On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire spoke to Allison Escoto of the Center for Fiction about book groups, being a solo librarian, and getting the opportunity to read nonfiction for the Carnegie Awards. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with librarian and author Van Hoang about the walking audiobook club she runs at her library. Finally, Susan and Adult Books Editor Donna Seaman talk about her forthcoming book, River of Books: A Life in Reading as well as what she’s been reading and loving lately.

Here’s what we talked about:

Stanley Ellin, mystery writer
James, by Percival Everett 
Out of the Sierra: A Story of Rarámuri Resistance, by Victoria Blanco
Girl Giant and the Monkey King, by Van Hoang
The Monstrous Misses Mai, by Van Hoang
Sociopath, by Patrick Gagne, read by the author
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, by Naomi Klein, read by the author
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution, Cat Bohannon, read by the author
Elyse Dinh, audiobook narrator
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams, read by Emily Woo Zeller
In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration, by Shane O’Mara, read by Liam Gerrard
River of Books: A Life in Reading, by Donna Seaman
The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America, by Sara B. Franklin
The World She Edited: Katarine S. White at the New Yorker, by Amy Reading
Booker Prize Long List
Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner
This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud
Playground, by Richard Powers
The Overstory, by Richard Powers
Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange
Reading the Room: A Bookseller’s Tale, by Paul Yamazaki

YouTube Audio Library

Episode 37: Book-Clubbable

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to two of her Friends, the co-chairs of the annual book sale at her local branch library. They talk about being picky about donations, pricing, layout, and the treasures they found at the sale. Then, Susan chats with new Books for Youth Associate Editor Kelly Ferreira about what they’ve been reading and loving lately. 

Here’s what we talked about:

85 Days: The Last Campaign of Robert Kennedy, by Jules Witcover
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus 
Janesville: An American Story, by Amy Goldstein
The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer House, by George Howe Colt
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, by Sonia Purnell, read by Juliet Stevenson
Central Park West, by James Comey
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, by James Comey
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love, by Marianne Cronin
Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss
Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke
P. C. Cast
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Casey McQuiston
Bigfoot’s Big Heart, by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo
Compound Fracture, by Andrew Joseph White
Ariel Crashes a Train, by Olivia A. Cole
The Deep Dark, by Molly Knox Ostertag, art by the author
The Sweetness between Us, by Sarah Winifred Searle, art by the author


Episode 38: With a Little Help from Our Friends

It’s that time of the year again, when the Booklist editors gather ‘round the proverbial fire and share some of their favorite reads of the year. Covering everything from our Top of the List titles to personal faves, this episode has a little something for every reader. Here’s what we talked about:

Donna:
We Loved It All: A Memory of Life. By Lydia Millet. (Adult Nonfiction Top of the List)
The Morningside. By Téa Obreht.
Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar.
My Black Country: A Journey through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future. By Alice Randall.
The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth. By Zoë Schlanger.

Annie:
Wandering Stars. By Tommy Orange. (Adult Fiction Top of the List)
Donna Seaman interviews Tommy Orange for One Book, One Chicago
All Fours. By Miranda July.

Susan:
The Wedding People. By Alison Espach.
One of Us Knows. By Alyssa Cole.
The Cottage around the Corner. By D. L. Soria.

Sarah:
A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond. By Elizabeth Rusch. (Youth Nonfiction Top of the List)
Dispatches from Parts Unknown. By Bryan Bliss.
Ash’s Cabin. By Jen Wang. Art by the author. (Youth Graphic Novel Top of the List)
Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir. By Tessa Hulls. Art by the author. (Adult Graphic Novel Top of the List)
The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History. By John Vasquez Mejias. Art by the author. 
The Jellyfish. By Boum. Art by the author.

Julia:
The House on Yeet Street. By Preston Norton. (Middle Grade Top of the List)
Bye Forever, I Guess. By Jodi Meadows.

Ronny:
That Always Happens Sometimes. By Kiley Frank. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. (Picture Book Top of the List).
The Yellow Bus. Written and illustrated by Loren Long.

