The Distracted Librarians

Which Distracted Librarian do you think would choose a robot butler over a talking animal sidekick? How about Narnia rather than Neverland? Or living in an underwater bubble instead of a treehouse? Play along with Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda as they enjoy a fast paced game of "This-or-That" and learn a lot about each other through the answers. Want to join the conversation? Email us at distr...

Just in time for spooky season, The Distracted Librarians are delving into the folklore that has revealed our fears for centuries. From vampires to Baba Yaga and the fae, there is lots of recommended reading and watching, so have your TBR list on hand! The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Apple Podcasts ,  YouTube Music ,  Spotify ,  Amazon Music ,  iHeartRadio , and  PlayerFM . W...

READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL!! Or in other words, it's (almost) Banned Books Week! Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda as they discuss this week that raises awareness of book challenges and bans across the country, including some of the common (and uncommon, but funny) reasons a title might get banned, and how local and national organizations handle tracking challenges and observing Banned Books Week...

Four librarians talking about books about books? It's a book-ception! Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda talk about their favorite bookish books. Whether they're books about authors, books about libraries and book stores, or books about books themselves, every book lover is sure to find something that calls to them! (Is the word book starting to lose meaning after being used so many times in this d...

In this book club episode of The Distracted Librarians podcast, Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda discuss Kylie Lee Baker’s award-winning, body horror novel, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng. Spoilers abound, so read the book first ! The discussion meanders from COVID-19 to the Hungry Ghost Festival, to hate crimes, to the resilience of friendship, with an abundance of shock and horror thro...

Without the details that tell us about the world they take place in, many of our favorite fantasy tales wouldn't be the same! On the latest episode of the Distracted Librarians, Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda discuss the magic of world building and how it affects the story. Want to join the conversation? Email us at  distracted@btpl.org Many thanks to BCTV for their support in recording, editin...

Self help is one of the best-selling genres of book on the planet, and there are both good and bad reasons for that. Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda for a look through the rise of the self-help industry, including some of the reasons it's so popular, some examples of good and bad titles that the genre has to offer, and our open thoughts about how helpful these books really are. The Distract...

You've probably heard of the Dewey Decimal System, but how much do you know about the man who originally came up with it? Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda discuss Melvil Dewey - from his contributions to libraries to his controversial takes - and whether or not the Dewey Decimal System should still have a place in today's libraries. Want to join the conversation? Email us at  distracted@btpl.org...

Sometimes people don't like a book that they've read, and sometimes those people don't like those books loudly and in public. Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda for a look through some of the funniest Goodreads one-star reviews of classic titles and modern favorites. Guess along with us and see if you can figure out which book is being bashed first!  The Distracted Librarians can be found on ...

From Cops to Survivor to the Kardashians, reality TV has changed the television landscape and brought amazing water cooler moments for decades. Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda on their journey through the years of reality TV, what makes the genre a hit among its fans, and what its naysayers hate about it. A whole new world was unleashed when a group of people stopped being polite and starte...

In this episode, the Distracted Librarians discuss their second book club pick, Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean. Find out how Orlean made her own luck and stay for the announcement of the Distracted crew’s next book club selection. Note: This episode will contain spoilers from Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean please be aware if you intend to read the book.  The Distracted Librarians can be foun...

Everyone has that book from childhood that just stuck with them -  if you're anything like the Distracted Librarians, you've got several! Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda dive into what makes nostalgic reads so good and some of their own childhood favorites! Want to join the conversation? Email us at  distracted@btpl.org Many thanks to BCTV for their support in recording, editing, and releasing t...

THIS. IS. JEOPARDY. (Kind of.) Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda as they play a round of Library Jeopardy, with questions ranging from the literary world to library facts to BTPL specifics. Tune into the surprisingly competitive special and play along with them and see if you have what it takes to come out on top. The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Apple Podcasts ,  YouTube...

Have you watched Heated Rivalry yet? Did you know it's based on a book series (Game Changers by Rachel Reid)? Everybody's talking about it, so of course the Distracted Librarians are too! Nicole, Drew, Killian and Amanda share their thoughts on the show and the books, so spoilers abound! The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Apple Podcasts ,  YouTube Music ,  Spotify ,  Amazon Musi...

The Distracted Librarians discuss how, when it comes to the library, the only constant is change. They chat about material formats, the library as a gathering space, technology, vendors, and more. Want to join the conversation? Email us at distracted@btpl.org. Many thanks to BCTV for their support in recording, editing, and releasing this podcast; and to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring c...

Looking for a book that's similar to your favorite? That's a Read Alike! Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda discuss what people may be looking for in a read alike, how they make suggestions, and even offer suggestions for read alikes to popular books! Want to join the conversation? Email us at distracted@btpl.org Many thanks to BCTV for their support in recording, editing, and releasing this podcas...

The Distracted Librarians started a book club!! Every three months, the DL crew will select a book, and come together to talk out their opinions and hot takes with all of you. Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda to discuss Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. It's a twist on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, following a human (?) woman with a gift to bestow, meddling fairies, and the risks that come...

Is this a book to distract you? A book to make you think? A book that would be good for book club? How could you possibly know the difference?! Join Nicole, Drew, Killian, and Amanda as they dive into how they find good books to read and recommend - and how they might determine if a book would be a good fit for themselves, a patron, or a library program. The Distracted Librarians can be found on ...

Think you know what it takes to be a librarian? Some truths about the profession may still surprise you. Join Nicole, Killian, and Drew as they discuss their library careers and history, going through a list of common misconceptions about libraries and librarians to find the kernels of truth mixed with some incorrect or outdated assumptions. The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Ap...

What's the best part of a Disney movie? According to Nicole, Drew, and Killian, it might just be the bad guys! But why do we love them? What makes them SO compelling? And do Disney movies even have real villains anymore? The Distracted Librarians are asking (and answering) the tough questions! Want to join the conversation? Email us at distracted@btpl.org Many thanks to BCTV for their support in r...

Why is one of our podcasters looking forward to being sad in 2026?? Join Nicole, Killian, and Drew as they discuss some of the books, movies, and other media coming out in 2026 that we're most excited about, as well as some of the reading challenges and goals we've heard about and might be participating in. The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Apple Podcasts ,  YouTube Music ,  Sp...

Time flies when you're reading, watching, playing, and listening to good media! The Distracted Librarians are back with their favorites 2025 releases - from books to video games and everything in between. But wait - there's more! In addition to favorites from Nicole, Drew, and Killian, this episode features more of the Library staff's Best of 2025 picks. Want to join the conversation? Email us at...

For the people who just don't know what to do with that last strip of bacon, may we suggest NOT using it as a bookmark?? Join Nicole, Killian, and Drew as they discuss the journey of a book as it gets added to the library's collection and enjoyed by patrons, as well as some of the weirdest things that sometimes get found in a returned book.  The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Ap...

 Good news!  Just in time for the sequel, it's time to talk all things Ozmopolitan and green! Join Nicole, Killian, and Drew as they discuss the rise of Wicked, from the popular book to the award-winning musical and into the star-studded film, as they look to discover who really mourns the wicked. Correction: In the episode, Killian mentions Wicked: Part 1 having a PG-13 rating. The film is rated...

Honestly, who hasn't wished they could jump into a book just to try the food the author describes so well? Just in time for the holidays, Nicole, Killian, and Drew discuss the fictional delicacies they would love to eat, either treats described in books or meals shown on screen. The Distracted Librarians can be found on  Podbean ,  Apple Podcasts ,  YouTube Music ,  Spotify ,  Amazon Music ,  iHea...