. And then also just that one on one talking that you're doing with them. So not just the act of reading the book, but in like talking with them about the book, right? So if the dinosaur is going to the library, you know, maybe after you read the text of the book, you say, Oh, what do you think will happen next, or look at that dinosaur, point out what's happening in the, the images, or it can also be helpful, if there's a big piece of text, maybe it says, roll are really big on on the page, pointing that out so that over time, the kiddo can realize when you're saying the wood word, roar, that's actually written there on the page, and they can start to identify that. So the biggest, I would say, the biggest thing is like you are, you're already doing these things, just by how you talk to your children, and the fact that you're reading, reading to them. So there are certainly there are things that you can do to engage them further. Like some of the examples I just said, but the biggest thing is just reading to them regularly. And that one on one attention that you're giving them, they're absorbing all of that, just conversationally. So Chris,
Julie Cunningham:you just gave a lot of great examples about early literacy, education, how do you see yourself or the library or your program? How are you want to interpret this putting into the community as an educational entity,
Christie Folsom:I'm gonna butcher this quote. But I, but I know I've heard somewhere that there's that there's like, three different places that a child needs throughout their life, right. And they need, like a home environment that's welcoming, they need a school environment that's supportive. And then there's kind of these like tertiary locations, like maybe a Girl Scout troop, or a church group. And I think that that's also a space that the library fits into kind of this tertiary tertiary space that gives a child mentors that they can look up to, and just a space that they can explore outside of their regular home in school, for a lot of the kids I'm working with, I think one of the things we're doing is we're giving them a small sample of what school is like and preparing for them for that, I see a lot of kiddos who come into storytime for the first time, and they're either super shy, and don't know how to interact with other kids at all. Or they're just this bundle of energy, who and they're still learning all of that, like, sitting and listening and sharing and all of those things, which are both, like totally okay, and that's kind of what I feel like storytime is in some ways, is validation for getting all of that out. But then also overtime, kind of learning, like, oh, I can I can sit and I can listen or oh, I can interact. And I can play with this other kiddo. And just just a place to practice all those skills before they get into a classroom environment. And then I do do some programs with older kids and in the programs that my my colleagues do, I feel like part of what we're doing is just being a people in a place that is overall supporting the kids of our community beyond what they're getting in school. And I do think kids, especially today, really need that. And we saw that a bit over the pandemic, we have a couple of book clubs where I noted that the not so much, me, but the bonds that they're able to build with other kids and the reading that they're able to do outside of school reading where they can just come and geek out about a book, instead of it being like an assignment, I think was really, really a good experience. But I'd like to hope
Julie Cunningham:it was. Yeah, I hear you saying it's a safe space, right, a safe space where you can act within reason, how you want for storytime and also learn kind of what do we expect from social norms and just by watching others or interacting with others or and being around adults who care. I, this is neither here nor there really. But I think also that library gives people a little piece of ownership when you can get your own library card to write I mean I've can remember When I was a youth just been so proud to have gotten my first library card and being able to check books and make decisions to check books out by myself, I know your little kiddos aren't doing that making those decisions yet necessarily, although maybe they do point out which books they want to their parents. But I think there's also like, that's a community organization where there's some real direct ownership and, you know, autonomy,
Ashley O'Neil:I hear that in respect to what you said about just like geeking out with a book, just because there aren't a lot of places in which we don't have expectations put on each other, right? Like, even sometimes, you know, sports are fantastic for many children, but there's an expectation and an outcome or performance that kind of has to happen. And I feel like the library is one of the few places in which students can come and learn what it means have a hobby, and just to do something for the pure joy of doing it. Like we're going to read this book for the joy of reading it and talk about it for the joy of talking about it, not for grades, not for a book report, not to like advance our DRA level to the next, you know, bracket or whatever, but we're just reading it, because it's really fun. And I think that it's really wonderful that there's a place where people can come in, and you model that really well. And then they can practice or know that that's valid. Like it's okay, if I just want to come and read a book just because and if I want to burn through a whole series, and never touch a book of another genre for a while, that's also okay. So that's really great.
