Podcasts by The Librarian Is In

Are You There, Frank? It's Me, Gwen from 2019-07-04T10:00

Frank and Gwen announce their return date plus reveal their Summer Reading Challenge

Gwen's Book Flare (Rebroadcast) from 2019-06-27T10:00

What's the opposite of a book slump? We're calling it a flare, and Gwen is on one. She and Frank have a flurry of adult book recommendations, from dystopian novels to innovative science fiction....

Peyton DisPlaced (Rebroadcast) from 2019-06-20T10:00

Another crossover episode with our fine friends from the Overdue podcast! Frank and Gwen join Craig and Andrew in Philadelphia to discuss the 1956 novel...

The Librarian Is LIVE (Rebroadcast) from 2019-06-13T10:00

This week we take you back to our first-ever live show, recorded in Frank's very own Jefferson Market Library! Gwen and Frank talk to Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and author of a new book about ...

Hogwarts&Hollywood (Rebroadcast) from 2019-06-06T10:00

It's the first-ever Reading Challenge episode! Gwen and Frank assigned books to each other to read and discuss on the air. Hijinks ensue...

Book Recommendations 

Listen

DIY ASMR, Library-Style from 2019-05-23T10:00

This episode is brought to you by our soon-to-be-rival podcast, dreamed up by YA librarian Crystal Chen—who's also this week's guest! All rights reserved by her! We talk musicals, poetry, what i...

Comfort Reads from 2019-05-16T10:00

Gwen and Frank tackle one book that feels comforting and homey; one that's distinctly unsettling; and one that's somewhere in between. Plus: A stranger on the train helps us deconstruct the geni...

Carla Hayden Wants You to Read a Book from 2019-05-09T10:00

Dr. Carla Hayden sits down with Gwen and Frank to discuss what it really means to lead the Library of Congress—which, by the way, isn't only FOR Congress. Plus: lessons she learned from storytim...

Reading Stonewall from 2019-05-02T10:00

It's the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and Jason Baumann—NYPL curator and Grand Marquessa of All Things Stonewall—joins Gwen and Frank to discuss the Library's new anthology about the...

Call Your Librarian from 2019-04-25T20:37:19

Aminatou Sow, writer and co-host of the popular podcast "Call Your Girlfriend," talks with Gwen and Frank about poetry, the mental treadmill of the Internet, and her childhood best friend: the l...

Heartland, Homeland from 2019-04-18T10:00

What makes a place home? Frank follows a book rec from a listener and discovers a powerful memoir that makes him rethink the American dream. Gwen's book is a new fairytale retelling... sort of.....

Are you – Nobody – too? from 2019-04-11T10:00

Our Poetry Bonanza has arrived! In this episode --titled to pay homage to Frank's favorite Emily Dickinson stanza-- he and Gwen get to read and hear poetry recommendations from their listeners.<...

Breaking the Mold from 2019-04-04T10:00

Gwen and Frank meet a handful of characters who aren't bothered by what other people think. Plus: the pros and cons of reading reviews, the extra voice in translations, and the no-person's-land ...

Reading (or Not) as a New Parent from 2019-03-28T10:00

How on earth can you read when you have a newborn? Stephanie Anderson—a new mom and a professional book selector for NYPL and the Brooklyn Public Library—comes to talk about the shifting habits ...

The Gods Are Alright. But the Humans... from 2019-03-21T10:00

Greek mythology and contemporary fiction join forces this week! Gwen and Frank read two books that make readers ask, what would you do—or, what should you do?

Book Recommendation...

Dance Your Books Off from 2019-03-14T10:00

Okay, what's the deal with librarians and musical theater? This week's guest, newly minted children's librarian Kevin Kelley, traces his origin story back to the s...

Bonus Episode - Frankenstein: Our Dark Mirror from 2019-03-12T10:00

Over 200 years ago, a teenage girl started a literary legacy that continues to haunt us today. Why do we still keep telling this story and how does it reflect our darkest fears? The New York Pub...

Playing the Long Game with Lorde and Parker from 2019-03-07T11:00

Audre Lorde and Pat Parker were close friends who fought fiercely for social justice. In this episode, Frank and Gwen discuss a powerful book of letters between the two Black feminist poets.  Listen

Library, Meet Bookstore from 2019-02-28T11:00

Get rowdy with Roxanne Coady, indie bookstore owner and host of the Just the Right Book podcast. Roxanne finds common ground with Frank and Gwen, talking about places where people seek connectio...

