For the Love of Books

Scabby Queen with Kirstin Innes

We're very excited about our new For the Love of Books podcast episode. There is sometimes a book that comes out that book lovers everywhere start to have a buzz about. It wins awards, it's reviewed everywhere and everyone who has read it recommends it.

Last year, that book was Scabby Queen by the fantastic Kirstin Innes. Our E-Services Librarian, Chris, was lucky enough to catch up with Kirstin to find out more about the book and discover more about her debut novel Fishnet and forthcoming book Brickwork: A Biography of the Arches. There's even a little bit of an essential Arches throwback playlist in there too.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

Get Those Teens Reading

For this week's episode of the For the Love of Books Podcast, our E-Services Librarian Chris is joined by two of North Lanarkshire's Library Resource Centre Managers aka School Librarians.

We chat about what is popular in school libraries with teens, get some fantastic book recommendations by the School Librarians, and we think back to our youth and what we read at the time.

You can also hear a little update of our service too.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

Darkness Falls with Alex Knight

To celebrate Libraries Week and to discuss his new book - Darkness Falls, our E-Services Librarian Chris is joined by Scottish crime writer Alex Knight. You might know him better as Mason Cross, creator of the Carter Blake series.

In this episode, Alex chats about his new book Darkness Falls, the importance of libraries to him and also gives us an update on a fun personal running challenge he's given himself.

There's also a little update from us on the return of reservations to our service and even more hours recovered.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

Enjoy the Great Bookish Menu

With Black History Month coming next month, we thought we'd try to encourage people to tick off the Great Bookish Menu category 'Read a work of fiction by a BAME author' to round off the challenge.

In this episode of the podcast, Chris Wilson - our E-Services Librarian explains a little more about the challenge and gets a couple of book recommendations from Alison Walsh - our Customer Services Librarian at Coatbridge Library, and Hilary Petrie - our Open Learning Officer at Motherwell Library.

We also update you on a few exciting developments with our service in recent weeks including increased opening hours, more libraries reopening and in-person activities returning.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk. You can also send us a short sound clip to the same email address with your name, a book recommendation and why you recommend it. These clips maybe used in future episodes.

Discover Your Past

With Adult Learners' Week on the horizon, we decided to take a break from chatting about books and instead had a chat about family history.

Chris Wilson - our E-Services Librarian, is joined by Liz Sharp and Evelyn Hutchison - two of our Open Learning Officers and our resident family history experts to give you some top tips and hints on how to start or continue your journey into discovering your own past with family history research.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk. You can also send us a short sound clip to the same email address with your name, a book recommendation and why you recommend it. These clips may be used in future episodes.

What You've Been Borrowing

It's always interesting to see what is popular with our library members, and this last year, in particular, piqued our interest. With the libraries being closed for a long spell, we wanted to find what people were desperate to get their hands on after such a large break.

Our E-Services Librarian, Chris Wilson, is joined by Alison Walsh - our Customer Services Librarian from Coatbridge Library, and Hilary Petrie, our Open Learning Officer from Motherwell Library as we deep dive into the stats revealed from our book issues.

Will you be surprised by the Top 10 books issued in our libraries this year? Who will feature in our Top 5 authors of 2021 so far? There's only one way to find out. Grab the earphones and listen to our latest episode.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

If you've read a book recently that you'd tell everyone about and would like to feature in the podcast, record a short sound clip and email it to librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk. Feel free to include your name and where you're from and you could hear your book recommendation in future episodes.

The Welcome Return of Libraries

Our podcast is back for Season 4 and we're kicking off with a celebration of most of our libraries now being reopened.

Joining Chris Wilson, our E-Services Librarian, are Russell Brown - the Digital & Support Services Manager aka Boss and Drew Feeney - our Librarian at Airdrie Library.

They discuss the challenges of getting the library service back up and running and look to a hopeful future of when our regular group activities will make a return.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast on Twitter or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

A Fragile Season End

For our season end episode of our For the Love of Books Podcast, our E-Services Librarian Chris caught with the fantastic crime author Sarah Hilary to discuss her new book Fragile - due out Thursday 10 June.

Sarah fills us in on the background of the story, all about the wonderful characters you can discover and how you'll be left twisting and turning throughout the book. You'll also be able to pick up a few recommendations from her too near the end.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast on Twitter or emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

Bookbug's Big Splash

Bookbug is, without doubt, one of the libraries most favourite and popular activities. That is exactly why it was so important for us to find new ways to bring it to everyone over the last year. 

For Bookbug Week, our children's team Gillian and Sarah have put together this special podcast to give a look back at how Bookbug has played a huge part in many people's lives during the pandemic. We highlight the work with partner organisations, how Bookbug has made a big move online and the challenges of making that move happen.

Don't forget you can leave feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast on Twitter or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.

(Pretend) Holiday Beach Reads

Everyone loves a holiday and, for a lot, a book is an essential part of that. This year, we still don't know if we can jet off to the sun. So we decided to have a little thought about our pretend holiday beach reads for this summer.

Our E-Services Librarian Chris is joined by Gillian and Judy who are both Customer Services Librarians. You'll hear their thoughts on why reading adds to a holiday and where they like to enjoy a good book in the sun with some fantastic recommendations thrown in there too.

Don't forget you can leave us feedback on our podcast using the hashtag #FLBpodcast on Twitter or by emailing us at librarypodcast@northlan.gov.uk.