Christie Folsom:Yeah, absolutely. And I see that all the time. And even, even with the littlest kids, you know, we encourage anybody to get a library card. And in fact, kiddos under seven, when they sign up for a library card, get a free book for signing up. Because I do think that there is something magical about that whole experience. And, and as you said, I do think it teaches an ownership. And can we want kids to feel like they are, they are a member of the library, they they own the library in a way that I don't, right. And one thing I really like being able to do with kids is if they have a book they want and it's not on the shelf, okay, well, we're they're gonna find it from you for a different library, or maybe we'll order it for you. And like you can participate in building this community collection of books as well. So
Julie Cunningham:yeah, that's super cool. I question that actually didn't originally have on your list. When you talked about you mentioned that you have collaborated with us before with our colleague Amanda Cornwell. Right, and are doing so through the dinosaur theme. But in general, I think organizations like ours and like yours, we look for collaborations, and we know that our community organizations that are perhaps stronger, more viable, um, land more well rounded together, right. And we value those collaborations. So when you think about who you're going to collaborate with, or how you're going to collaborate, is there something that you look for from your community partnerships? Or what types of collaborations do you think about when you think about collaborating?
Christie Folsom:I think so I think we're, we're pretty open to any kind of collaboration that can be beneficial for that person. I feel like we are here to serve the community, and that includes other organizations within the community. And especially, I feel like the collaboration with you guys at the STEM Center has been one of our most successful because I do feel like we are where we have very similar goals. And we're targeting a lot of the same age range and the same kids. So being able to reinforce some of the same ideas between both places, I think, has been really beneficial. But, but we also have partnerships with other other organizations that are targeting that kid age range. Other, as I said before, kind of those tertiary after school organizations. So we have, we have a great partnership with Parks and Rec, Mount Pleasant has just an amazing Parks and Rec Department, and we've been able to do a lot of things with them. So and one of the great things about that partnership is they have access to spaces that we don't. So in the summertime, we're able to go over to the park and meet people while they're at the farmers market. And, and that's been like, a great collaboration. And that is, and I would say that that's another thing we're looking for is how can this collaboration make things easier on the community as a whole, right, so now, now parents who are already at the farmers market on Thursday, and one last stop, they have to make, you know, by coming to storytime or they're able to pick up a kit through the library and get some get a really cool free baking kit to do while they're at the farmers market. So looking for ways for things to be easier for our patrons and more accessible or maybe to introduce them to you A area of the community they didn't know about, we try to highlight sometimes businesses that are local to the community that maybe you would know about or, or we just want to support those local businesses either through sending the patrons there or giving them a gift card there, different things like that. We do also. So one of the programs that I've been pretty passionate about working on is we have a, a world language program, where we try and it started off as a program and then post COVID, it's moved into a kit form, where you get a book and a recipe based on a different language or part of the world. And the biggest thing with that is it's based on people who live here in the community, who are making all of these recommendations for us and teaching us like a little bit about the language and the stories and the food that's a part of that part of the world. So actually, right now we've got one coming up on Anishnaabe, a Merwyn, which is the language spoken Anishnaabe, a by the second Chippewa tribe here, and we've had some really great tribal members, and also a couple of native members of our staff that have helped put together that kit, we also have a kit coming up in January will be the next one, based on a storytime family. That has been really active. That is from Shanghai. So she's teaching us all about Mandarin Chinese. And since it will be the time of year for Chinese New Year, she'll be teaching us a little bit about that, we'll get to try some fun snacks that she talked about how they, when she's holding sick, these are the snacks she goes to that make her feel, you know, warm and fuzzy. So So sometimes it's not even an organization so much as just a member of our community that we can kind of highlight and point out to the community, like look at all of these cool people that we have living here in Mount Pleasant.
Julie Cunningham:That's super cool. How does one get involved.
Christie Folsom:So if you go to our website, the so I it's actually I apologize, the timing is a little off, because we're just about to send out our Anishinabeg kits. So I think that the signup is already gone for that one. But the the one for China will be coming out in probably in December. So yeah, if you just keep checking our website, that that's a program that happens every other month. Um, but we have all kinds of really cool kit programs happening too. So if you check our website, we've got bake kits, and we have this really awesome SPICE program that we've been working with green tree on the Andrea's put together where you get a spice and you get to you get a recipe, how to put that spice into something. And there's spices from all over the world. So yeah, lots of cool things, I would recommend checking our calendar,
Ashley O'Neil:I'll put a link in the show notes. Check it out. Yeah,
Julie Cunningham:selfishly, that question that I asked has turned out really well, my sources I need to check out. Excellent. Thank you. So
Ashley O'Neil:what are here a lot of really amazing programs. And if we covered this question already, that's fine. But what are you most passionate about in your position?
