Middle Country Public Library Podcast

Discover more defining moments that shaped the United States in part two of this special series on Great Moments in American History with Mr. Ward. From groundbreaking inventions and daring firsts in aviation, to landmark civil rights advances, cultural shifts, and modern triumphs in space, explore the events that propelled the nation forward. This episode continues the journey through iconic achi...

Discover the pivotal events that shaped the United States in this special two-part series on the podcast: Great Moments in American History with Mr. Ward! From the adoption of foundational documents to landmark battles, explorations, and unifying achievements, explore the defining chapters that built the nation. Part one highlights extraordinary turning points from the Revolutionary era through th...

This week, Nicole shines a light on Mercy Otis Warren, the remarkable playwright and writer from Massachusetts whose works helped rally support for independence. Often overlooked in history, Warren used her plays and writings to challenge British rule and inspire the revolutionary cause. Sara then delivers a "dramatic" reading of the full Declaration of Independence as only Sara can, followed by a...

In this special America 250 episode, Sal quizzes Sara & Nicole with questions from the US Citizenship Civics test! Explore the path to naturalization, eligibility requirements, and the naturalization process before diving into trivia covering the Constitution, separation of powers, the Great Compromise, the Electoral College, key amendments, historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Sojour...

We kick off our special series celebrating America's 250th birthday with a discussion of the musical (and movie) Hamilton! Stay tuned to the end for some exciting news for our patrons coming this fall...

Join librarians from the adult, children's and teen departments as we cover this year's clubs and learn how reading this summer can enter you into a raffle to win amazing prizes and access to fun experiences. Sign up and unearth a story with reading! And remember: audiobooks and graphic novels count, too!

Discover the untold story behind the film that changed cinema forever. On the 49th anniversary of its release, uncover the wild origins of Star Wars: surprising early concepts, revolutionary effects, and casting choices that nearly went a very different direction. From desert shoots to groundbreaking visuals and a soundtrack for the ages, this is how the original space opera was born.

This week, Nicole explores the Authors Guild's latest best practices for writers using AI, along with a major lawsuit settlement involving Anthropic and the implications for authors whose work may have been used in AI training. Then Sara dives into timely summer advice on protecting your skin from cancer risks, including what to watch for and simple ways to stay safe in the sun.

Dive into a delightful chat about North America's only marsupial—the opossum—and why these wobbly, tick-munching backyard heroes deserve more love. Learn their wild facts: pouches full of tiny babies, playing dead like pros, snake venom resistance, and why they're secretly ecosystem superstars. Then shift gears to the rising world of young adult romance graphic novels, where dreamy stories, figure...

Nicole explores the "Fourth Grade Slump"—the well-documented drop in reading comprehension scores that often occurs when students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Drawing from Daniel Willingham’s book "Why Don’t Students Like School?", she discusses how background knowledge is essential for understanding texts, why the gap widens along socioeconomic lines, and how prior exposure to...

This week: discover a selection of fresh arrivals at the library—from pulse-pounding thrillers and emotional romances to fascinating nonfiction and easy sheet-pan meals that make weeknight cooking a breeze. Then join a lively debate on a groundbreaking California jury verdict holding tech giants accountable for the addictive design of social media and its impact on young users, raising timely ques...

Did you know it's National Poetry Month? In this week's episode, Nicole shares why it's the perfect time to introduce your little ones to the joy of poetry. Then, Sara recommends some excellent TV series you can stream for free with your library card through Kanopy—most of them British shows. Tune in to discover your next binge-worthy series!

On this our 45th Movie Chat, we dive into the twisted world of Yorgos Lanthimos's latest film Bugonia, featuring standout performances by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. What begins as a tense kidnapping tale spirals into a darkly comic exploration of paranoia, corporate power, and humanity's fragile place in the universe. Expect sharp dialogue, unexpected turns, and an emotional finale that leaves...

Jim is back again for another This Week in History which brings a mix of pivotal moments that shaped America and the world. From presidential firsts, daring military campaigns, and groundbreaking explorations, uncover the stories behind some of the most consequential events of this week : April 5th - April 11th!

As humanity prepares to return to the moon after more than five decades, join Sal and Jim for a lively discussion on the Artemis II mission. They cover the crew making history, the powerful rocket launching them, the ambitious flight path that will push humans farther into space than ever before, and what this milestone means for the future of lunar exploration and beyond.

This week, Nicole breaks down agentic AI: what it really means, how open-source tools are enabling personal AI agents to run locally on your computer, and why this next-level technology could soon handle real-life tasks and ease daily mental load—along with important cautions. Then Sara highlights the newest DVDs arriving in April, including the latest chapter in a hit horror franchise, intense in...

We are celebrating things that happened during the month of March throughout the ages with a collection of fascinating trivia questions. Play along and see how many you get right!

It's Oscar time! Are you watching this weekend? Sara has a primer of who's who and what's nominated this year. Plus Nicole discusses Fractured Fairytales: the retelling of your old familiar stories that play with plots and characters in a new and alternative way.

Dive into common eye conditions like astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia in this eye-opening episode. Learn what your glasses prescription really means, why the eye is so complex, and hear personal stories about vision challenges and fixes. Then, explore the growing push to go analog: why some parents are ditching school laptops for pen and paper, research on better retention with handw...

In this episode, Sara dives into the science behind snow—from how delicate ice crystals form and grow into intricate snowflakes, to the surprising facts about blizzards, record snowfalls, and why one inch of rain can equal up to 30 inches of fluffy powder. Plus hear her personal tale of getting stranded during a major storm and essential tips for winter driving safety. Then, Nicole busts some comm...

This week: Discover an exciting new exhibit opening soon, packed with hands-on activities, seasonal recipes, and creative ways to inspire healthier choices at home—from farm-to-table ideas to growing your own microgreens. Then, celebrate a special month dedicated to something we all cherish: libraries! Explore a curated selection of captivating reads featuring librarians as heroes, detectives, vil...

This week: Sara dives into exciting upcoming February movie releases hitting our shelves soon. Plus, Nicole presents a thoughtful discussion on simplifying kids' play spaces: why fewer toys can spark deeper creativity, reduce overwhelm, and boost focus for children (and parents too). Discover how rotating items, choosing open-ended playthings, and borrowing from the library's growing toy collectio...

We dive into February with a trivia episode celebrating Black History Month! Marking a milestone anniversary for this important observance, the team dives into fascinating questions exploring groundbreaking achievements, pioneering figures, and pivotal moments in African American history. Perfect for anyone looking to learn, reflect, and celebrate during Black History Month (and beyond). How many...

This week, we dive into the 2026 Youth Media Award winners from the American Library Association, highlighting standout titles in children's and teen literature perfect for snowy days indoors. The team discusses the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and more—plus why these award-winning books are flying off the shelves (and available digitally via Libby and Hoopla). Then, cozy up for a deep dive into co...

Discover two powerful, free resources available through the library that open doors to rich history and endless reading possibilities! First, Sara dives into a comprehensive digital collection exploring American Indian history—featuring primary sources, landmark treaties, court cases, tribal flags, maps, timelines, videos, slideshows, and in-depth articles organized by tribe, culture area, subject...