Middle Country Public Library Podcast

It's time for another This Week in History...and this week there are many historic elections that took place, along with the opening of the Berlin Wall, the discovery of X-Rays, the Cubs winning the World Series, and much more!

Happy Halloween from the MCPL Podcast! If you were to be blindfolded would you be able to identify some of the most popular Halloween candy without seeing it? Our ghoulishly delightful Sara and Nicole test their tastebuds on this week's special episode, wrapping up this year's Spooktober!

We are celebrating our 350th episode by bringing you some SPOOOOOKY stories during our Spooktober celebration! What creepy and dark otherworldly things lurk around the corner? Join us for this week's episode to find out!

We continue our Spooktober 2024 episodes with a creepy Movie Chat! This week we discuss the 2006 super-natural fantasy film, Pan's Labyrinth starring Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, and Doug Jones. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film follows the story of a girl dealing with life in 1944 Falangist Spain tasked with surviving three fantastical tasks to prove herself as a true princess of the underworld. It's a creepy feast for the eyes and a perfect flick for a spooky October night.

On this week's SPOOKTOBER episode, Sara has a list of the top NEW horror fiction books of 2024 for you to devour. But knock on wood three times before reading to protect you from the spirits and the many superstitions that Nicole has for us this week!

Welcome to Spooktober 2024! On the first episode of our annual series on the podcast, Jim Ward is back to discuss haunted places on Long Island. From Katie's in Smithtown to Camp Hero in Montauk, we will dive deep into the creepy stories that make these places an interesting visit for all you spooky fans out there!

Nicole has some interesting stats and info on banned books from the American Library Association. Plus Sara went down a rabbit hole to research where movie ratings originate from and what they really mean.

Find something good to read with this week's episode! Sara and Nicole discuss the finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards for both Adults and YA/Children selections. Perhaps you can find your next read among this group of eclectic and interesting stories on this year's list! Tune in and find out...

Are you into book series? There are authors who have 10, 20, over 30 books featuring the same characters and places, allowing you to delve deep into a whole new world of intrigue, adventure, and mystery. Sara did her homework this week, along with some extra credit, to bring us plenty of books from some popular series authors available here at the library. PLUS: What's the best day to straighten your hair? There's a book to find out...and Nicole's got the answer on this week's super-sized episode.

This week, Sara and Nicole preview the great programs coming up this fall at Middle Country. Registration is open for Children and Teens on Sept. 12th and the Adults on Sept. 13th. Get your MCPL library card ready and take advantage of the amazing things we have going on for you at our Centereach and Selden buildings! You can view our entire Fall 2024 Catalog here: https://www.mcplibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/MCPL_Quarterly.pdf  

We are counting down the days to the beginning of school, and Nicole has some tips on getting the kids ready for their big day. But first, speaking of days... Sara has some interesting books on days and numbers that you might want to check out. Plus Sal surprises the team with a story about his cousin who happens to be beatified.

It's the 55th anniversary of the festival that brought upstate New York hundreds of thousands of young people for 3 days of Peace, Love, and Music. Woodstock took place August 15th through the 18th in 1969, and Jim Ward is joining us for this special episode to discuss the history, the artists, and the legacy of this historic event.

Get some popcorn and watch some new movies on this month's DVD list: Sara has the details. Plus Nicole has information on how social media is effecting teens and what resources we have at the library to deal with it.

We are previewing a busy week on this special episode with our guests Deborah Hempe, the Coordinator of Outreach for MCPL, and our very own Councilman Neil Manzella from the Town of Brookhaven! We chat about the upcoming National Night Out, plus a slew of great events coming up. Plus, we find out about some exciting new things coming to our community.

Have you heard of the term "Summer Slump?" It's something that actually exists, and we happen to be in the middle of Summer Slump season. Sara chats about what the Summer Slump actually is, along with 21 things that only happen during the summer. Nicole is NOT in a slump, she's in the mood for some Formula One racing and has a book or two to check out today.

On this week's show, Nicole discusses the importance of monitoring your child's screen time, and has some suggestions for books you can take out from our collection. And speaking of books, Sara has a stack of interesting books on communication and why we need to talk with each other instead of at each other.

Did you know library cardholders have access to a Netflix-like streaming service that allows you to watch amazing movies on your favorite device? Sara's here to let us know what new releases are available this month on Kanopy. And even if you're not an MCPL cardholder, check out your local library for details on how you can access. What better food to eat while watching a movie than Ice Cream? Nicole recently purchased an ice cream maker and she has some tips, plus some great books you can read with your little ones to make ice cream at home. 

Here for another This Week in History, our resident history buff Jim Ward is here to talk about the Battle of Gettysburg (of course) as well as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the introduction of a boy wizard, the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and much more! Do you love history as much as Jim does? Then check out our History Bites playlist here: http://tinyurl.com/mcpl-historybites

Now that the summer is in full swing, you might take a dip in the pool or head out to the beach... Nicole has some tips to stay safe this summer around the water. Once you are cooled off and relaxed from your swim, why not read a great book? Check out what Sara recommends this week for some potential summer reads!