The Librarian Is ALL IN from 2019-02-21T11:00

Gwen's quest to learn more about Carol Channing took both her and Frank to a place where divas and dames truly reign- Broadway! Plus: Frank's book taps into the cultural obsession with visiting ...

Curatorial Curiosities from 2019-02-14T11:00

Books have lives too! Frank and Gwen take a break from talking about the words on the page and get into the stories of items in NYPL's archives. In this specially ...

The Evolution of Joy from 2019-02-07T11:00

... or the joy of evolution? Frank's book traces the whole history of humankind and Gwen's is a short narrative about big changes. Plus: You can't talk about joy without talking about Christine ...

Time(less) Travel from 2019-01-31T11:00

Book synergy abounds! Frank rediscovers Anne Frank's diary in a newly released graphic novel, Gwen becomes obsessed with a group of time-traveling historians, and ...

Don't Worry, Be Mary Oliver from 2019-01-24T11:00

Frank and Gwen celebrate the life and work of Mary Oliver by reading a handful of her poems and doing something she might approve of—letting it all go and singing about dogs.

Mourning Heathcliff, Hedwig, and All the Literary Dogs from 2019-01-17T11:00

Have you ever truly grieved over the loss of someone in a book? Together with Eric Molinsky, host of the Imaginary Worlds podcast, Frank and Gwen dive into the psychology of readers' responses t...

New Fiction! New Fiction! from 2019-01-10T11:00

Gwen gets fired up about reading—you guessed it—new fiction this year, while Frank dips into the backlist of a new favorite author. Plus: New Year's resolutions, The Bachelor, and the best short...

Glory Edim Is Just Getting Started from 2018-12-27T11:00

Glory Edim, creator of the coolest book club on the Internet, joins Frank and Gwen to discuss book clubs and beyond! They talk about  Listen

Pitch Imperfect from 2018-12-20T11:00

Aca-scuse me? It's an impromptu celebration of our favorite feel-good a capella movie... and, oh yeah, some book recommendations, too. Frank goes for a soul-searching memoir about spirituality a...

The Librarian Is LIVE from 2018-12-13T11:00

Welcome to our first-ever live show, recorded in Frank's very own Jefferson Market Library! Gwen and Frank talk to Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and author of a new book about libraries and socia...

Anger Is a Gift from 2018-12-06T11:00

Aristotle famously (er, probably) said that anger is a gift, and Gwen's been given one this year: Rebecca Traister's book about the power of women's rage, "Good and Mad." Plus, Frank finds more ...

Check Out This Sculpture from 2018-11-29T11:00

We're obsessed with libraries loaning unconventional items: seeds, toys, tools, clothes, games, museum passes... and sculptures. Local artist Wendy Richmond joins Gwen and Frank to talk about he...

Keeping You Company in the Kitchen from 2018-11-22T11:00

Whether you're cooking turkey for 20 or opting out of Thanksgiving entirely, books about food are always in season. Frank and Gwen talk about their favorite cookbooks and chef memoirs with NYPL'...

Pop-Culture Storytime (with Garfield) from 2018-11-15T11:00

What makes a good story time? Anthony Murisco, youth librarian extraordinaire, joins Frank and Gwen to talk all things kids and books. Plus: everyone's favorite lazy cartoon cat, a true stumper ...

BiblioSmiles from 2018-11-08T11:00

A library podcast about a book about libraries? Sign us up! Frank goes meta this week with an in-depth review of Susan Orlean's new page-turner, and and Gwen sees an author of children's classic...

The Librarian Is In... the Voting Booth! from 2018-11-01T10:00

It's almost Election Day. Do you know where your voting rights are? Christopher Famighetti, professor at Jefferson Market University, joins Frank and Gwen for an in-depth convo about voting — an...

Between Terror and Humor from 2018-10-25T10:00

It's almost Halloween, and it got so creepy we scared Gwen away. Frank braves the gore with Isaiah Pittman, horror aficionado and adult services librarian at NYPL. They talk scary books AND movi...

This Is Not the Foe You're Looking For from 2018-10-18T10:00

Gwen and Frank tackle a near-future dystopian novel about space colonization and a sobering work of journalism about the fallacy of modern philanthropy. Plus: why pho is objectively the best foo...

