Stacks and Stories

This fun and informative podcast focuses on books, reading, and Mississippi’s libraries. The Pod Squad members cover a wide variety of book/library-related topics, and some take listeners across the state to visit libraries. Find out what makes Mississippi one of the most literature-rich states in the country.

Trivia Round 2 with Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie

Intro Join Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie for a game of trivia to bring in the new year! Do you think you're smarter than a librarian? Tune in to find out!

01-21
31:35

Trivia with Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie

Intro Join Alex, Megan, Maddie, and Charlie for a game of trivia to bring in the new year! Do you think you're smarter than a librarian? Tune in to find out!

01-13
28:09

End of the Year Wrap-up with Alex, Megan, and Maddie

Intro Welcome to this episode of Stacks and Stories, the podcast of the Mississippi Library Commission. Join Alex, Megan, and Maddie, for a year-end wrap-up as they discuss their favorite reads from this year before we move into the new year. Enjoy! Books / Adaptations Mentioned: My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary Bad Days in History by Michael Farquhar The Betrayal of Anne Frank by Rosemary Sullivan Illuminae by Amy Kaufman & Jay Kristoff None of This is True by Lisa Jewel Tasting History by Max Miller Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Grace Year by Kim Liggett Murder You Employer by Rupert Holmes London by Edward Rutherfurd

12-16
47:30

December Reading Challenge with J.D., Elisabeth, and Maddie

Welcome to this episode of Stacks and Stories, the podcast of the Mississippi Library Commission. Join J.D., Elisabeth, and Maddie, as they discuss their reads for this month's MLC Reading challenge. This month readers were encouraged to read a book adapted into a movie or television series, and then watch the adaptation. Enjoy!   Books / Adaptations Mentioned: The Muppets Christmas Carrol Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Apocalypse Now The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Justified Elmore Leonard Novels A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey The Shining by Stephen King The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

12-02
44:27

Tabletop Role-playing Games with Jeremy, Elisabeth, and Zach

Join Jeremy, Elisabeth, and myself, Zach, as we discuss the world of tabletop role-playing games! We get into what classifies a game as a tabletop role-playing game, what it’s like to play them, and how you could get involved with local groups. Enjoy!

11-18
44:30

Veterans History Project with Charlie and Zach

Join Charlie and myself, Zach, as we discuss the Veterans History Project, an archival project for preserving the stories of American Military Veterans. We discuss what the project is, our experience with it so far, and how others can get involved. Enjoy!  

11-04
38:46

LIB 101 with Alex, Sharon, and Lacy

Join Lacy, Sharon, and Alex as they discuss Lib 101, a professional development program for librarians in Mississippi. They discuss what participants can expect, their past experiences, and how it has benefited them the most in their professional careers. Enjoy!  

10-21
28:27

Spooky Reads with JD, Kristina, Charlie, and Zach

Join J.D., Kristina, Charlie, and Zach as they discuss some of their favorite spooky reads as we head into this Halloween season. Books Mentioned: Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson   Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson   We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson   If it Bleeds by Stephen King   Salem’s Lot by Stephen King   The Shinning by Stephen King   One Second After by William R. Forstchen   Frankenstein by Mary Shelley   Cirque Du Freak Series by Darren Shan   I Am Legend by Richard Matheson   Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz   Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury   Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

10-07
01:01:20

Required Reading with Charlie, Maddie, Megan, and Zach

Join Charlie, Maddie, Megan, and Zach as they discuss their favorite and least favorite reads from our many, varying required reading lists from high school and college. Books Mentioned: The Testament by John Grisham The Crucible by Arthur Miller Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley King Leer by Shakespeare I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Margaret Craven Les Jeux Sont Faits by Jean-Paul Sarte Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

09-16
01:02:51

Mississippi Book Festival with Zach, Alex, and Elisabeth

Join Zach, Alex, and Elisabeth as they discuss the upcoming Mississippi Book Festival. If you're interested in what to expect from this year's book festival, or you're curious to know about years past, stay tuned to find out!    

