Steve chats with Erin Jones, editor of the new 11th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual from the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, about her winding path from theater studies into librarianship, how she reshaped this edition to be more accessible by writing in plain language, adding personal stories, and diversifying contributor voices, … Continue reading 321: Intellectual Freedom Manual, with Erin Jones
Steve chats with Alma Katsu, author of the new book Incarnate, about her CIA background into early social media research, AI’s threat to creativity and authenticity, the story’s parallels with Picture of Dorian Gray, and the diversity of voices in the current golden age of the horror genre. Then over on the Circ Desk, NoveList … Continue reading 320: Incarnate by Alma Katsu – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Araminta Hall, author of Unreliable Narrator, about the literary concept of an “unreliable narrator,” what it means for writers to be “burglars of life,” how teaching writing changes her own writing, what it was like to have a previous novel adapted by Apple TV, and who gets to tell your story. Then … Continue reading 319: Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Kerri Maher, author of Summer of Love, about why this novel is her most personal, intergenerational trauma, researching California’s wine history, her writing process, and her friendship / collaboration with her audiobook narrator. Then NoveList librarians Monica and Dawn suggest readalikes for Summer of Love from The Circ Desk! Read the transcript! … Continue reading 318: Summer of Love by Kerri Maher – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Laura Sims, author of The Man, about her path from poet to librarian to novelist, using the real-life photographer Vivian Maier as inspiration, themes of fear and artistic rebellion, and a teaser about her next interstellar book! Then NoveList librarians Jamie and Suzanne suggest readalikes for The Man at The Circ Desk! … Continue reading 317: The Man by Laura Sims – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Zach Weinersmith, creator of the webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and author of the new book, Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Just Stay Home, about how his background shapes his work, the difficulties of crafting an Edwardian farce for eight year olds, how his daughter’s input affected the book, and how … Continue reading 316: Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Just Stay Home by Zach Weinersmith – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Rob Hart, author of the new book, Three Hitmen and a Baby, the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, about how the skills of an assassin do not translate to the skills of a parent, the emotional depth the book explores, fight choreography, found family, and how Rob upended his plans … Continue reading 315: Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Camille Perri, author of the new book, Social Animals, about reluctant dog parents, why librarians should star in a reality show, the loneliness epidemic, and how she balances humor, relationship-building, and mystery to craft her new novel. Plus, over at the Circ Desk, NoveList librarians Sydney and Caleigh provide some great readalikes … Continue reading 314: Social Animals by Camille Perri – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Catherine Kurtz, author of the new book Feast, about how her painting and food writing skills contributed to her first novel, why food is the perfect vehicle to connect readers, the feeling of hope at the heart of the book, and a few anachronisms she could not help but include in the … Continue reading 313: Feast by Catherine Kurtz – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Kicking off the 2026 Circulating Ideas Summer Reading Spectacular, Steve chats with humorist and librarian Hayley DeRoche, author of the new book, Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe: a Handbook for the Sad Beige Parent, about the “sad beige” parenting aesthetic, how a Werner Herzog joke went viral, the deeper cultural critique of consumerism … Continue reading 312: Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe by Hayley DeRoche – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve chats with Jarrett Dapier, writer of the graphic novel Wake Now in the Fire, about his path to librarianship, the story of Chicago public school students fighting back against censorship, the irony of Persepolis being the target of that censorship, and what librarians can do to fight quiet censorship. Read the transcript! It starts … Continue reading 311: Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with journalism instructor Jeremy Shermak about the state of media today, how AI is reshaping journalism education, and why local news may be the best hope for rebuilding trust in an increasingly polarized information landscape. Read the transcript! Dr. Jeremy Shermak is a journalism professor at Cuesta College and a … Continue reading 310: Journalism Education, AI, and Local News, with Jeremy Shermak
Steve chats with Lynne M. Thomas and Katy Rawdon, authors of The Infinite Loop: Archives and Time Travel in the Popular Imagination, about how they each got into the profession, why archives can never truly be neutral and objective, how archives and special collections are portrayed within time travel narratives in pop culture, and what … Continue reading 309: The Infinite Loop: Archives and Time Travel in the Popular Imagination, with Lynne M. Thomas and Katy Rawdon