Hot Topix Galore from 2018-10-04T10:00

Frank and Gwen are all about feminist texts this week. They go back in time with the classic short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" — which is also NYPL's newest Listen

Childhood Game-Changers from 2018-09-27T10:00

When we asked our book experts about books that changed their lives, we fell in love with their picks — and we wanted you to hear what they had to say, in their own voices. Plus: Frank and Gwen ...

When Escape Leads You Back to Reality from 2018-09-20T10:00

Gwen and Frank discover two very different alternate worlds that speak to our present times. Their seemingly mismatched books offer stellar writing and clever takes on fantasy, dystopias and cri...

Thanks for Asking from 2018-09-13T10:00

Rosa Caballero-Li, manager of Ask NYPL, has all the answers! Rosa tells Frank and Gwen about the ins, outs, ups, and downs of the Library's multifaceted reference service, staffed by real-live h...

This Book Is No Joke from 2018-09-06T10:00

Which books do you wish you'd read in high school? Frank and Gwen offer up some ideas and then move on to city novels with urban themes and a picture book about a dog who tries to be a fork. Plu...

Harry Potter Meets Jane Eyre from 2018-08-30T10:00

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, Gwen and Frank fall hard for the wise and wonderful Vanessa Zoltan of the Listen

Teens Take Charge from 2018-08-23T10:00

Frank and Gwen get a visit from BridgeUP, NYPL's holistic academic support program for NYC teens. They talk to a teen scholar and program leader ...

Guess What SHOULDN'T Replace Libraries? from 2018-08-16T10:00

Answer: anything! Frank and Gwen discuss why for-profit businesses cannot and should not take libraries' place in society. Plus, recommendations for two small books that contain very big worlds....

America Is Not The Heart from 2018-08-09T10:00

It's our third annual Summer Reading Challenge! This year, Frank and Gwen picked Listen

May I Remove Your Preconceived Notions? from 2018-08-02T10:00

Frank and Gwen break down romance novel stereotypes with fellow NYPL librarian Anne Rouyer. The genre often gets dismissed as fluff, but romance can subvert the traditional confines of gender, p...

What Makes a Good Beach Read? from 2018-07-26T10:00

We're finding our midsummer vacation reading groove! Gwen is spectacularly awed by a debut novel and Frank gets drawn into a thriller (with a dash of reader real-estate jealousy).

Our Boo...

Memory Lane from 2018-07-19T10:00

We're 100 episodes old! Frank and Gwen mark their centennial by responding to listener messages and revisiting some favorite themes. Plus: a list of our favorite episodes for new (or new-ish) li...

On Your Mark, Get Set... from 2018-07-12T10:00

It's time again for our Summer Reading Challenge! In this mini-episode, Frank and Gwen pick a book to dive into together and invite you to read along with them, so place those library holds for ...

You Can't Always Get What You Want from 2018-07-05T10:00

Gwen is so moved by one of the three poems she brings to the studio that she can't even read it (she tried!). An...

Help Me, Rhonda! from 2018-06-28T10:00

Gwen and Frank discover some surprising pieces of family history when Rhonda Evans, Electronic Resources Librarian at NYPL, arrives in the studio with a pile of documents and connects the dots f...

Border Stories from 2018-06-21T10:00

Frank and Gwen share thoughts and reading recommendations about immigration, families, and children at the border. Plus: Frank asks what-if and Gwen ponders three recent books on motherhood.

Crossing Food Boundaries from 2018-06-14T10:00

Dr. Shayne Figueroa joins Frank and Gwen to discuss books and food nostalgia, Amish soul food (it's a thing!), and how NYC's free school lunch program is attempting to lift an age-old stigma. Pl...

May I Remove Your Cravat? from 2018-06-07T10:00

Frank and Gwen revisit the recent Booker Prize winner, Lincoln in the Bardo, as Frank gets serious about the afterlife and our understanding of history. Then Gwen turns the studio in a ...

Call Me, Jason Reynolds from 2018-05-31T10:00

Gwen and Frank get a visit from Elisa Garcia, Supervising Librarian of Teen Services at the Bronx Library Center, who brings the guessing-game drama and recommendations galore. Plus: Elisa talks...

