Episode Transcript
[00:00:17] Speaker A: Greetings readers. Welcome to the second episode of our March 2025 Library News as we embrace this festive month, we're excited to share some fantastic book recommendations, a fun magazine of the month, and of course, Leland's Tech Tip. Emily is our staff Spotlight this month, bringing a unique twist to her favorite picks. Plus, we've got a ton of exciting events lined up, so stick with us until the end.
[00:00:42] Speaker B: Let's get started for this month's D List. Spotlight Shamrock and Shenanigans St. Patrick's Day Murder by Leslie Meyer, DBC 24848 Lucy Stone investigates the death of Old Dan Malone, whose headless body is found floating in the harbor. The trouble escalates when Dan's brother Dylan Malone arrives in Tinker's Cove from Ireland to direct a local church production of Finian's Rainbow, as well as help his brother renovate the bilge Old Dan's Waterfront dive into an upscale pub.
The Irish American by James G. Cusick, DB 6880 University of Notre Dame Professor Researches Irish immigration to the United States, both Catholic and Protestant, from colonial times to the 21st century. Highlights important figures and uses primary sources to depict the unique heritage of this group. Selects four elements politics, religion, labor, and nationalism that distinguish Irish Americans from other peoples.
Angela's ashes by Frank McCourt, DB42 805 Frank McCourt recollects his miserable Irish Catholic childhood in the squalor of Limerick. Absent any support from his glib but shiftless alcoholic father, the family suffered hunger, cruelty, disease, and the death of children. McCourt recounts his story without rancor.
How the Irish Saved Civilization, by Thomas Cahill, DB41657 Cahill demonstrates how literacy and classical learning survived through the efforts of men so strange they lived in little huts on rocky outcrops and shaved half their heads and tortured themselves. The author chattily relates how these Irish monks began in the 5th century to hand copy literature crucial to the later growth of medieval culture.
[00:02:46] Speaker C: The Green Road By Ann Enright, DB82528 Rosaline Magen raised four children in a small town in western Ireland. Each of those children left for lives of their own in Mali, Dublin, and America, but they converged once more at the family home before it is sold.
Wild Irish Rubble by Tricia O'Malley, DB 116139 Morgan MacKenzie has been on her own since she ran away from a nightmarish foster home at the age of 16. Afraid to put down roots again, only to be hurt Once more, Morgan prefers to be constantly on the move until she is inexplicably pulled to the small Irish town of Grace's Cove. Before she knows it, Morgan is settling in and forming relationships for the first time in her life. Determined to keep her walls up, to protect both her heart and a touch of magic she carries, Morgan fights against her growing attraction for the town's golden boy, Patrick Carney. Patrick can't keep his eyes off Morgan. Since the moment he saw Morgan across the dance floor at Keilan's wedding, Patrick has been lost, pulled in by her beauty and vulnerability. Patrick's frustration grows as his advances are continually rebuffed. As Morgan rebels against her feelings for Patrick, she is swept into a battle against her own worst demons.
Murder in an Irish village by Carlin O'Connor, DB124849 Siobhan O'Sullivan runs the family bistro, named for her mother, along with her five siblings. It's been a rough year for them, but it's about to get rougher when they discover a man seated at table with a pair of scissors protruding from his chest. With the local garda suspecting the O'Sullivans and the business being shunned, it's up to Siobhan to solve the crime.
[00:05:18] Speaker A: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin, DB 69470 1950s Young Eilish Lacey immigrates from Enniscorthy, Ireland, to Brooklyn, New York. Encouraged by her family and with the priest's help, Eilish is lonely and homesick, but takes night courses, meets an Italian boy, and adjusts to American life until a tragedy occurs back home.
Dead in Dublin by CE Murphy, DB 98496 Ferrying tourists around Dublin for the Leprechaun limo service makes quite a change after Megan Malone's years in the military, and she enjoys it. Then one of her clients, restaurant critic Elizabeth Dar, drops dead, and the worried owner of the restaurant that Dhar had just left begs Megan to Investigate.
Love at First Book by Jen McKinlay, DB 121411 When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author's prickly son until the story becomes one for the books from the New York Times Best selling author of Summer Reading, Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha's Vineyard, has always dreamed for a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Reardan, offers her a job in Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan's novels got em through some of the darkest days of her existence, helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series after a 10 year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer's block is a dream come true for Emily.
If only she didn't have to deal with Siobhan's son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan's bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn't want Em around. Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she's built and for the man who seems to soften towards her every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran's initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kir. As Siobhan's novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she's truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: For March, our magazine of the month is Best Friends. This uplifting publication is the go to magazine for pet lovers across the nation. Filled with heartwarming stories, inspiring rescue tales and stunning photos, Best Friends is the official magazine of Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization committed to saving the lives of homeless pets. Published six times a year, Best Friends is also available in audio format, both on cartridges and as downloads through Bard.
