Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast

Why haven't more people heard of Nancy Wake? An upper-class expat who smuggled documents and people out of WWII Paris, armed the French Resistance, and killed a Nazi commander bare-handed, this war heroine should be a household name -- but she isn't. Author Ariel Lawhon sets out to rectify the oversight in her latest novel, Code Name Hélène . The book is a meticulously researched and compulsively...

Note: This episode is part three in a three-part series originally released by Drops of Ink – the student news publication of Libertyville High School . Drops of Ink explores different perspectives on race in Libertyville. Originally published September 14, 2016. Produced and hosted by Conor Kennedy.

Note: This episode is part two in a three-part series originally released by Drops of Ink – the student news publication of Libertyville High School .   Drops of Ink explores the history of the movement for housing equality.    Originally published July 22, 2016. Produced and hosted by Conor Kennedy.

Note: This episode is part one in a three-part series originally released by Drops of Ink - the student news publication of Libertyville High School . Drops of Ink delves into the history behind the segregation of Libertyville and its surrounding communities. Originally published May 26, 2016. Produced and hosted by Conor Kennedy.

Phil Christman is the author of the new book Midwest Futures - a collection of interconnected essays about the Midwest. The book expands on Christman's 2017 essay for The Hedgehog Review On Being Midwestern: The Burden of Normality . Both the essay and book start with a dissection of writing cliches about the Midwest as a way to begin unravelling how the region developed, what it means to live her...

Many of us find ourselves with a lot more time at home these days. Why not use that time to explore one of the library's best digital resources - hoopla! Audiovisual librarian Becky King and host Nate Gass each share their Top 5 hoopla movie recommendations. Dive into hoopla right now Don't have a library card? Apply for one online!

Local History Librarian Jennifer Barry helps us celebrate Women's History Month at the local level by highlighting the extraordinary life of Libertyville High School teacher Dr. Norma Munson.

Becky and Nate get together for the 5th year in a row to talk about last night's Academy Awards Ceremony. They discuss some of the biggest surprises and their favorite moments, plus recommend a few 2019 films you may have missed.      

As the year wraps up, Readers Advisor Jo talks about the most beloved books of 2019 according to the staff at Cook Library. We go over highlights from our immensely popular 2019 fiction and nonfiction booklets available at the reference desk and online . Listen to this quick 20 minute episode to remember the books and authors everyone was talking about and discover under the radar titles unique to...

Local History Librarian Jenny Barry shares some of the quirkiest newspaper headlines and articles she's encountered in her years researching Libertyville's history.   Visit our local history page to discover your own oddities in Cook Library's newspaper archives!

Library Director David Archer returns for one last episode about wrapping up the Aspen Drive Library expansion project. Construction is complete and the library is open for business! We hope you will join us for the Saturday, November 23rd Grand Opening Celebration. Dave talks about response from the community so far, what it feels like to finish a construction project of this magnitude, and some...

Cook Library's own horror aficionados Lindsay and Mark deliver the thrills and chills with some horror book recommendations just in time for Halloween.   IN THIS EPISODE The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus The Shining by Stephen King Full Throttle by Joe Hill Through the Woods by Emily Carroll  | Emily Carroll's website The Invited by Jennifer McMahon  

Writer, reporter, and author Gemma Hartley talks with Nate and Erica about her book Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward .  Hartley discusses why women often take on such a large share of the unseen and undervalued work in the home and offers practical advice on how partners can begin establishing more equality.   SHOW NOTES Check out Fed Up from the library - Print | eAudiobook (ho...

Readers' Advisor Jo Hansen joins Nate to talk about a handful of great books coming out over the next few months. Jo also shares ways you can subscribe to library newsletters so you won't miss out on other interesting books coming soon.   Mentioned in this episode Inland by Téa Obreht The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X....

Library Director David Archer returns to give us an update on the 15,000 square foot addition to the Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills. Dave reviews the most exciting features coming to the library, how construction is coming along, and what we can expect in the coming months. He answers a few questions and concerns plus shares what it's like to be in charge during a library construction project...

Children's librarian Melissa Phillips interviews Suzanne Slade, a prolific author whose recent picture book,  Astronaut Annie , is literally out of this world. Learn about what goes into the creation of a children's non-fiction book (hint: lots and lots of research in some fascinating places!).   SHOW NOTES: Suzanne Slade's website Suzanne Slade's books held by Cook Memorial Public Library Distric...

On April 2nd, a little over a week away, you get the opportunity to vote for all things local in the general consolidated election. We're talking about things like village trustees, library boards, school boards, and local referendums.   For the election, Cook Library created Be A Voter! , a one-stop shop for election-related information specifically designed for our district. On this episode Hale...

It is Women's History Month and when it comes to Libertyville history there is no shortage of inspiring women who have lived and served in this town to make it what it is today. Our local history librarian Jenny Barry is back for a special edition of The Past is Present, highlighting 3 such women. Dr. Getta Sweeting Hattie Boehm JoAnn Eckmann   FURTHER READING ON SHELF LIFE Clara Colby - the first...

For the 4th year in a row, AV Librarian Becky King comes onto the podcast to talk about the Academy Awards ceremony. Nate and Becky discuss the night's biggest moments, plus share a few 2018 movies not mentioned during the awards but that you definitely don't want to miss. Find out what movies to catch up on and how you can use the library to get what you need.

If this cold winter is starting to feel like it was last forever, we've got a suggestion for something to give you a bit of that hygge feeling until spring shows its face. Join our Up Lit Adult Winter Reading Club and find some uplifting and heartwarming titles to get you through the last few weeks of winter. Titles recommended in this episode: Three Things About Elsie  by Joanna Cannon Into the B...

Jo is back on the podcast to help us review the year 2018 in books. She shares highlights from our annual Favorite Fiction/Nonfiction booklets now available online and at the Reference Desk. We talk about what which titles topped the national best-of lists along with the unique reads our staff couldn't stop raving about. This episode is guaranteed to add at least one new book to your reading list....

Jennifer Segal is the classically trained chef and busy mom behind  Once Upon A Chef , a popular cooking blog where she uses tips and tricks learned in culinary school to create tested and perfected recipes for the often hectic family life. This year Jenn made the transition from cooking blogger to cookbook author with the Once Upon A Chef cookbook, one of our favorite cookbooks of 2018. The book...

What better way to spend a chilly, blustery day than with a good read (and maybe a warm drink)? Andrea stops by to share five titles that she recommends for this fall. Titles mentioned: Dracul   by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker Night of Miracles   by Elizabeth Berg November Road  by Lou Berney (read Jo's review here ) Washington Black   by Esi Edugyan (read Erica's review here ) Always Look On the...

Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is "riotously funny with a surprising amount of heart" according to Erica who interviews McDaniel about her debut novel  already in the works to be adapted for television . Their conversation touches on a wide variety of topics including 80's beauty pageants, the challenges and tricks to writing good child characters, and why McDaniel likes to feature Libertyville in so man...

Aspen Drive Library Manager Brooke Bahnsen talks about reading Jason Reynolds' award-winning youth fiction novel  Ghost  as part of PBS's The Great American Read . We talk about why this contemporary book series written for junior high readers deserves to be recognized, the enjoyment of reading youth literature as an adult, and the benefits of reading diverse perspectives and hearing different voi...