It's Not You, Book, It's Me from 2018-05-24T10:00

Frank confesses his sometimes-complicated relationship with certain books and his bouts of book insecurity. Plus: What happens when Frank and Gwen serendipitously read the same book around the s...

The Bronx Gets a New Book Festival from 2018-05-17T10:00

Saraciea Fennell, founder of the Bronx Book Festival, joins Frank and Gwen to talk about bringing this event to the borough and the line-up for this weekend. Plus: how Saraciea found her way int...

Gwen's Book Flare from 2018-05-10T10:00

What's the opposite of a book slump? We're calling it a flare, and Gwen is on one. She and Frank have a flurry of adult book recommendations, from dystopian novels to innovative science fiction....

Singing in the Library from 2018-05-03T10:00

What happens when you tap the musical talents of NYPL's librarians? Frank and Gwen get to relive their professional recording cameos with Sean Ferguson, manager of Chatham Square Library and a d...

Peyton DisPlaced from 2018-04-26T10:00

Another crossover episode with our fine friends from the Overdue podcast! Frank and Gwen join Craig and Andrew in Philadelphia to discuss...

The Great Work Continues from 2018-04-18T21:51:52

Frank and Gwen's discussion with Dan Kois on Angels in America continues (an epic conversation in two parts!) Plus: a trip to The New York Public Library of Performing Arts in the Upper West Sid...

The Great Work Begins from 2018-04-12T10:00

Dan Kois is a writer and editor for Slate. His recent book is called "The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America." It's a collection of oral histories, beautifully arranged by...

Hard-boiled Noir from 2018-04-05T10:00

Frank dives into the dark and depraved world of noir, explains the basics of the genre and delivers a saucy read from one of his favorite books. Gwen does some detective work herself, taking us ...

Visiting the City of Librarianly Love from 2018-03-29T10:00

Frank and Gwen headed to Philadelphia and brought home the sights, sounds, and book recommendations of the Public Library Association's 2018 conference. Plus, hard-hitting journalism: Is breakfa...

Bedtime Stories from 2018-03-22T10:00

Gwen and Frank share books recs for bedtime—good reads for kids of all ages and one read that's definitely for grown-ups only... Plus, if you're at the Public Librarians Association Conference i...

Small (Town Library) Talk from 2018-03-15T10:00

Frank and Gwen chat with New York Times Features Reporter, Steven Kurutz about his recent Literary Hub essay, Listen

The LibROCKian Is In from 2018-03-08T11:00

Fred and Barney... er, Frank and Gwen are reading books with different approaches to the same question: Who are you and what do you want out of life? (This episode has nothing to do with The Fli...

Living in the Library from 2018-03-01T11:00

Actor Sharon Washington joins us to talk about her one-woman play "Feeding the Dragon," based on her experience growing up inside a New York Public Library branch in the 1970s. She tells us abou...

The First Rule of Diverse Books Club Is... from 2018-02-22T11:00

RuthAnn Deveney from the Diverse Books Club gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her group's themes and book picks, her love of spreadsheets, and her Philly-specific sandwich recommendations. Pl...

New Yaaawk Stories from 2018-02-15T11:00

All the complexities of the city so nice, they named it twice! Frank goes deep into nostalgia territory, digging up childhood memories, classic accents, and urban anxieties. Gwen follows with a ...

They've Come UnDonne from 2018-02-08T11:00

Gwen asks, "Is this poem about God?" and Frank is (nearly) brought to tears as they untangle the divine and the bawdy (and naughty) in two John Donne poems. Luckily  Dr. Carolyn Broomhead joins ...

Don't Shush Me! from 2018-02-01T11:00

It's World Read Aloud Day, and Gwen and Frank are hearing voices from ghosts and robots. But they still manage to keep it together to recommend some books and play an extra round of their guessi...

How Many Hats Can a Librarian Wear? from 2018-01-25T11:00

Books and reading are the foundation of any library but your local librarian is doing so much more: computer help, test prep and yes, even knitting. This week, Gwen and Frank talk to Erin Horanz...

Survey Says... from 2018-01-18T11:00

IS Margaret Atwood a bad feminist? Yeeeeeesh, we don't know. Frank and Gwen talk about the allegations against Aziz Ansari and then, thankfully, move onto books: nonfiction about young immigrant...