[00:08:32] Speaker C: Hello and welcome to this month's Tech Tip. I'm Leland and this month I want to talk about the different ways you can access our collection of books and the benefits of each. There are four main ways, along with some additional receiving books from your state NLS library using the NLS Bard website, Bard Express on PC and Bard Mobile for phones and tablets each provide access to the same collection of Braille and audiobooks with a few minor differences.
First, you can receive books through your state library.
We offer monthly themed book lists, a book club, large print books, physical braille books, and personalized Braille book suggestions based on your favorite subjects and authors. We also host events throughout the year. Visit our website at IowaLibrary blog to learn more and subscribe for email updates.
Next, there's the NLS Bard website. It provides helpful links on how different Bard services work and how to get started. This is also where you can download Bard Express for your computer. For Mac users, the Bard website is the only way to download and transfer books to a cartridge at home.
Bard Express is a Windows program that simplifies searching for and downloading books from Bard.
You can play books directly from Bard Express or transfer them onto a cartridge with just a few clicks.
Bard Mobile is an app available for phones and tablets, allowing you to search for and play books on the go.
One advantage is the convenience of carrying your books wherever you go.
However, audiobooks take up significant storage space, so your device may run out of room after downloading multiple books. Bard is also available on the NLS E Readers, Other Braille Displays, Alexa's Smart Speakers, humanware's Victor Stream Portable Players, and Dolphins Guide Connect software.
No matter how you access NLS Bard, you'll find the same extensive collection of Braille and audiobooks. If you have questions about Bard or any technology related to our library services, feel free to reach out by email at Librarylind State IA or by phone at 515-281-1323.
[00:11:45] Speaker D: Hi everyone, it's Emily here with this month's staff pick. I've selected the book about your father and other celebrities I have known By Peggy Rowe, DB110177 Peggy has been married for over 60 years and has three sons, including Emmy Award winning TV host Mike Rowe. Best known for the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs, Peggy has written three New York Times bestsellers since turning 80 and while I would highly recommend them all, this one is my favorite. This light hearted, laugh out loud book captures the contrast between Peggy's previously doting lifestyle and her husband John's minimalist approach. Their differences provide a backdrop for years of adventure and a quirky sense of humor.
From thoughts of wearing headlamps in the house to save energy to squeezing out the last drop of toothpaste with a workbench vise, Peggy learned to pick her battles and celebrate the hilarity in each situation.
I'll leave you with a quote from her son Mike in the forward, which I think sums it up beautifully. About your father is a terrific collection of funny stories about a devoted husband written by a woman uniquely qualified to tackle the task at hand. Like her first book, this one is really a love letter to the man she refers to as our Prince Charming.
[00:13:04] Speaker B: Join our Thursday Book club on Thursday, March 20th at 2pm for a discussion of It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, A gripping story of love and resilience. Come ready to share your thoughts and insights. To attend, call the library for the conference call details. The Library will once again be a part of the Des Moines Book Festival. This year's event will be held Saturday, March 22nd at the Franklin Event Center. The Library will provide hands on activities surrounding Braille and braille literacy from 10am to 4pm if you're in the area, stop by and say hi. Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker A new limited series program from the National Library Service will be held Thursday, March 20th at 6pm A brief presentation will begin the session. Presenters will spend the remainder of the time answering questions about the presentation that all may eread.
[00:14:01] Speaker C: The monthly NLS program that focuses on the NLS Braille ereader will be held on Tuesday, March 25th at 6pm via Zoom. Also on March 25th. Join NLS for their next NLS Music Notes webinar at 6pm via Zoom. They will be joined by the pianist, composer and NLS Music section patron Juan Choki. They will discuss Mr. Czoeki's journey to becoming a professional musician, his use of Braille music, and his own compositions and inspiration. You can contact the library to get login information for all of the NLS programs.
[00:14:56] Speaker A: This year is the Iowa Department for the Blind's 100th anniversary. Join us for an open house on Wednesday, April 2nd from 3 to 6pm at the Iowa Department for the Blind. There will be tours, history and odors as we kick off the 100th year in honor of the department celebrating such a momentous occasion and to start off the next 100 years of empowering and improving the lives of blind Iowans. We have worked with the side Garage to design a limited edition T shirt for purchase. It's a beautiful navy blue shirt with a white graphic of a stickman and a white cane in the center. The words Making Strides are arched over him and Moving Forward is in a straight line under him. Below that it says Iowa Department for the blind established 1925.
On the back it says Making Strides Moving Forward in Braille. These shirts will be available for purchase online later this month.
[00:15:55] Speaker B: Volunteers for the Iowa Library for the Blind save the date the Elizabeth Perofsky Volunteer Workshop and Luncheon will be held on Friday, April 25th 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. 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.
