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!By Middle Country Public Library

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!By Middle Country Public Library

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 fa…

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!By Middle Country Public Library

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.By Middle Country Public Library

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 …

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 2…

By Middle Country Public Library

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.By Middle Country Public Library

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 communi…

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 …

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…

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 His…

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!…

In this special episode, we are thrilled to have Amber Gagliardi back in the studio to discuss the library's Seed Library and the amazing programming that we offer. Amber was recently featured in Library Journal as a Mover & Shaker of 2024 for the innovative programming that she has developed here at the library and on Long Island. If you want to l…

What adventures will books take you on this summer? Adventure begins at your library and it's time to join the Summer Reading Clubs! In this special episode, we are thrilled to have librarians from the Youth, Teen, and Adult departments give you the details on how to sign up for this year's clubs, how it works, and how you can win amazing prizes! F…

There's so much happening this summer at MCPL. Join Nicole and Sara as they highlight some of the wonderful programming offered to our patrons, from special outdoor events to crafting, hiking, music, and more! Summer program registration begins for children and teens on June 13th, Adults on June 14th, and our Out-of-District guests on June 24th!…

Sara's here to let us know what new DVDs we should expect in June...from horror to comedy to the latest Ghostbusters sequel, there's something for everyone as we kick off a new month. Plus Nicole is here to update us on the latest release of ChatGPT and other ways that A.I. is slowly but surely becoming part of everything we do.…

We hope you love listening and watching our podcast, but there is a plethora of other podcasts out there that you may enjoy. Sara and Nicole are here to chat about what's new and exciting in the world of podcasts. Now that the summer is upon us, now is a good time to check out something new to listen to while at the beach, at the pool, or just rela…

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and on this week's episode we put Sara and Nicole to the test with some AAPI based trivia! Play along as we discuss Hawaii, the first Indian-American to go to space, delicious hot pot, and much more. Want to learn more about AAPI month? Visit https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/asian-am…

This week we have our first Movie Chat of 2024! Join Sara, Nicole, and Sal as they discuss the 2012 Australian film, "The Sapphires" starring Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Miranda Tapsell, Shari Sebbens, and Chris O'Dowd. The story follows four talented young Aboriginal women who start a music group and end up entertaining troops during the Viet…

This year, the U.S., more specifically the midwestern United States, will see over a billion cicadas emerge as two broods are scheduled to appear at the same time for the first time in over 200 years. Sara has the details on who should expect to see the most activity. Plus, the library has a brand new resource for parents that Nicole is excited to …

If you've been listening to us long enough, you know that Sara is a dog lover and this week she's talking about dog names, along with how to keep your pets safe during the upcoming tick season. Plus: have a kid who is too much into video games and you'd like them to read more? Nicole is here with some book suggestions for kiddos who love to game.…

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? And how about this: did you know that April is also National Stress Awareness Month? Perhaps you can eliminate your stress by reading a lovely poem. Nicole has some tips on where to find books on poetry at the library, and Sara has some tips on how to reduce stress. All around, it's a win-win of an …

This week's show is very diverse in subject matter. On one hand, we have Nicole here to chat about the importance of understanding skin care for young people, and the dangerous trend of pushing certain products where they are not needed. On the other hand, Sara just got back from Gatorland in Orlando, and she can't wait to tell you all about alliga…

This week, Sara and Nicole share a list of age-appropriate movies for kids and adults that revolve around music...and not necessarily musicals. Spend some time with us and find out what you might like to watch, and then come down to the library and take one out today.By Middle Country Public Library

We're pleased to welcome back Jim Ward to the podcast for another This Week in History! Join us as he discusses such events as the Selma March, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire, Three Mile Island, and Jonas Salk's vaccine breakthrough. Are you interested in history? You should check out our History Bites series here: https://tinyurl.com/mcpl-hi…

Our neighborhood will see a near total solar eclipse next month! Sara and Nicole chat about books and activities you can check out to get you ready for the big day. The eclipse will take place between 2pm-4pm on Monday, April 8th.By Middle Country Public Library

Join us for an important and informative discussion on the importance of Media Literacy and how to research and protect yourself in the growing world of AI, Deep Fakes, and Fake Audio. Then test your Media Literacy skills here : https://www.aclib.us/blog/test-your-media-literacy-skills or here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/19/technol…