The Beginning or the End? from 2018-01-11T11:00

This week, Gwen and Frank take on books ranging  from the collapse of modern civilization to a murder "how-done-it" told exclusively from the point of view of a perspicacious fetus. 

Get ...

New Year, New (Reading) You from 2018-01-04T14:51:59

Want to broaden your reading horizons this year? Librarian extraordinaire Meredith Mann joins Frank and Gwen to debate the pros and cons of annual reading challenges. Plus: secret database magic...

Immigrants in America from 2017-12-28T11:00

Pam Nogales, a Ph.D. candidate at New York University, joins Gwen and Frank to talk about her newest class for Jefferson Market University—the free classes at Jefferson Market that are taught by...

That Episode about 'Cat Person' from 2017-12-21T11:00

Gwen and Frank take on "Cat Person," the New Yorker story that turned the Internet upside down, and make some book recs based on its tone and subject.

Get a full rundown of episodes and l...

Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy in General from 2017-12-14T11:00

Frank didn't feel well this week, but he's figuring out to be happy anyway while Gwen dives into cozy Chanukah romance and Kwanzaa picture books. And did we mention Frank didn't feel well?

Where Are the Fat-Positive Children's Books? from 2017-12-07T11:00

Spoiler alert: They barely exist! Frank and Gwen talk to librarian and advocate Angie Manfredi about the missing fat kids (and adults) in literature, the importance of body diversity in books, a...

This Episode Was Really Hard To Title from 2017-11-30T11:00

Gwen goes nuts for an alt-history about hippo ranching (IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL THING!), and Frank goes nuts for a memoir by incomparable actor and role model Gabourey Sidibe.

A Thanksgiving Best Books Grace-Off! from 2017-11-22T18:59:11

Settle in with your turducken and check out our 2017 Best Books for Kids and Teens! Take a deep dive into NYPL's annual lists, with committee members Grace Yamada and Grace Dwyer debating their ...

Never Let Me Go. Seriously, Never. from 2017-11-16T11:00

Gwen and Frank take a deep, emotional dive into a masterpiece by this year's Nobel Prize winner in Literature: Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go.

Get the full list of episodes at Listen

Frank Brings the Creepy from 2017-11-09T11:00

Frank has a creepy middle-grade/YA novel that's great for adults, and Gwen has a not-at-all-creepy chapter book for preschoolers and early readers that's sure to also delight parents. 

How to Pull Yourself Out of a Book Slump from 2017-11-01T20:30

Gwen and Frank are both struggling to find the perfect book this week — and coming up with some ideas about how to do it. Plus: the glory that is Ilana Glazer.

Terror! Horror! Revulsion! from 2017-10-26T10:00

Happy Halloween! Attended by demonic shrieking, adult services librarian Isaiah Pittman horrifies Gwen and Frank with scary book and film recommendations!  

Hey, Mr. Producer from 2017-10-19T10:00

Against his better judgment, the producer of the Librarian Is In joins Gwen and Frank to talk books, tattoos, and how the podcast came to be.

Bumming' In The 'Burbs from 2017-10-12T10:00

This week Gwen and Frank tackle wonderlands, "What Girls are Made Of," mid-life crisises, and no easy ways out...

Shoutout to the Ex from 2017-10-05T10:00

New NYPL librarian Jenny Chisnell joins the show to talk artist books, The New York Book Fair, and enough of her extraordinarily varied interests and recommendations that Gwen and Frank are imme...

Heaven Is a Place on... Another Planet? from 2017-09-28T10:00

Frank and Gwen traverse the globe and beyond this week, with two dystopian YA books about life on other planets and a memoir about international travel, journalism, and feminism. Plus: Banned Bo...

Llama-Famous! Poetry Extravaganza from 2017-09-21T10:00

Podcasts are red/Podcasts are blue/This episode's all poetry/We hope you like it too!

J.D. Salinger, Whaaaaaat? from 2017-09-14T10:00

What happens when you get My Brother's Husband, A Lost Lady, and Frog and Toad Together in the same room? Find out as Gwen and Frank discuss gay manga, Willa Cather, J.D. Salinger, and Arnold Lo...

The Great Nancy Pearl from 2017-09-06T17:17:36

Frank and Gwen are beyond thrilled to talk to Nancy Pearl, a.k.a. America's Librarian, a.k.a. the guru of readers' advisory, a.k.a. OUR HERO.