Kelly:
Ariel Crashes a Train, by Olivia A. Cole. (YA Top of the List)
The Dark We Know, by Wen-yi Lee.
Compound Fracture, by Andrew Joseph White.
My Throat an Open Grave, by Tori Bovalino.

Heather:
Birding with Benefits. By Sarah T. Dubb. Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley.
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years. By Shubnum Khan. Read by Soneela Nankani.
Know Your Newlywed. By Heather Taylor, Hillary Nussbaum, and Elena Armas. Read by Tyler Posey, Mary Mouser, and a full cast.
Stars in Your Eyes. By Kacen Callender. Read by André Santana and others.
Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”. By Nicholas Day and Chris Rashka. Read by Fred Berman.
Onyx & Beyond. By Amber McBride. Read by André Santana.
Gender Queer. By Maia Kobabe. Read by Maia Kobabe and a full cast.
Tree. Table. Book. By Lois Lowry. Read by Hope Newhouse.
And
Anita de Monte Laughs Last. By Xochitl Gonzalez. Read by Jessica Pimentel and others. (Adult Audio Top of the List)
Better Must Come. By Desmond Hall. Read by Jaime Lincoln Smith. (Youth Audio Top of the List)


Episode 39: Editors' Choice 2024

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Katie Clausen, a Chicagoland children’s librarian, about what it’s like to be on the front lines of a book banning, who offers some tips and suggested language for dealing with a challenge. Then, on a lighter note, Susan talks to Audio Editor Heather Booth about what she’s been reading (and listening to) and loving lately.

Here's what we talked about:

Interview with Kelly Jensen in Episode 22
Foundations of Intellectual Freedom, by Emily Knox
Kate Messner’s Letter to Parents
The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, by Pagan Kennedy. Read by Claire Danes.
The Use of Photography, by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie. Translated by Alison L. Strayer. Read by Tavia Gilbert.
The Suite Spot, by Trish Doller. Read by Sarah Naughton.
Birding with Benefits, by Sarah T. Dubb. Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley.
How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? by Anna Montague. Read by Cynthia Nixon.
Nightbitch, by Rache Yoder.
The Payback, by Kashana Cauley.
The Survivalists, by Kashana Cauley.

Other helpful resources for dealing with contentious book challenges:
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, by Mel Robbins (A useful book for work and personal development, especially for helping to take book challenges less personally.)
Quick Tips & Language When Someone Wants to Challenge Materials
Handling Book Challenges


Episode 40: It’s Not New (But It Sucks): Dealing with Book Bans from the Frontlines

In this episode, part of a mini series on the Journey of a Library book, we discuss the cataloging process with Elbert, Materials Services Assistant at Niles-Maine District Library.

Tech Bytes #40 - The Journey of a Library Book: Materials Services

It’s time for Summer Scares, and the popular horror-reading program is in fine form again. Shelf Care host Susan Maguire spoke to librarian Becky Spratford, author Kendare Blake, and Booklist’s Julia Smith about this year’s selections for adult, teen, and middle-grade readers; transgressive horror; and Hellmouth Pokémon, as you do. She also spoke to Jocelyn Codner and Carina Stopenski, both of the Horror Writers Association’s Library Advisory Council, about the Summer Scares program guide, why libraries should serve horror readers, and what they’re reading and loving.
Here’s what we talked about:
Summer Scares Resource Page
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, by Kristen Simmons
iRead Summer 2025: Level Up at Your Library
The Getaway, by Lamar Giles
Devils unto Dust, by Emma Berquist
Reprieve, by James Han Mattson
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes, by Eric LaRocca
The Luminous Dead, by Caitlin Starling
Summer Scares webinars: for Adult, YA, and Middle Grade 
All These Bodies, by Kendare Blake
In Every Generation, by Kendare Blake
Summer Scares Program Guide
HWA Young Adults Write Now scholarship
(or email libraries@horror.org)
Stoker Con 2025 Librarians’ Day
Stag Dance, by Torrey Peters
Detransition, Baby, by Torrey Peters
It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell
Hide and Seeker, by Daka Hermon
Ravenous Things, by Derrick Chow
Eerie Tales from the School of Screams, by Graham Annable, art by the author
Skunk and Badger, by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, by Aubrey Hartman, illustrated by Macin Minor
Bad Badger: A Love Story, by Maryrose Wood, illustrated by Giulia Ghigini
Reluctant Witch, by Melissa Marr