Christie Folsom:Um, so I would say, we have covered this a little bit, but I would say just about empowering kids, and connecting them to not just literacy but resources in general. And I do think that a library is, is just like that place where you should get to be yourself. And you should get to explore whatever your interests are. So if you are really into like manga and anime, there's something there free. You hear. We had a really awesome PR theme quite a while ago. And it was all about like, what do you geek. And I feel like that's really what libraries are about, about getting to geek out about your thing. And that being like, totally embraced and accepted no matter who you are. And what it is that there's a library in there that's going to help you like, find out more about, you know, knitting or baking or movies we have. We have a patron who comes in all the time and he just talks to us about horror movies all the time. And and we have you know, we have people on staff who are horror movie buffs who talk to them about it and help them find good horror movies to watch. So just like connecting people, with their passions, and particularly I enjoy connecting young people with the things that they're passionate about.
Julie Cunningham:Yeah, that's, that's fabulous. And I know that we're mostly referring to children at this point, but also you You know, I'll tell you when we moved to this community, and it was over 10 years ago now, but I think the library was the first place I went when I was new to the community, right? Because we're out there, you're gonna get a feel for what resources are available for what your community is like, for where you can go. I mean, for support, not just books, right. But beyond that, like supports. And so I think that was probably my first step when I moved here was, was the library and the library card. Nope. Same.
Ashley O'Neil:We just moved to Midland Blanca long ago. And we think I think before we even unpacked, had gone the library just because we rely on it for all the things that you're saying. And it really helps develop, has your thoughts on community and literacy and reading changed over time as you've been at the library?
Christie Folsom:I would say so, yes. Because I feel like I learn so much from the community. So like, I, when I first started at libraries, actually, I remember I, so I was a kid. I've always been a nerdy kind of book kid. And I was a kid who as as a teenager wanted to read like, all of the classics, right? And even ones I didn't find particularly interesting. I felt like I had to read this, right? I didn't particularly enjoy Little Women at the time. Maybe if I wouldn't have read it now. I would. But I just remember like struggling through it. And my friends being like, why are you reading, so if you don't like it. And so when I first came to libraries, I was like, a little surprised that the small town library I was working at didn't have like more classics, right? Like, we were I was working in Claire at the Pierre Marquette District Library, which is another lovely library, and beautiful building. And they have like a, they have a pretty huge collection of like Amish romances. And I remember being like, really surprised by that. But but it's really not like our place as the librarians to say, oh, there should be more classics here. Because it's about what that community wants. And that community has, like a high like Amish population. And they have a lot of community members who are not Amish, who are also interested in like learning about that, that population and reading those books. And so I remember, like one of the other librarians basically saying, like, don't be a snob. And not that I was particularly snobby, per se, but, but learning that like, it's not really about having to read anything specific, it's like about what that community needs and wants and, and that every library collection is going to be different based on that community. And it really is like this, like, almost living entity within itself, the library collection. And since moving here, I've learned so much about this community, as you guys kind of said that, when you first came to this community, you you popped into the library, and there's so much you can learn, just beyond the resources that we have, like, those are also amazing, but just like, looking around at who's in the library can learn so much about your community and the people who live in it. And that's one of the things I've come to really, like, learn about libraries and love is that they are, they are a hub for everybody. So there are a ton of places where you're going to meet, like, you're gonna have kids, and you're gonna have, you know, retired people picking out a book, and you're gonna have, you know, people from all economic backgrounds and people from all social and political backgrounds. And this is a place where they all get gets to have access to the same resources and get along with each other. And I feel like I have learned so much about that whole concept of this as a shared space where we all get along and build something together. And I've also learned so much about myself, and I think I've grown as a person in terms of the things that I read and the things that I encourage others to read. Yeah, that's great. Yeah.
Ashley O'Neil:So what are you reading right now?