Missing Persons and Nowhere Girls from 2017-08-31T10:00

On the show this week: Gwen reads a book that makes her see the world a little differently and Frank gets so lost in his book that time disappears.

Dancing in the Library from 2017-08-24T10:00

This week Gwen and Frank wander wondrously through the wonderland of Dance led by the dazzling Linda Murray, Lead Curator of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of NYPL's Library for the Performin...

The Right Book At The Right Time from 2017-08-17T10:00

Frank and Gwen tackle two powerful narratives of self-acceptance -- and then take respite in a roller derby comic and a love story.

Parker, Postman, and Pooh from 2017-08-09T17:30:54

A 30-year-old book remains intensely relevant for today's world, Gwen rediscovers Dorothy Parker AND reading Pooh to her pre-schooler and Frank  raps!...(sort of).

Get links to a...

Books That Talk and Books You Touch from 2017-07-27T10:00

Frank and Gwen  learn about the Library's work with patrons with print disabilities with Jill Rothstein, chief librarian at the Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library. Plus: More book re...

Remembering the Future from 2017-07-20T10:00

This week, it's all in how you look at it. Feminism, space, time, language, aliens and a whole lot more.

Summer Reading Challenge: Greeks vs. Romans! from 2017-07-13T10:00

For our second Summer Reading Challenge, Gwen and Frank chose a book for each other that they thought they'd love but would never read otherwise. This year, a strange symmetry emerged as they ch...

Scandal! from 2017-07-06T10:00

Who's up for some dubious morality? We're all about the scandal this week, as Frank and Gwen tackle controversial essays, what makes a "beach read," and, um, porcupines in library book drops.

Nancy Books from 2017-06-29T13:39:36

The hosts of WNYC's Nancy podcast join Gwen and Frank for a conversation about queer books, making podcasts, and Xena Warrior Princess... and they Skyped in from their vacation, no less! 

LGBTQ Sci-Fi Book Club from 2017-06-22T10:00

How gay is Sci-Fi anyway? Gwen and Frank welcome Casey Maher, leader of the LGBTQ Sci-Fi Book Crew meetup (held at the Jefferson Market Library)! They discuss everything from technology and gami...

Seeing Yourself on the Page from 2017-06-15T10:00

The fantastic Sona Charaipotra sits down with Frank and Gwen to talk representation and what it's like to see (or not see) your own experiences reflected in a book. Plus: Archie and Riverdale, B...

And Then There Was Chekhov from 2017-06-08T10:00

Wherein we discuss reading (and acting!) Anton Chekhov, the influence of Agatha Christie, and the controversial merits of Go, Dog. Go!

2017 Summer Reading Challenge from 2017-06-01T10:00

Join us as we embark on our Summer Reading Challenge!

Dark, Light,&In Between from 2017-05-25T10:00

We're swinging from heavy, major, important nonfiction to the frothiest and most delightful YA romance this week. 

Attack of the Killer Spelling Bees from 2017-05-18T10:00

Our annual spelling bee,  words we can't pronounce, a trio of music recommendations, and of course what we're reading now.

Making Grown Men Cry, Since 2015 from 2017-05-11T10:00

Sweet-sad poems, ghosts of the Village Past, and melancholy post-Victorian tales of ruined childhoods in creeepy cults... But we manage to have a little fun, too.

Serving the Least Served from 2017-05-04T10:00

Libraries and activism with Cory Eckert, one of the joint chiefs of Storytime Underground! We go in-depth on libraries as non-neutral spaces and how children's librarians stand up for social jus...

American Passions from 2017-04-27T13:38:32

The triumph and tragedy of Jim Thorpe, the difficulty of Henry James, and the ferocity of Emily Dickinson and Camille Paglia. Bonus: Barbra Streisand's underground wonderland!

"Hermione was Black. Dumbledore was Gay." from 2017-04-20T09:30

The founders of Black Girls Create join us to talk about what it's like to be a black girl nerd, defaulting to whiteness in books and pop culture, nerds vs. geeks vs. dweebs, feminism and visibi...

Podcasting the Apocalypse from 2017-04-13T09:00

We’re going weekly!  One week, Gwen and Frank will talk books, culture, and what to read next. On alternate weeks they’ll welcome a very special guest. Let us know what you think!  This week: me...

