Middle Country Public Library Podcast

In this special America 250 episode, Sal quizzes Sara & Nicole with questions from the US Citizenship Civics test!
Explore the path to naturalization, eligibility requirements, and the naturalization process before diving into trivia covering the Constitution, separation of powers, the Great Compromise, the Electoral College, key amendments, historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Sojourner Truth, major events from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War, and more. Are you becoming a citizen? Did you know the library offers citizenship classes? Contact us to find out about our next sessions.
Did you pass the test? Let us know in the comments!

We kick off our special series celebrating America's 250th birthday with a discussion of the musical (and movie) Hamilton! Stay tuned to the end for some exciting news for our patrons coming this fall...

Join librarians from the adult, children's and teen departments as we cover this year's clubs and learn how reading this summer can enter you into a raffle to win amazing prizes and access to fun experiences.
Sign up and unearth a story with reading! And remember: audiobooks and graphic novels count, too!

Discover the untold story behind the film that changed cinema forever. On the 49th anniversary of its release, uncover the wild origins of Star Wars: surprising early concepts, revolutionary effects, and casting choices that nearly went a very different direction. From desert shoots to groundbreaking visuals and a soundtrack for the ages, this is how the original space opera was born.

This week, Nicole explores the Authors Guild's latest best practices for writers using AI, along with a major lawsuit settlement involving Anthropic and the implications for authors whose work may have been used in AI training.
Then Sara dives into timely summer advice on protecting your skin from cancer risks, including what to watch for and simple ways to stay safe in the sun.

Dive into a delightful chat about North America's only marsupial—the opossum—and why these wobbly, tick-munching backyard heroes deserve more love. Learn their wild facts: pouches full of tiny babies, playing dead like pros, snake venom resistance, and why they're secretly ecosystem superstars.
Then shift gears to the rising world of young adult romance graphic novels, where dreamy stories, figure skating rivals, and heartfelt connections come alive in stunning illustrations. Perfect for fans of sweet tropes and beautiful artwork.

Nicole explores the "Fourth Grade Slump"—the well-documented drop in reading comprehension scores that often occurs when students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Drawing from Daniel Willingham’s book "Why Don’t Students Like School?", she discusses how background knowledge is essential for understanding texts, why the gap widens along socioeconomic lines, and how prior exposure to ideas, vocabulary, and experiences gives some children a significant advantage. Then, Sara highlights popular music available to stream instantly on Hoopla Digital, playing a game of name-that-tune, along with plenty of "singing."

This week: discover a selection of fresh arrivals at the library—from pulse-pounding thrillers and emotional romances to fascinating nonfiction and easy sheet-pan meals that make weeknight cooking a breeze.
Then join a lively debate on a groundbreaking California jury verdict holding tech giants accountable for the addictive design of social media and its impact on young users, raising timely questions about responsibility, parenting, and the future of digital platforms.
Join us for a thought-provoking mix of book buzz and real-world conversation you won't want to miss!

Did you know it's National Poetry Month? In this week's episode, Nicole shares why it's the perfect time to introduce your little ones to the joy of poetry. Then, Sara recommends some excellent TV series you can stream for free with your library card through Kanopy—most of them British shows. Tune in to discover your next binge-worthy series!

On this our 45th Movie Chat, we dive into the twisted world of Yorgos Lanthimos's latest film Bugonia, featuring standout performances by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. What begins as a tense kidnapping tale spirals into a darkly comic exploration of paranoia, corporate power, and humanity's fragile place in the universe. Expect sharp dialogue, unexpected turns, and an emotional finale that leaves a lasting impression.