09-03
24:45

Would You Rather Pt. 2 with Charlie, Zach, J.D., and Russel

Join Charlie, Zach, J.D., and Russel as they play a little game of Would You Rather, with book and reading preferences! Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly hate a book everyone else loves? Stay tuned to find out!

08-19
28:36

Would You Rather with Charlie, Alex, Megan, and Maddie

Join Charlie, Alex, Megan, and Maddie as they play a little game of Would You Rather, with book and reading preferences! Would you rather secretly love a book everyone else hates, or secretly hate a book everyone else loves? Stay tuned to find out!

08-02
25:48

Summer Library Program: Adventure Begins at the Library with Alex, Kristina, Elisabeth, and Zach

This year's collaborative summer library program theme is "Adventure Begins at the Library". These themes focus on personal growth, heroism, action, adventure, and the hero's journey. We've asked various MLC Staff to give a quick overview of a book that fits the theme. Want to hear our staff's recommendations? Then stay tuned! Books mentioned: Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon Fear is the Mind Killer by Kaja Sadowski The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Watership Down by Richard Adams Touching the Void by Joe Simpson The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

07-15
30:17

Young Adult Reads with Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie

Join Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie as they discuss some of their favorite young adult novels and how to define a novel as a young adult novel in contrast to an adult novel. Enjoy! Books Mentioned: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Divergent by Veronica Roth Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson The Companion by Katie Alender The Charlotte Holmes Series by Brittany Cavallaro Cinder by Marissa Meyer Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky NOTE: Please note that the proper pronunciation of the title Sheine Lende is “SHAY-neh LEN-day”— apologies for the mispronunciation of the title character’s name.

06-19
39:42

Beach Reads with Shellie, Riley, and Charlie

Join Shellie, Riley, and Charlie as they discuss what exactly makes a book a good beach read. Is it the themes or locations of the book? Is it the genre of the book? Or, is it something else entirely? Tune in to find out! Books mentioned: Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh The Humans by Matt Haig One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware Piglet by Lottie Hazel The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis The Ruins by Scott Smith

06-05
37:00

Special Collections with Charlie and Tracy

Join Charlie and Tracy as they discuss the ins and outs of special collections and just what makes them so special. Listen as they talk about the various collections and kits that can be borrowed by patrons and libraries, including board games, costumes, hand puppets, story walks, and more! For more information regarding our special collections and kits, you can contact Charlie Simpkins at (601) 432-4498

05-15
38:29

WPA Roundup

Join Zach as he looks back at some of our recent MLC Moments which focus on our collection of WPA files.

05-01
16:54

Shelf Absorbed with Tracy and Shellie

Join Tracy and Shellie on this episode of Shelf Absorbed as they discuss what they've been reading and watching lately.   Books mentioned: The Impossible Life of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer Less by Andrew Sean Greer Foe by Iain Reed I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reed Stoner by John Williams Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera How Strange a Season by Megan Mayhew Bergman Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard Domestic Work by Natasha Tretheway The Teacher by Freida McFadden

04-17
48:39

Behind the Scenes with Katie, Charlie, and Tracy

Join Katie, Charlie, and Tracy as they discuss the ins and outs of podcast development. Listen as they talk about what you need to make a podcast, how to get started, and all the other behind the scenes magic.  

04-03
49:41

Novels in Verse with Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie

Join Alex, Elisabeth, and Charlie as they discuss Novels in Verse. Listen in while they talk about novels in verse as well as their favorite poems and verse novels!   Books and Poems mentioned: The Crossover – Kwame Alexander Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur The Night Library of Sternendach – Jessica Levai Dreaming of You – Melissa Lozada-Oliva Bull – David Elliot We Are All So Good at Smiling – Amber McBride Ain’t Burned All the Bright – Jason Reynolds Chlorine Sky – Mahogany Browne Sharp Teeth – Toby Barlow

03-22
35:34

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