The Librarian Is In

Ep. 234, Crystal's Goodbye

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our hosts discuss the book they read together, and Crystal says goodbye to the podcast!

Short Stories Galore!, Ep 233

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our hosts are back this week to discuss books, culture, and the short stories they've read!

Love A Good Mae West Room, Ep. 232

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Reviews and More Reviews!, Ep 231

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank are back! They kick off the year with chatting how they spent their holiday break. 

We Have Guests!, Ep 230

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal are joined by 2 great NYPL librarians to help close out 2022!

REBROADCAST: Always Under Renovation, Ep. 218

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're revisiting Frank and Crystal's book pick from June: Light From Uncommon Stars. We'll be back next episode with some fabulous guests to...

Perfectly Frank and Crystal, Ep 229

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss books, culture, and what to read before they head out for Thanksgiving (which has already happened!).

Herding Cats? Or Herding Horses..., Ep. 228

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our hosts discuss their free read book picks! Frank read We Spread by Iain Reid and Crystal read My Pinup by Hilton Als. 

Book Club: The Anomaly, Ep. 227

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our hosts discuss this week's book club pick - The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier. 

When 2 (Librarians) Become 1 (Spice), Ep 226

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss the books they picked off of last episode's theme - The Spice Girls!

So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want (to Read)..., Ep 225

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss what they read this week and reveal the theme for next month's read. Be sure to listen to find out what it is so you can res...

Crush Those Bugs, Ep 224

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss Speak Memory and 2 YA books: The Secret Battle of Evan Pao and The Many Meanings of Meilan!

Supply Chain Problems? Not Here!, Ep 223

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss their free read book choices.

Book Club: Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi, Ep 222

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank are back! Join them as they discuss Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi.

Did You Miss Us?, Ep 221

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Heya! Frank and Crystal are back from their break and ready to dive back into all the great books they've read! Join us as they discuss their free rea...

REBROADCAST: Rare books! ASMR! Oh my!, Ep 189

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank in welcoming his new co-host, Crystal Chen! This week they discuss what they've read the past week, as well as library school, rare books, ...

Book Club Read: The Women's House of Detention, Ep 220

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss The Women's House of Detention by Hugh Ryan.  Don't forget Frank and Crystal will be taking July off. See you in August!

Emotional and Spiritual Dividends, Ep 219

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank discuss their free reads and pick their next book club read which has a very special tie to NYPL. 

Always Under Renovation, Ep. 218

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss their book pick: Light From Uncommon Stars!

Social Media, Vlad, and Electronics! (Wait, what?), Ep 217

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our hosts discuss an article Frank read on how social media has affected our society, and Crystal's book pick, Vladimir by Julia May Jones. 

Classic Myths Never Get Old, Ep 216

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank discuss Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis and how modern writers retell classic ancient myths. 

Recommendations For Joy, Ep 215

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss what they read this week and reflect on how reading gives them joy. 

Podcastial Purgatory, Epi 214

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank updates us on his progress in Anna Karenina and Crystal gives us a new book rec!

Crank Is In!, Ep 213

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss Frank's progress on Anna Karenina and Crystal's reading pick for this week. 

Anna Ks All Around!, Ep 212

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss their book picks this week!

Adding Value to People's Lives Via Librarianship, Ep 211

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Crystal and Frank chat with AJ Muhammad, the Head Reference Librarian in the Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division of the S...

Rainy Day Chats About...Bambi?, Ep 210

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank set up their virtual rainy-day-in-a-cafe backgrounds and discuss the latest oboks they've read.

Our First Guest of 2022!: Julie Golia

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal chat with Julie Golia, the curator of history, social sciences, and government information at NYPL. 

A Library Card Is A Good Investment, Ep 208

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Crystal and Frank for an in-depth discussion of The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernandez.

Our Last Episode of 2021!, Ep 207

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss what they read this week and share their favorite reads of 2021. 

Book Club: Velvet Was the Night, Ep 206

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

90s Sitcoms, Trauma, and Audiobooks, Ep 205

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Crystal and Frank discuss old 90s sitcoms, an article about trauma, and the many fun and light hearted audiobooks Crystal listened to. 

Our Cozy Book Club Episode!, Ep 204

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Get cozy and join us as Crystal and Frank discuss what 'cozy' books they read!

Bad Art Friend or Shared [Art] Experience?, Ep 203

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss the New York Times article that has been making waves lately: Who is the Bad Art Friend?