What Lawyers and Librarians Have in Common from 2017-03-30T10:00

Reena Glazer of the Pro Bono Institute joins Frank and Gwen to talk about lawyers in the library and recommendations for great nonfiction about pro bono legal work. Plus: Purple diaries, yellow ...

Supermodel of the World: Sashay, Shauntee! from 2017-03-22T13:52:07

(Sorry! A previous version of this episode was buggy, but we fixed it. Take a listen, it's a good one!) Wait, Super Model?  Absolutely, but also:  Super Librarian!  Gwen and Frank talk to Outrea...

A Librarian’s Path to Citizenship from 2017-03-02T10:00

How do libraries help immigrants and underserved communities? Find out with NYPL's very own Adriana Blancarte-Hayward. Plus: major love for great journalism, time travel, ghosts, Frank's hair, f...

Kilts, Cupcakes, and Romance Novels from 2017-02-16T10:00

Frank and Gwen dive into two very different romance novels with NYPL librarians Annie Lin and Kate Fais.  Plus: a super-clean podcast, a binge-watch-able show, and a gender-bending picture book....

At Home and Abroad from 2017-02-02T10:30

With books on the Syrian refugee crisis and American "hillbilly" culture, Frank and Gwen are looking for a deeper undstanding of the world here at home, and abroad. Also, dinosaurs.  And then, t...

Lord of the Guys from 2017-01-19T10:30

Overdue in NYC! Frank and Gwen welcome Andrew and Craig of the Overdue podcast for a deep dive into William Golding's 1954 classic, Lord of the Flies. Every reader for him/her/reallyjustHIMself....

#ReadersUnite! from 2017-01-05T11:00

Happy new year! Christopher Platt joins Gwen and Frank to talk about hate crimes, privacy and transparency, and how to start a revolution from your local library. Plus: Project Gutenberg reads, ...

So Long, 2016 from 2016-12-21T11:00

Welcome to our Very Special Holiday Mini-Episode! We talk about our families' book-giving traditions, Santa stress, and a few random gift suggestions.

Lots of Good Fun That Is Funny from 2016-12-08T10:30

Children's librarian Louise Lareau joins Frank and Gwen to talk about NYPL's annual Best Books for Kids list and why you should say "underpants" during first-grade storytime. Plus: Eve Babitz, J...

Turkeys Strike Back from 2016-11-22T16:32:43

Gwen and Frank are joined by Sarah Ball from NYPL's Correctional Services unit to talk about library services for people in jail or prison. Plus: what we're reading, books we're thankful for, an...

The Woman Behind the Curtain from 2016-10-27T10:00

Lynn Lobash, manager of Readers Services, peels back the curtain how how to make great book recommendations—and puts Gwen and Frank to the recommendations test.

Halloween Comes Early from 2016-10-13T10:00

As fall sets in and Halloween approaches, things get a little creeeeeeepy in the studio as Frank and Gwen bravely welcome horror expert and YA librarian Brian Stokes.

Sixteen, Going on Seventeen from 2016-09-29T14:58:27

Manga madness overtakes the podcast when Frank and Gwen are joined by YA librarian Chantalle Uzan. Plus: Love for Liesel... not so much for Lionel Shriver.

Winnie-the-Podcast, Ep. 21 from 2016-09-15T10:00

Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo join Frank and Gwen in the studio this wee... just kidding. But we have the next best thing: Michael Inman, curator of NYPL's Rare Book Division, who tells us abou...

(Literary) Disco Dancing, Ep. 20 from 2016-09-01T10:00

Frank and Gwen are joined by Julia Pistell, co-host of the Literary Disco podcast! We play multiple rounds of guess-the-book, talk about whaling ships and virtual reality and Garfield Minus Garf...

Hot Garbage, Summer in the City, Ep. 19 from 2016-08-18T10:00

Humidity can't exist in outer space! Beat the heat by blasting off into orbit with Frank and Gwen's brand-new segment. Plus: Do audiobooks "count" as reading?

Frankster&The Veve: Ep. 18 from 2016-08-04T10:00

Up for some agony? Frank and Gwen chat about suffering in literature and movies, debate the gender politics of picture books, and hang out with one of our funniest guests ever: Genoveve Stowell,...