Sara wants to visit as many national parks as possible...and we have some here in New York State. Find out about the history of the National Park System and the different types. Did you know that March is National Reading Month? Nicole is here with some tips on how to celebrate.By Middle Country Public Library

Did you know that we still have space in some of our great kids programs happening in March at the library? Nicole has a sample of ones you might want to get the kiddos to join. Plus Sara has a list of audiobooks that you might want to check out today using one of our fabulous digital services such as Libby or Hoopla!…

Even though Valentine's Day has come and gone, Nicole has some great romantic books to check out for teens and adults. Plus Sara let's us know what's coming up with March's new DVD releases.By Middle Country Public Library

We are celebrating six years of the podcast! Thank you for all who watch and listen to us every week. This week, Sara and Nicole have a nice list of some new (and rated best) books that you might want to check out and read on a cold winter's night...By Middle Country Public Library

The Super Bowl LVIII is upon us, and this year it's the Kansas City Chiefs vs the San Francisco 49ers. Watch Nicole and Jim as they battle it out representing their team's cities: it's trivia about KC and SF. We are saying whoever wins the trivia wins the big game. We shall see!By Middle Country Public Library

The podcast team is coming to you this week from Podfest 2024! We discuss the event, what we learned, and we talk about how our patrons have access to the resources to record their own podcast right here at MCPL. For more information, visit our Innovation Space page at http://mcplibrary.org/innovation-space…

It's time for another "This Week in History" and for this episode, we are doing something special: focusing on one event. On the 38th anniversary of the Challenger Disaster, Jim Ward is on the show to let us know what was happening in the lead up to the tragic accident that took the lives of seven astronauts, including the first "Teacher in Space,"…

Do you need community service hours in our community? Not sure where to begin? Sara is here to let us know about the Venues for Volunteering Fair coming to our Selden building on Feb. 8th. She will highlight just a few of the organizations scheduled to exhibit. For more info, visit https://mcplibrary.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=54630 Plus Nic…

VITA is returning to MCPL! Patrons needing assistance with filing their taxes who make $60k or less can request an appointment starting January 29th at 9:30am by calling 631-585-9393 Opt. 6. Bethpage Federal Credit Union will provide this service on Feb. 8th, 22nd, Mar. 7th, 21st, and April 4th. Madonna is coming to the Garden and Sara is going! We…

We are kicking off 2024 with Nicole's promised custom (or dare we say "bespoke"?) book horoscopes! This month she concentrates on Aries and Virgo, but if you'd like her to do your sign next, comment and let us know! Plus it's the beginning of the month and time for the New DVD list. Sara also will discuss the Golden Globe nominations.…

We wrap the year up chatting about what we are looking forward to in 2024 from movies, books, TV, and more! We are also thrilled to be speaking at Podfest 2024 next year and representing the library. For more information, visit our blog at http://blog.mcplpodcast.com. Happy New Year from all of us here at the MCPL Podcast!…

First off, we are happy to welcome Sara back to the podcast! It's that time of year once again when the podcast team lets us know what their favorite things were in 2023. Watch and find out if whether or not you agree...and maybe share some of your favorites with us! Next week, we will chat about what we are looking forward to in 2024. Happy Holida…

Would you be able to identify some of the top movie quotes of all time as voted by the American Film Institute? Watch, listen, and find out! You can browse the list here : https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movie-quotes/. Maybe that will inspire you to watch one of these classic films...we have them here at the library! Check one out today.…

On the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jim is here to chat about the event, as well as give you a list of books you might be interested in reading to learn more. Nicole has her last Book Horoscopes of 2023 and an exciting announcement on the future of book horoscopes for 2024.By Middle Country Public Library

It's that time of year once again! Join us as we chat about some of the great holiday films we have available here at MCPL. Remember we have CDs, vinyl records, cookbooks, and more to get you into the holiday spirit. Plus...Nicole has some info on some of our Library of Things items for the kids...browse it here: https://www.mcplibrary.org/educatio…

Happy Thanksgiving to all! You know what we are thankful for? YOU! We appreciate you listening, and now, watching our show! This week we are coming to you a day early to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and to have some fun with some trivia about the history of Thanksgiving. Our questions this year come courtesy of House Beautiful. Check out their websit…