Book Club: A Hot Rod of Energy!, Ep 202

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. 

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee! (And books!), Ep 201

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Crystal and Frank as they discuss what they read on their free read episode!

Book Club! And Our 200th Episode!

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss the books they picked for the mash up of 'pick whatever book you want on a theme' book club episode!

Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds and Survival Horror, Ep 199

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to another episode of The Librarian Is In! Frank and Crystal chose their own books this week.  Sit back and listen in while they discuss thei...

Book Club: The Chosen and the Beautiful, Ep 198

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to another episode of The Librarian Is In! Last episode Frank surprised Crystal by picking this month's book club pick! Take a listen to hear ...

Deluded Restraint or..., Ep. 197

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Crystal and Frank this week as they discuss their free read book picks!

Book Club: The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Ep 196

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Crystal and Frank broke with their track record of very serious novels to read a fun memoir by the well known and VERY glamorous Mariah Care...

Clans and Communities, Ep 195

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Crystal and Frank as they discuss what they read this week!

Book Club: Memorial, by Bryan Washington Ep 194

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To help celebrate Pride month, Frank and Crystal chose Memorial by Bryan Washington from the Recent LGBTQ Reads From Both Familiar and Fresh Voice...

A military phase? Or is it just synergy? Ep 193

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss what they read this week - with possibly a coincidental military theme?

GLITTER! Ep 192

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Crystal discuss this month's book club pick: Insurrecto by Gina Apostol. 

Frank's Franc and Crystal's Nickel! - Ep 191

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Crystal and Frank as they discuss what they read this week!

Book Club: All Quiet on the Western Front, Ep 190

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal and Frank discuss All Quiet on the Western Front as their first book club pick!

Rhonda's Last Episode! Ep 188

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Episode Day! You know how we can tell things are slowly (so slowly!) returning to normal? New York construction! So much construction! Frank...

Book Club: The Autobiography of Red, Ep 187

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Rhonda and Frank as they discuss this week's book club episode, The Autobiography of Red. 

Searching For Meaning...Ep186

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Rhonda and Frank as they discuss what they read this week!

Book Club: Hound of the Baskervilles, Ep 185

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda talk about the latest book club pick: Hound of the Baskervilles. And they're joined by YA librarian Joe Pascullo who shares some of h...

What is Virtue? Ep 184

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Rhonda and Frank this week as they discuss what they've read! 

Book Club: The Stories of John Cheever, Ep 183

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss The Stories of John Cheever. 

New Year, Same Us (Yay!), Ep 182

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year! Frank and Rhonda kick off the new year by...being Frank and Rhonda. How's that, you say? An hour of musical theater references, intere...

Book Club: Bodega Dreams, Ep 181

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda close out the year with another book club episode - this time from the NYC Books We Love list: Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez. 

Bodega Dreams and Holiday Themes!, Ep 180

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Frank and Rhonda discuss what they've been reading in their free time!

Book Club and Babs!

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss this month's book club pick and their love of Barbara Streisand! 

Fiction...and More Fiction!

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss the books they read this week!

Book Club: The Parable of the Sower

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss this month's book club pick, The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler!

Have You Gotten Lost in a Good Book Lately?

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonjour! Rhonda and Frank are back to discuss what they've read this week. 

Book Club: The Turn of the Screw

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss this month's book club pick: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James!

Is Fall Here Yet?!, Ep. 174

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Fall! Rhonda and Frank are ready for Spooky Season! This week they check in with each other and discuss what they've been reading!

Book Club: And Then There Were None

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda this week as they discuss Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None!

Librarianing Ourselves in Real Time!

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank as he welcomes YA librarian Susen Shi to discuss great new YA books. Rhonda will be back next week and she and Frank will be discussing our...

The World May Not Require Us, But We At Least We Have Our Books!

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Frank and Rhonda as they discuss what they read this week!

Book Club: An Extraordinary Union

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda discuss An Extraordinary Union, by Alyssa Cole. 

When our interests and book picks collide!

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Rhonda and Frank as they discuss their non-book club reading picks this week!

Book Club: Between the World and Me

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda discuss Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

TRANSforming the Literary Landscape

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rhonda and Frank chat with Ellen MacInnis, a children's librarian in NYPL to discuss the TRANSform NYPL project and pass along book recommendations fr...

