Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast

Readers' Advisors Erica and Amy share three books that drew them in from the very first page.

In the latest episode of Bookies Talk, Erica and Marianne dive into historical fiction and this year's One Book, One Community pick.

Find out the who’s who of national celebrities and historical figures that have made appearances in Libertyville through the years. Enjoy part two of the series. Mentioned in the Podcast: Catch every episode! Subscribe to the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

In the latest episode of Bookies Talk, Erica and Amy share five titles that surprised, challenged, and charmed them.

Find out the who’s who of national celebrities and historical figures that have made appearances in Libertyville through the years. Enjoy part one of the series. There’s more to come! Mentioned in the Podcast: Catch every episode! Subscribe to the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

We close out Women’s History Month with a look at some of the earliest businesses in Libertyville that were owned by women. Previous Women’s History Month Podcast Episodes Libertyville Historical Society on YouTube History Matters: Stay – The History of Libertyville Hotels Subscribe to the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast in Apple, Spotify, or wherever…

For the 8th year in a row librarians Becky and Nate get together after the Academy Awards to discuss the ceremony and celebrate the year in film. Listen in as they discuss the nominees, the night’s memorable moments, and share their own selection of movies the awards season may have overlooked but you won’t want…

April 3-9 is National Library Week and this year’s theme is Connect With Your Library. In this episode we run down five ways to use the library that you may not have known about. Read Bronwyn’s National Library Week blog post Explore the Digital Studios Learn how to sign up for text notifications Visit our Genealogy page Check out Mango Languages and…

Becky and Nate are back on the podcast for the 7th year in a row to talk about last night’s Academy Awards ceremony. They share some of their own opinions about the nominees and other favorite movies of last year. Hear about the night’s memorable moments (and boy were there moments), the movies, the performances,…

To kick off the first podcast episode of the year, Andrea and Erica recommend four excellent books for your 2022 reading list. This is an edited version of January’s Bookies Live Facebook event. Follow the library on Facebook to catch future Bookies Live, every second Tuesday of the month. In This Episode Dan Harris, 10% Happier Nita Prose, The Maid Charles…

Believe it or not 2021 is wrapping up and Readers’ Advisor Jo is back for our annual episode recounting Cook Library’s favorite books of the year! Make sure you visit either Cook Park or Aspen Drive library to pick up your very own copies of our Fiction and Nonfiction Favorites booklets. Or take a look…

The Bookies are back just in time for Thanksgiving with some stellar November reading selections all about families. This is an edited version of November’s Bookies Live Facebook event. Follow the library on Facebook to catch future Bookies Live. In This Episode Alice Hoffman, The Book of Magic Laura Dave, The Last Thing He Told…

It’s the podcast’s 100th episode! And what better way to celebrate than by exploring the library’s own 100th birthday. As part of Cook Library’s Centennial Celebration, Local History Librarian Jenny Barry walks us through the first 40 years of the Cook Memorial Public Library up until 1960. Hear what it was like using the library…

Horror readers Lindsay, Mark, and Karen talk up some chilling October reads. This is an edited version of October’s Bookies Live Facebook event. Follow the library on Facebook to catch future Bookies Live. In This Episode Catriona Ward, The Last House on Needless Street Tiffany D. Jackson, White Smoke C.J. Tudor, The Burning Girls Caitlin…

Readers’ Advisor Erica O’Rourke talks up some of the season’s best and most buzzed about books. If you need some new reading suggestions or just want to know what titles are worth adding to your TBR pile, you won’t want to miss this episode. In This Episode Returning FavoritesColson Whitehead, Harlem Shuffle Anthony Doerr, Cloud…

Head of Children’s Services Melissa Phillips is here to get you excited about summer reading! Get info on how to sign up, all the fun activities to participate in, and of course the prizes. Why wait? SIGN UP NOW!

For the 6th year in a row, AV Librarian Becky King is back to talk about the Academy Awards ceremony. Nate and Becky discuss the night’s biggest moments, the movies and performances of the year, plus share a few 2020 favorites that were shut out of the awards, but that you won’t want to miss.

We celebrate Women’s History Month and Cook Library’s Centennial by looking at the women who were key to the founding of the library and its early days. Local History Librarian Jenny Barry shares the stories of Emily Barrows Cook, Mabel MacGuffin, Norma Lee Peck, Clara Colby, Laura Taylor, August Lovell, and more. Keep checking the…

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Cook Library’s Romance book selector Erica O’Rourke shares a few of her favorite titles. Erica talks about what differentiates a romance from a love story then suggests books for fans of Bridgerton, those looking for something contemporary, and even some titles for anyone celebrating Galentine’s Day. MENTIONED IN…

Readers’ Advisor Jo is back for our annual episode on Cook Library’s favorite books of the year! Astute listeners will note it is no longer 2020, but with so many great books published and our annual library booklets being released despite a worldwide pandemic, we figured better late than never to do a little celebrating…

How has COVID-19 impacted the book publishing industry? Our guest Skip Dye – SVP of Library Sales & Digital Strategy and SVP Director of Sales Operations at Penguin Random House – knows a thing or two about how publishers are adapting to this very different world we find ourselves in. We pack a lot into…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 |…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

On April 2nd, a little over a week away, you have the opportunity to vote for all things local in the general consolidated election. We’re talking about positions 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…

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.…

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…

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…

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 the titles that topped the national best-of lists along with the unique reads our staff couldn’t stop raving about. This…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Popular Services Librarian Jo Hansen shares her thoughts on John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, a novel she read for the first time as part of PBS’s The Great American Read. We talk about why she selected this novel out of the 100 finalists, her favorite Owen Meany quotes, and why it should be…

Mary Shelley aficionado Emily Stensloff joins us on the podcast to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein’s publication. We talk about Shelley’s life, her feminist/anarchist upbringing, the differences between Frankenstein the novel and the idea of Frankenstein in popular culture, and why this 1818 book is Emily’s all-time favorite. Check out Frankenstein from the library…

In Locally Sourced we ask local business owners to talk about an influential or special book they’ve read. Chris Hamel is one of the owners of the new ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice shop in Libertyville – My Flavor It! Place. Chris stopped by the library to talk about a favorite book with a…

We’re in the full swing of summer and for anybody still looking for that great beach read, we’ve got you covered! Andrea joins us to talk about must-read titles from five different genres, each with its own appeal. The titles Andrea recommends in this episode are: Gale Force by Owen Laukkanen Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce…

Award-winning journalist Catherine Price joins us on the podcast for a conversation on smartphone addiction. A growing number of smartphone users are starting to notice their phone usage has evolved into something problematic. Price’s new book is a practical guide to help acknowledge addictive smartphone behavior and develop healthier relationships with our devices. We discuss…