We LOVE the Library

- Learn more about the Morro Bay Library, built in 1985. In our conversation with Vickie and Joan of the Friends of the Morro Bay Library, they explain the newly repaired mosaic mural that was installed on the library’s exterior west wall of the library. Did you know that a stylized Halley’s Comet sails across the top of this mural connecting the past, present, and future? It was truly a community...

- Meet poet Caleb Nichols, our San Luis Obispo County Poet Laureate. Caleb explains how their journey to becoming Poet Laureate of SLO County began at the Atascadero Library. We hope you enjoy this delightful and informative conversation as much as we did.  - Learn more about the 2026 Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme calls back to the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books that were popular in...

- Meet another collection of Library Power Users: Zoey (age 10), her sister Ember (age 7), and their Mom (and our friend) Brianne. These fun folks are heavy users of the adorable Santa Margarita Library. We discuss what they love about the library right before they give me a kids-eye view and tour of their favorite public library space. - Then, we also speak with supporters of the Nipomo Library w...

- We welcome back to the podcast Monique Matta, the Adult Services Coordinating Librarian for the SLO County Library System. We’ll discuss e-books, audiobooks, and other materials in the collections with a particular focus on costs for digital items within the library system. If you have questions about wait lists for digital materials, this segment is for you. - Then, we’ll recap the 2026 Book of...

- We discover how the public library collections can help you throw a party. Whether it’s a dance party, dinner party, game night party, live music party, or book club party, the public library has you covered. Local DJ FlutterByCam joins us to suggest some great music you can check out from the library to provide the soundtrack for your own fun get together, including for kid’s parties. - Meet an...

- Learn more about the SLO County public library system’s Memory Lab, where library card holders can access equipment to transfer their photos, videotapes, albums, and other analog data into a digital format. We’ll also speak with local radio professional Carol Tangeman, who has used the Memory Lab and is a big fan of the public library.   - Also, we will hop back into our time machine to learn ab...

- Learn more about the SLO Friends of the Library from Karen Perry, a volunteer with and president of this important pro-library group - Also, learn more about story time at the library from Laura Vazquez, the manager of the Cambria Library. Story time happens at libraries across the SLO County system

- Learn about The Literacy Connection from Adult  Literacy Coordinator  Michelle Haddad - Check in with the Arroyo Grande Library, which continues  to serve patrons while closed for renovations 

- We celebrate Black History Month by speaking with a collection of super smart Black women who all love the library. First, we meet Sylvia Henson, chair of the Education Committee of the SLO County branch of the NAACP. She supports women and girls in STEM fields and has a deep commitment to education, reading, and critical thinking. - Next, we speak with three college-age library power users. Kyl...

- We travel the “quail trail” to visit two small but mighty libraries in North County: Shandon Library and Creston Library. Learn more about the unique Tool Library in Shandon from Joey and hear from Cookie in Creston about what it’s been like to run the public library for over 48 years. - Also, for Black History Month part 1, we speak with local author John King about his background, his writing...

- Learn more about the SLO MakerSpace and its collaboration with the SLO County Library System. - Meet local writer Alicia Gael and learn about her books, her background, and her writing process. She writes what she calls “Sapphic mysteries” and deploys identity as a crucial tool in solving the mystery. We'll also discuss LGBTQ+ art and literature more generally.

Learn more about graphic novels from the San Luis Obispo County library system’s Adult Services Coordinating Librarian Monique Matta. Also, hear from Joy Yamaguchi of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles about George Takei’s graphic novel-style memoir They Called Us Enemy. Mr. Takei’s book takes us into camps where he and his family were incarcerated by the United States government...

We learn about the Branch Out program for the SLO County library system, we introduce our newest Library Foundation board member, and we learn about a unique Library Foundation project honoring SLO Library's first librarian.

We speak to poetry fan Christine Ahern as well as Beverly Boyd, curator and organizer of Poetry Night, to learn about the origins and story of this special free community event at the Los Osos Library. We also check in with librarian Rosalind Willis, the library staff member who helps make Poetry Night happen. Finally, we hear from poet Lisa Coffman who graciously agreed to read a poem for our pod...

Introducing a new feature: profiles of Library Power Users! Our first guest is Sammy, a 12-year old reading enthusiast and someone who, like us, LOVES the library. We’ll also learn more about the well-stocked Explorer Backpacks from the “Library of Things” and other ways the public library helps connect us with nature. Susie Reddy of the Morro Coast Audubon Society joins us at Sweet Springs Nature...

We climb into a Time Machine with folks from Festival Mozaic to learn about the Young Musicians performances that took place in several libraries in SLO County during this annual summer festival. We also speak with Susana Lewis, the Coordinating Librarian for Youth Services, to learn more about the 2025 Summer Reading Program and how to keep kids and families engaged in reading throughout the year...

Meet therapy dog Berkeley and her friend Kathy Baker, who explains the PAWS to Read program that helps young people develop more reading confidence. Los Osos Library Branch Manager Bonnie Richan tells us more. Learn about what library items are included in Memory Kits  and then hear from Laura DeLoye from the Alzheimer’s Association about how caregivers use these kits to engage with people with de...

Meet Chris Barnickel, Library Director of the SLO County library system Learn about how to make an ofrenda from artist & educator María Belén Luzuriaga Abad for Dia de Los Muertos.  Hear from Juliane McAdam, the president of the SLO County Library Foundation.  SLOLibraryFoundation.org/podcast/