Trying To Figure Out How We Got Here

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rhonda and Frank discuss their personal reading picks for the week and announce next month's book club pick. 

June Book Club: The Argonauts

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Frank and Rhonda discuss The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson.

Wilkommen! The Librarian Is In!

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wilkommen! Join Frank and Rhonda this week for a little bit of musical theater and their personal book picks. Don't forget to get a copy of next week'...

May Book Club: Train Dreams: The Librarian Is In, Ep 163

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Happy May! This week is Frank and Rhonda check in with each other, as we pass the 1 month mark of podcasting while social distancing. We hope everyone...

How Y'all Doin?

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hello fellow social distancing book enthusiasts! How y'all doing? Does anyone know what day it is? What week? Is it still March? We hope everyone is s...

Book Club: The Librarian Is In Podcast, Ep. 161

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hey all, happy April! Thanks for joining us again for another episode of  The Librarian Is In! This week Frank and Rhonda are discussing A Good Man ...

The Librarian Is (Hanging) In (There)

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda practice social distancing together (but separately!) to discuss the books they've read this week. We hope everyone is staying safe a...

Machines Like Me? Monsters Like You!

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Rhonda discuss their non-125 list book picks this week!

Giovanni's Room - February Book Club

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hi all! Thanks for joining us. This week is our inaugural book club episode! As they mentioned last episode, Frank and Rhonda picked Giovanni's Room b...

WE'RE BAAAAAAAACK!

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Didja miss us?! We missed you too! Thanks for joining us on the new season of The Librarian Is In. Our good pal Frank joins us again and welcomes our ...

Walk the Windswept Moors

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For the last episode of 2019, Gwen surprises Frank by reading one of his all time favorite books, Frank delves into the world of Trust Exercise and Gw...

Wallow with Me

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Come stare moodily out a lonely window with us! Frank falls into a book trance after reading a French novel with a double meaning in its title, and G...

Frozen Solid: The Librarian Is In Podcast, Ep. 154

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Frank is feeling all the feelings about a book of experimental prose poetry, Gwen is charmed by a semi-autobiographical YA story, and everyone has "...

When Pushkin Comes to Shove

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Frank reads 19th-century Russian verse out loud for a solid two minutes. What more could you want in this world? Plus: Ben Platt, call us. Maybe.

Anita Brookner and Dorothy Parker Walk into a Bar...

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Your hosts wax rhapsodic about two of their mainstay favorite authors. Plus: Gwen takes "cozy intellectual" suggestions from a listener's email and F...

Cuckoo for Overdue

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Third time's the charm! Gwen and Frank join the fine folks from the Overdue podcast to discuss Ken Kesey's 1962 novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's N...

Cozy Intellectualism and/or Baby Marginalia

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We all love libraries, but what books do you just NEED to own? Frank coins a new genre, Gwen falls for a book about mistakes, and they both share some...

Life-Changing Lessons

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Book synergy abounds with two titles that explore the sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes supernatural relationship between parents and childre...

Books on the Subway

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's Frank and Gwen's turn in the hot seat. They recently joined the Books on the Subway Podcast with Hollie and Rosy for a discussion abou...

Dragons and Robots

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A look at how some libraries reflect the communities they're a part of through their special collections. Plus, Gwen's son weighs in on a children's b...

Bunny, I Love You!

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Frank and Gwen do a deep dive into their summer reading pick, Mona Awad's new novel, Bunny—a dark satirical take on female friendship, loneliness, ...

The Dog-Eared Days of Summer

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you dog-ear? Use bookmarks or sticky notes? Write notes in margins? Or do you—heaven forbid—underline? We delve deep into the ethical implicati...

The Katniss Konundrum

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To prequel or not to prequel? Frank and Gwen debate the new installment of the Hunger Games franchise and two very different books about life in two...

Are You There, Frank? It's Me, Gwen

04 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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

Gwen's Book Flare (Rebroadcast)

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 dys...

Peyton DisPlaced (Rebroadcast)

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Another crossover episode with our fine friends from the Overdue podcast! Frank and Gwen join Craig and Andrew in Philadelphia to discuss the 1956 no...

The Librarian Is LIVE (Rebroadcast)

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Hogwarts & Hollywood (Rebroadcast)

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 Recom...

Never Let Me Go. Seriously, Never.

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week: a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes. Gwen and Frank take a deep, emotional dive into Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never ...

DIY ASMR, Library-Style

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 res...

Comfort Reads

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 strange...