One Bad Podcast: Ep. 17 from 2016-07-21T10:00

Gwen can barely contain herself this week when she and Frank are joined by Biz Ellis, one of the hosts of the One Bad Mother podcast, to talk kids and parents and books. And Biz's 6-year-old dau...

Hogwarts&Hollywood: Ep. 16 from 2016-07-07T14:10:46

It's the first-ever Reading Challenge episode! Gwen and Frank assigned books to each other to read and discuss on the air. Hijinks ensue...

Reading Us the (Book) Riot Act: Ep. 15 from 2016-06-23T10:00

Amanda Nelson, managing editor of Book Riot and host of BR's own book recommendation podcast, joins Frank and Gwen to discuss book recommendations. (What else?)

Find show notes and more a...

Take Me Back to Manhattan: Ep. 14 from 2016-06-09T10:00

Frank and Gwen keep it local this week, from a fashion show at Jefferson Market and Open Book Night with Mid-Manhattan's Elizabeth Waters to a great read about the city's Chintz Age and a karaok...

Dame Margaret Comes to Town: Ep. 13 from 2016-05-26T10:00

Margaret H. Willison, a.k.a. The Coolest Funniest Pop-Culture-iest Librarian Ever, joins Gwen and Frank this week for the ultimate high/low-culture episode.

Listen

Closer to Fine: Ep. 12 from 2016-05-12T10:00

Along with Susen Shi from Mid-Manhattan Library, Frank and Gwen reveal their librarianship origin stories on this week's episode. Plus: Self-help books, plays in print, and the legacy of the Ind...

Raspberry Berets: Ep. 11 from 2016-04-28T10:00

Frank and Gwen turn the tables on NYPL's Jessica Strand this week, interviewing the host of Books at Noon about the coolest authors she's ever interviewed herself. Plus: Prince's book-related le...

Bros, Shakespeare,&Nudity... Not All at the Same Time: Ep. 10 from 2016-04-14T10:00

Doug Reside from NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts joins Gwen and Frank to talk about the Bard and the Great White Way. He even raps a teeny tiny bit from Hamilton.

What, Wait, What Happened!? Ep. 9 (Bonus Episode!) from 2016-04-07T19:40

Gwen and Frank discuss books that defy description and throw reality for a loop. Longtime residents of Harlem, Greenwich Village, the Bronx, and more get shout-outs in an interview with NYPL's A...

Grace Jones and Spelling Bees: Ep. 8 from 2016-03-31T09:00

Who's ready to relive some traumatic moments from childhood?! We go toe-to-toe with the winner of the tri-library spelling bee: NYPL's very own Rob Kelley.

Also! After taping Rob discover...

All the Feels: Ep. 7 from 2016-03-17T10:00

Earnestness sets in when Singing Children's Librarian Emily Lazio joins us to talk about courage and encouragement, children's classics, and a cool new trend in picture books. Music by Podington...

Far Out, Friends! Ep. 6 from 2016-03-03T11:00

We're heading back to the '70s this week! Shola Lynch (of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture) joins us to talk about film, art, collecting history, and what it's like to hug Bert...

We Love Men! Ep. 5 from 2016-02-18T11:00

Taboo subjects in adult and children's books alike abound on our fifth episode. Plus, find out what makes a "rare book" rare with our very own rare book librarian, Jessica Pigza.

The Podcast That Must Not Be Named, Ep. 4 from 2016-02-04T14:26:54

Go behind the scenes at BookOps, the Library's special secret spy agen— er, the "technical services" unit. Also: the Helen Ellis/Shirley Jackson/Anita Brookner triumvirate, Frank's shocking Harr...

#TeamEdith, Ep. 3 from 2016-01-21T11:00

We talk about how to fit more reading into busy schedules, Lin-Manuel Miranda, horror books and movies, childhood favorites, David Bowie, Lin-Manuel Miranda again, and our love for Downton Abbey...

Cloning Clooney, Ep. 2 from 2016-01-06T20:34:59

We talk about feminist comics, The Golden Girls, squids and snails, intellectualism, and -- yes -- cloning George Clooney. Plus Frank and Gwen are joined by NYPL's very own Jason Baumann. 

Introducing Ourselves: Ep. 1 from 2015-12-23T17:48:47

Hello, listeners!  "The Librarian is In" is the New York Public Library's new podcast about books, culture, and what to read next. On this, the very first episode, your hosts Frank and Gwen talk...