Steve chats with Alex Segura, author of the new book Daredevil: Enemy of My Enemy: a Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel, about the book, how Daredevil’s dual life as a defense attorney and vigilante makes him uniquely suited for legal thrillers, Alex’s journey from comics fan to writer of Spider-Man, Star Wars, and Dick Tracy, and … Continue reading 308: Enemy of My Enemy: A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel by Alex Segura
Steve chats with Tamika Barnes and Becky Calzada, this year’s candidates for President of the American Library Association. Tamika Barnes is Associate Dean for Perimeter Library Services at Georgia State University, and the current President of the Georgia Library Association, and Becky is the District Library Coordinator for the Leander Independent School District, TX. They … Continue reading 307: ALA Presidential Candidates (2026)
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Terra Jacobson and Spencer Brayton, editors of Valuing the Community College Library: Impactful Practices for Institutional Success, about the value that libraries bring to community colleges, the gap in research on community college libraries, the power of partnerships across campus, future opportunities for AI literacy and misinformation education, and … Continue reading 306 – Valuing the Community College Library, with Terra Jacobson and Spencer Brayton
Steve chats with Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees, authors of You & Me and You & Me and You & Me, a time-traveling romantic comedy about long-term love, about their past experiences with libraries, their writing process, the fun (but also the dangers) of nostalgia, and why your perfect life may be the one you’re … Continue reading 305: YOU & ME AND YOU & ME AND YOU & ME by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees
Steve chats with collection development librarian Lila Denning about passive readers’ advisory, practical tips for creating effective book displays, making displayed accessible and inclusive, partnering with local businesses to promote library services and collections, and how the horror genre helps readers understand different perspectives and emotions. Read the transcript! Lila Denning is a librarian in Florida … Continue reading 304: Passive Readers’ Advisory, with Lila Denning
Steve chats with Lucas Maxwell, author of Roll for Adventure: Tabletop Roleplaying Adventures for Your School or Public Library, about his journey from D&D enthusiast to librarian, the educational and social benefits of gaming for young people, and practical advice for librarians looking to start their own tabletop gaming programs! Read the transcript! Become the … Continue reading 303: Roll for Adventure: Tabletop Roleplaying Adventures for Your School or Public Library, by Lucas Maxwell
Steve chats with Karla Bame Collins, author of School Libraries Supporting Students with Hidden Needs and Talents: From ADHD to Vision Impairment, about her focus on supporting students with diverse and often invisible needs, practical strategies for making school libraries more inclusive, universal design for learning, and the importance of building supportive networks within schools … Continue reading 302: School Libraries Supporting Students with Hidden Needs and Talents by Karla Collins
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Dr. Bradley Custer, higher education expert, about his experience at the U.S. Department of Education, the impact of recent mass firings, and what these changes mean for students, educators, and the future of American education. Read the transcript! Dr. Bradley Custer is a higher education policy expert in Washington, … Continue reading 301: Federal Education Policy, with Dr. Bradley Custer
In this milestone 300th episode of Circulating Ideas, Steve Thomas chats with Rich Harwood, president and founder of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and author of “The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in Each Other and Our Nation,” about Harwood’s inspirational journey, the importance of community in building hope, and how libraries and … Continue reading 300: The New Civic Path with Rich Harwood
Steve chats with Max Brallier, author of The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair, about the evolution of the series over its ten-year run, the appeal of post-apocalyptic stories for kids, the enduring importance of friendship at the heart of the series, and the challenges of balancing humor with darker themes. Read the … Continue reading 299: The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair by Max Brallier
Steve chats with Becky Siegel Spratford, editor of Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature, about her deep involvement and interest in the horror genre, the inspiration and process behind her book, the diversity of voices in horror, how horror can foster empathy and address real-world anxieties, and the dangers of quicksand (it’s everywhere). … Continue reading 298: Why I Love Horror by Becky Siegel Spratford
Steve chats with Dr. Steve Albrecht, author of The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources: Keeping It Real, Legal, and Ethical, about the importance of library leaders learning about human resources, handling performance reviews, onboarding, and why civility is the key to a healthy and effective workplace culture. Read the transcript! The human resources (HR) … Continue reading 297: The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources by Steve Albrecht