Christie Folsom:So, so as I've said, I am i I'm reading lots of dinosaur dinosaur month. So today at storytime we read dinosaur versus the library by Bob Shea, which is one of my favorite dinosaur books. And then, on the complete other end of the spectrum, I also lead a crime club with some of the adults so we actually share adult programming amongst all of our staff. And so that's one of the things I do that's like really unique and separate from everything else I do. So I'm reading a book on the wine Ville chicken murders. For that, that group, it's actually it's really interesting the In the movie Changeling, with Angelina Jolie, if you familiar with that is based on this case. So it was a case where, unfortunately, some young boys ended up being murdered. And one of them as he went missing, they found a another young boy who was a runaway, who didn't want to go home. So it was like, oh, yeah, I'm that boy. And he got, like, placed with this family. And his mother was like, I don't think that you're my son. Like, I know, he's been missing for a while, but you don't look like him. And I, I know what my son is like. And so that's the case that we're working on. Right now with that. Group is just talking about that this all happened in like the 1930s. And so two very, very different books. Nice. So
Ashley O'Neil:I feel like I what you said about feeling like there were certain books that counted as literature. I feel that in my bones because I was also that teenager who was going to read Frankenstein. And I was going to read The Count of Monte Cristo, not because I like I did like them, but like, because that was the books you're supposed to read. And I remember now I like I fully enjoy Louise Penny, even though she's like a serial mystery writer and she's on her wet like 19th book, I find that I love her stories. And it's okay, that that you read what you wrote feels really good to myself. Yeah, good. I
Christie Folsom:think the older I get, the more I learned that like, like, I used to hate happy endings. Like, somehow if it ended happily, it was just not a good book somehow. And, and the unhappy endings, you you live in your real life, the more you would like a book to have a happy ending, right? So the older you get, I think the more those are, those are nice. And I also remember, some some classics that, like I remember reading The Great Gatsby. And, and I was like a sophomore in high school, and I had no idea what it felt like to be, you know, a 30 year old man in the 1920s. Like, pining for his love, like, it was just like, not a concept I had experienced in life. And so I do think that as great as some of the classics still are, it's okay to be like, This is not my thing. I'll pick this up in another 10 years, or, you know,
Ashley O'Neil:I'm helping my son write his Great Gatsby essay. And I have that same thought, I'm like, you don't have the context. I didn't have the context to fully understand this, like pining in the social structures. And it's great that he's exposed. But I did say to him, and like I bet, once you like, in a while, you'll revisit this story in your head, and it will make a different kind of sense to you, then, to your like, 16 year old brain.
Christie Folsom:Yeah. And meanwhile, I remember reading Catcher in the Rye. And I just loved that book. And I think if I read it now, I would just be like, Holden Caulfield, you're so annoying, and or, you know what I mean? Because it's, it's so much captures this feeling of, like, teenagehood. So yeah, I definitely think that, whether it's a classic or or you know, a be treat or anything else, there's definitely a time and a place where books have to catch you at the right moment. For sure,
Julie Cunningham:totally. Do you allow yourself to not finish a book? If it doesn't catch you at the moment? Or do you have to see it all the way through?
Christie Folsom:I do. I think that's, that's another thing I've learned working at libraries is just like, life is too short for a book that is not doing it for you. And, and also that, like, it's okay to skim a book, you know, I read a lot more nonfiction than I used to. And I think I'm also I'm in graduate school right now. And if I read every, if I picked up that there are so many nonfiction books that interests me, and if I picked up every one of those, and read it, like thoroughly covered a cover, I would have no time left for my graduate schoolwork, right? So I'm giving myself permission to like, skim a book, and then come back to it at a later date and still get something out of it, even if I'm not reading it cover to cover I think, yeah, believe it or not, I feel like the longer you work in libraries, you'd think it would make you more thoroughly academic minded. But I think that you actually learn to give yourself a lot more grace with stuff like that. And if you don't, you know, if you don't like the book, if you don't finish it, because you don't have time, if you just want to skim it, I think those are all very valid ways of reading
Ashley O'Neil:totally. I started using audiobooks in my time because I'm driving more and I have less time to physically hold a book, then I wish that I would and I used to say that wasn't reading but I know I totally feel like it's reading because I've consumed the same story you have and live I don't know if your library does but our library has a great online book source for ebooks and for audiobooks and that is like feeds my that feeds my hobby fully every month, which is great. What would are the resources or things that you would like people to know about the library that we haven't mentioned yet?