Episode 41: Summer Scares 2025

In this episode, the last part of a mini series on the Journey of a Library book, we talk to Georgia, Patron Services Assistant Supervisor at Niles-Maine District Library about the role that her department plays in getting the book into a reader’s hands.

Tech Bytes #41 - The Journey of a Library Book: Patron Services

Episode 42 Show Notes
In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to librarian and horror expert Becky Spratford about the forthcoming collection of essays she edited, Why I Love Horror, what Mary Shelley might think about the current trend of monster romance, and, of course, why she loves horror. Then Booklist’s Audio Editor Heather Booth presents an epic rant against AI-narrated audiobooks, and Susan and Booklist Senior Editor, Adult Books Annie Bostrom chat about two water-related books they’re loving.

Here's what we talked about:

Becky’s early “Why I Love Horror,” featuring Booklist folks
The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, by Becky Siegel Spratford
Danse Macabre, by Stephen King
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
“The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Seth Grahame-Smith
The Hunger, by Alma Katsu
Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones
James, by Percival Everett
Horror for Weenies, by Emily Hughes
Circulating Ideas podcast, hosted by Steve Thomas
LibraryReads Hall of Fame
Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein 
The Grip of It, by Jac Jemc
Horror Makes Us Happy podcast with Becky Spratford
The Bewitching, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Cynthia Pelayo
101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered, Sadie Hartmnn
Paperbacks from Hell, by Grady Hendrix 
A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen, by Erin Frankel and Paola Escobar. Read by Luis Carlos de la Lombana. (Odyssey Award Winner, 2025)
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet, by Tony Keith Jr. Read by the author. (Odyssey Award Winner, 2025)
The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, by Pagan Kennedy. Read by Claire Danes
The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Read by Del Roy
Listening Still, by Anne Griffin. Read by Nicola Coughlan
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck, by Sophie Elmhirst
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, by Jon Krakauer
The Love Fix, by Jill Shalvis
The Listeners, by Maggie Stiefvater

Episode 42: Why I Love Horror

In this episode, we discuss an exciting opportunity to grow your digital skills and get connected at Niles-Maine District Library.

https://www.nileslibrary.org/learn-to-own

Tech Bytes #43 - Digital Equity and Learn-to-Own

In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’re coming to you live from ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with three authors who were excited to share insight into their forthcoming books and what libraries mean to them: Victor Piñeiro (The Island of Forgotten Gods, August 2025, Sourcebooks Young Readers), E. Lockhart (We Fell Apart, November 2025, Delacorte), and Kevin Henkes (Is It Spring?, February 2026, Greenwillow). 

Here's what we talked about:

Read n Rave list
The Island of Forgotten Gods, by Victor Piñeiro
Time Villains, by Victor Piñeiro
The Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
We Fell Apart, by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart
Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera
Family of Liars, by E. Lockhart
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, by E. Lockhart
Is It Spring?, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Sun Flower Lion, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, 
Finding Things, by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
Waiting, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Garth Williams
American Picture Books from Noah’s Ark to the Beast Within, by Barbara Bader


Episode 43: Live from ALA!

Where we talk all things readers’ advisory, collection development, reference, and other library-related bookish stuff, from your friends at Booklist. Want more? Is it even possible? Go to www.booklistonline.com/newsletters to discover the magic.

Checking In, Checking Out is the official podcast of Niles-Maine District Library.

With each mini episode, we'll share a little bit of new or useful library-related information. Tune in for staff picks, book talks, technology news and more!

New tracks tagged #Public Libraries