Episode Transcript
[00:00:18] Speaker A: Greetings, readers, and welcome to the second episode of our April 2026 Library News. April has arrived, bringing a true sense of spring, longer days, blooming flowers, and a little bit of everything when it comes to the weather. One day calls for a light jacket, the next feels like pure sunshine. Which can only mean one thing. Spring is in full swing. As the seasons come to life, it's the perfect time to discover something new.
In today's episode, we're jumping into our D List celebrating National Library Week. Leland's back with a tech tip about keyboards, and Leslie is this month's staff spotlight. Grab a cozy spot, maybe a snack, and let's dive into today's lineup.
[00:00:59] Speaker B: And now for this month's D List celebrating National Library Week, where we honor the magic of libraries and the people who protect and share our stories.
The Library Book By Susan Orlean, DB 92869 the author reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in US history. On April 29, 1986, fire broke out at the Los Angeles Public Library and destroyed or damaged more than a million books. Examines the evolution of public libraries while celebrating their values in society.
The Personal Librarian By Marie Benedict, DB103929 In 1906, Belle Da Costa Green was hired by J.P. morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Bell becomes a fixture in the New York City's society, but she is African American, passing as white. The Midnight Library By Matt Haig, DB100906 after she attempts suicide, Nora wakes up in a mysterious library. The shelves are full of books, each the stories of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with other books for the other lives that you could have lived.
[00:02:47] Speaker C: The Library of The Unwritten by A.J. hackwith, DB96922 Claire is head librarian of the Unwritten wing of Hell's Library, where stories unfinished by their authors reside.
When a hero escapes from his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must capture him with the help of her assistant, Claire Bevity, and demon courier Leto.
The Paris Library by Janet Scassilian, Charles, DB 102251 Paris 1939 Young and ambitious Odile Sachet has it all her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris.
When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library.
The Library of Legends By Janie Chang, DB 1028301937 when the city of Nanjing is bombed by the Japanese. 19 year old hu Lien is ordered to flee with her university community.
They form a convoy to walk a thousand miles to safety. Leanne and her fellow students are also entrusted with a priceless treasure. The Library of Legends The Library at
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Mount Char by Scott Hawkins, DB 82679 Carolyn and a few others were brought as children to an unusual library that exists outside of time. There they acquired various special abilities.
When the godlike figure they call Father disappears from the library, Carolyn and her siblings search for him.
The Stranger in the Library By Eva Gates, DB125525 When a reproduction of a famous painting is stolen from a traveling show of Impressionist art, librarian Lucy is painted into a corner when a murder occurs, while Louise Jane is captivated by handsome art dealer who might be the killer and the person threatening to her heart.
The Book Lover's Library by Madeline Martin, DB124108 in Wartime England, widow Emma, when she's separated from her daughter, seeks solace in the friendships she forms at Boots Book Lovers Library. But when the blitz intensifies, she fights to reunite with her daughter, learning to depend on her community and the power of literature to find hope in the darkest of times.
The Small Town Library Cat who Touched the World By Vicki Myron, DB72898 Spencer Iowa Public Library Director Vicki Myren describes finding a kitten in the book drop in 1988 named Do We Read More Books by Library Staff. The feline becomes an increasingly famous mascot over the next 19 years.
Myron also discusses her divorce circumstances, single parenthood, breast cancer scare, and love of librarianship.
[00:06:05] Speaker C: The April magazine of the month is Sports Illustrated. Published 11 times a year, Sports Illustrated delivers expert coverage of international and American spectator sports, highlighting major events, outdoor activities, and the personalities behind them. The publication is accessible via digital download on Bard and digital Audio cartridges.
[00:06:26] Speaker B: Leland Here Back with this month's Tech Tip. Today, let's talk about keyboards, but specifically that mysterious fourth key that is often found in the bottom left corner. This is the FN key, which stands for function. Let's dive in. The function key is a modifier key, much like the shift key. RAL shift capitalizes letters. The FN key activates secondary commands assigned to the F1 through F12 keys and the arrow keys. These shortcuts allow you to quickly adjust volume, change screen brightness, or toggle modes like airplane mode, just as Caps Lock allows you to type in all caps without holding shift. Many keyboards feature a function lock. When active, your function keys will perform their secondary actions by default. This is important to keep in mind if your keyboard shortcuts suddenly stop working. You can usually find the FN lock icon on the Escape key, activated by hitting the FN plus Escape or located just to the right of the F12 key. And there you go. Now you know a little more about your keyboard. I hope you found this helpful and I'll catch you next month with another tech tip.
[00:07:55] Speaker D: Hello, this is Leslie with this month's staff. Pick One of the books that I have read recently and just loved is the Correspondent by Virginia Evans, DB 129105. In fact, I loved it so much that I made my book club read it too.
A debut novel for the author, the story is told through letters to and from the main character, Sybil, a woman in her 70s living alone. We get to know her through nothing but the letters she's written and received.
She's corresponding with family, friends, authors, and literally anyone and everyone we see her humor, her regrets, her personal feelings, and everything in between.
There is also a slight mystery.
This novel is packed with emotion and read by a full cast of narrators, bringing the characters to life and delivering authenticity and uniqueness to each correspondence. I was literally laughing out loud at times and then tearing up the next minute. Through Sybil, we explore many important themes and reflections, all of them deep and relevant to everyday life, but at its heart, it's a celebration of life. I highly recommend the Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
[00:08:59] Speaker A: It is not too late to sign up for Peekabox. You can sign up by calling the library at 515-281-1323 or online at IowaLibrary blog. Each month, participating patrons will receive a cartridge of specially curated books set in that month's Olympic coast city and a sticker to stamp the passport they will receive with their first box. Picabox is designed for patrons 18 years
[00:09:26] Speaker B: and older interested in joining a book club. We offer several options for all ages and reading styles, including the Tuesday Book Club, Thursday Book Club, no Book Book Club and Beyond the Book Teen Book Club. Meeting times vary and all groups are accessible by conference call. For schedules and more details, contact the library for more information.
No matter your age or your interest, there's a book club waiting for you.
[00:10:02] Speaker C: And don't forget about all of our wonderful youth programs, Crafting youg Story, beyond the Book Teen Book Club, Makerspace Mondays, and Braille Babies. They offer flexibility, learning opportunities and social connection, all from the comfort of home.
Contact an East Bean Youth Services librarian or the library for more information on these programs.
[00:10:24] Speaker A: Volunteers for the Iowa Library for the Blind Save the Date the Elizabeth Porowski Volunteer Workshop and Luncheon will be held on Friday, April 24th at the Iowa Department for the Blind. We are excited to recognize all the wonderful volunteers and the hard work they have done in the past year.
[00:10:42] Speaker B: The library will be once again part of the Des Moines Book Festival. This year's event will be held Saturday, May 2nd at the Franklin Event center in Des Moines. The library will provide hands on activities surrounding Braille and braille literacy from 11am to 6pm if you are in the area, stop by and say hi and
[00:11:08] Speaker C: an All May Eread will be held on Tuesday, April 28th at 6pm All NLS related programs, including the all May eRead NLS Smart speaker sessions and Many Faces of Bard are hosted virtually via Zoom.
While specific topics for upcoming sessions are still being finalized, you can find the latest updates and schedule announcements on our blog at IowaLibrary Blog or visit the national NLS website at www.loc.govnlS. please don't hesitate to contact the library with any questions or comments at 515-281-1323 or by email at librarylind state ia us.
The library is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Happy reading.
[00:12:15] Speaker E: Sam.