Christie Folsom:Yeah, well, speaking of audiobooks, I would say that that is a huge resource, and ebooks as well. So the library has to online resources that you can access different apps. So one is called Libby. And then that's the other one is called hoopla. And they're both a little different. But if you go to our website, which is C rdl.org, you can find both of them there. And both are great ways to get accesses access to books pretty instantly, whether you're reading them on a device, or you're listening to them. And I would definitely say I feel that audiobooks are another valid form of reading. I see a lot of kiddos who, you know, I think it's really important to read the books that interest you. And if because you're, you know, if you're an adult who's commuting to work, and you can't sit down and read a book, but you have an hour in the car where you can listen, or you're a kid who is struggling with reading, but if you're reading and listening along, that's gonna help you, that's like, I just think audiobooks are great for some of those things. And I would also just say, the biggest thing about the library is I run into people all of the time, and I was, as a kid, this person myself, like, you would be surprised by all of the resources that we have, and all of the things that we do. And so I think the biggest thing I want people to know about the library is just that we're here. And we probably have something for you that you didn't know we had, we have you think of us as is exclusively for books, but we have a pretty big video collection, and audiobooks, CDs, a ton of programs and different things. And, and as I've said, a library collection is built by the community. So if we don't have it, it might be something that we would be interested in having. And we're definitely interested in your feedback about it. So definitely, if you're not a library user, and you don't think that you wouldn't be you might be you should stop in and see what we've got. So
Ashley O'Neil:we're gonna close out this episode with a few sound clips that we took the day that we were editing this podcast, we felt like it was only appropriate in a podcast that was all about books and reading to talk with everybody in our space a little bit more about books that they're reading. So two questions, favorite book of 2022? What are you reading
Mike:right now? I don't know if I have a specific favorite book of 2022. Because I have been doing a nerdy deep dive into old Conan books from the 50s 60s in the 70s. So you know, that's sort of a personal disclosure. So I don't know if I have a favorite. But right now I'm reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King, which is fantastic.
Ashley O'Neil:You're enjoying it? Would you recommend it to other people?
Mike:Yes, very much so. And it's not a particularly gory or adult? So I think it has a pretty broad audience.
Ashley O'Neil:Thank you. So best book of 2022. And what are you reading right now?
Amanda Cornwell:I would also say that, I think that this is among the top books that I always hesitate for those words like best favorite, most amazing. But I think it's fitting. So the one that I've read, that came out in the
spring was called Now What:How to Move Forward When We're Divided About Basically Everything. And I thought it was just a really, I don't know, timely read, helped me think through a lot of things that have happened in the recent past and gave me some good insights as to how I want to move forward. But another one that I really appreciate. That was just kind of an unexpected surprise. And I'm gonna say this on a podcast, but I do think you have to see the physical book because the illustrations are beautiful, and also listen to the audio book, but it's called the boy the mole, the fox and the horse and it was just a delight. It's a children's book. But if you're a parent, it's fantastic.
Ashley O'Neil:What are you reading right now?
Lauren:I'm currently reading a book by Colleen Hoover. I'm on page two. And I don't know what it's called. But everyone said it was really good. My student actually recommended it to me.
Ashley O'Neil:What do you bet three to 2022 What are you reading right now?
Julie Cunningham:All right, so my best read of 2022 that I'm willing to record is the Fairy Tale by Stephen King. And I love Stephen King. That's my favorite author of all times and the fairy tale is definitely worth it regardless of whether you're a Stephen King aficionado or not. But the reason I say I'm torn is because book eaters would make a close second but I think I've already recorded that one and everybody in our space has read it and loved it so is afraid to have the same answer somebody get ups. And what I'm reading right now is The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy. Okay, so what's your best reader favorite read of 2022? And what are you reading now?
Ashley O'Neil:Okay, best reader 2022 would be Book Eaters, my best read of 2022 that is like now on my list for maybe all time was Cloud Cuckoo Land, which I kind of stumbled across on accident and it was I probably just like abandoned my family for a couple of days to finish quickly. And I'm not currently reading anything. I've cleared my calendar because when my favorite author's least Penny, her newest book is coming out in a week, so I'm preparing so that I don't have a mid book to pause and I'm ready to read her book when it comes out. Teach wonder is brought to you by the Center for Excellence in STEM education. You can find a full transcript for this episode and all episodes on our website on Buzzsprout and links are in the show notes