PODCAST · arts
CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf
by Columbus Junction Public Library
Two small town library staff chat about books and reading. Part information, part book recommendations/book gushing, and part popular culture (Bridgerton anyone?!) - Columbus Junction Public Library's "Beyond the Bookshelf" Podcast will tackle all those burning topics and more! Join us with a cup of coffee or tea and talk everything books, reading, pop culture, and libraries.
Episodes
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New Releases
This week we're talking about books that release in 2023 that we're super excited about! There's a whole lot of gushing and a whole lot of excitement - you can be sure your libraries will have these stocked as soon as we can, and we're going to love chatting them up with you after you've read…
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Whatcha Reading?
It's been a hot minute since we've been here chatting about books with you, but we're so excited to bring this joint venture between the Anamosa Library and Learning Center, where Erin is now director, and the Columbus Junction Public Library, where this all originated! We'll be in your ears…
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Pets!
We love a good pet story - the furry friends in our lives keep us entertained to no end! In this episode, we talk about a variety of picture books and juvenile fiction with pets as the central theme but tons of variations around it - dragons, seahorses, goldfish, horses, and more! Alternative...
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RSVP Program
We're taking a quick detour this episode from books and onto programs available within the Louisa County community. On this episode, MaKayla Glenn from the RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) shares about the various programs the Iowa Department on Aging supports in our area, including...
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March Madness
We're putting this year's favorite books up against each other in a single elimination style March Madness bracket! Each day during the month of March, visit our Facebook page (@ColumbusJctPublicLibrary) for a poll for that day's match up - the winning book (with the most votes) will move on to…
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Part 2 - Interview with LeAnn Kunz
We're back with PART II (*FINALLY*) with our interview with LeAnn Kunz, answering the burning question of which main character from a book would you like to be snowed into a cabin with? We also discuss side characters and authors. As you can imagine, there's a wide variety of reasons for our...
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Interview with LeAnn Kunz
We’re SUPER EXCITED to get part 1 of our interview with Washington Public Library’s Assistant Director, LeAnn, out today! After some wild audio issues and technology that decided to have a case of the Mondays for weeks on end, we’re super excited for you to hear a little bit more about LeAnn and...
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Iowa Books
In this episode, Erin and Mandy chat about Iowa-adjacent books - books with Iowa as a setting, Iowa authors, crowd-sourced by Iowans, or some other connection to the state! Also in this episode - a slight digression about words that sound made up, some of our own spooky stories, and Mercury...
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2021 Library Wrap Up
We’ve come to the end of another year, so it’s another wrap-up list! Top books checked out in the library and online, top videos and TikToks, and podcast year in review. Have you read any of these top titles?! There’s some surprises along the way as well! As always, feel free to check out all of...
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Middle Grade, or Donuts!
We're throwing DOWN for DONUTS! Over winter break, the Library has challenged our local elementary school to a reading contest! We're sending home logs to record every 20 minutes read over break, and the winning classroom will be surprised with a donut breakfast party the first week back after...
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Book Food, or Ode to Potatoes
In this episode, Erin and Mandy share their favorite book descriptions of food, just in time for Thanksgiving. It started off as three books, but morphed into four, and then some honorable mentions at the end, always coming back to potatoes (again, just in time for Thanksgiving). But before we...
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Platforms
On this episode, Erin and Mandy chat about different reading platforms, including those available with your library card and those available for everyone via the worldwide interwebs. From classics to animated children's books to a new-ish storytelling via text message, these platforms have...
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Gruesome Tales
Ever wonder what the inspiration was behind some of your favorite books and authors? Well, do we have some doozies for you - gruesome, weird tales from author's real lives and how they've inspired their writing. From the birth of science fiction to authors who regretted the births of their own...
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Spooky Season Recs
In this episode, Erin and Mandy kick off spooky season with 12 new books (and some others that randomly pop up) that are perfect for your spooky season reading! Some non-fiction, some fiction, some weaving together elements from different genres like horror and true crime, and some graphics! It’s…
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Tropes, or Your 80's are Showing
In this episode, Erin and Mandy discuss tropes - plot devices that follow a traditional pattern or trajectory that will seem familiar or allow the reader (or viewer of movies) to know what is happening without the author needing to explain (think, love triangle). We'll talk about the ones we…
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Sara Gruen
The wild, bananas case of Chuck, in prison for first-degree murder, and Sara, world famous author. Buckle up, buttercup - this one is a rollercoaster! Sara Gruen, of "Water for Elephants" fame, befriends a convicted murderer following a fan letter. What happens next costs Sara everything - money,...
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Mystery & Crime, or Chaos & Violence
On this episode of Beyond the Bookshelf, Erin and Mandy chat about favorite mysteries and crime-related books. Some may be classified as other genres, but we'll make the case as to why these books made the cut for this episode. Alternative titles to this episode include "The One Where We Use…
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Update - Reading Challenges
A quick update and check-in on Erin and Mandy's reading challenges - what they've read, what they're supposed to be reading, and a whole bunch more! If you're joining us for the reading challenge we developed, or you're looking for inspiration for a different challenge, this 25 minute episode...
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Guest Ep - S. Feaker/author
This episode is a wild ride full of spooky places, scary movies, true crime, books, and more with Iowa gothic horror author S. Feaker! She shares a bit about her own "are you kidding me?!" stories and writing process. If you're looking for a great list of true crime stories to delve into,...
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Books We're Glad We DIDN'T finish
On this episode, Erin and Mandy chat about books they're glad they didn't finish for a variety of reasons...terror...content...just plain boring. Who knows?! No beef with any of these books - sometimes it's just not the right time in your life to click with a book. Tell us your own books that...
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Reading Colors Your World
Take a trip around the world with Erin and Mandy today! Reading Colors Your World is the summer reading theme for Iowa libraries, and we're issuing a special challenge! Read one book from each continent (except Antarctica) by the end of summer reading (July 31) and get entered into a special...
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Romance
Alternative Titles "rated R for romance" "The one where Mandy outs her Mom" "The one where we say spicy a lot" "The one with a Sue recommendation" The episode you all have been waiting for...Love Books!
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Great Book Scare
Pandemics? Concern over books transmitting diseases? Quarantine? Sanitizing processes? If this all sounds familiar, you're right - we ARE indeed talking about the great book scare of 1880-1920!! Alternate titles to this episode include "I said what I said," "Please don't lick things," and "Andrew...
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Favorite Read Alouds
This episode, Erin and Mandy share their favorite read alouds for all ages! Some nonfiction, picture books, and juvenile fiction can be found in here! Check out our website for the complete list of all the books discussed in this episode:...
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Library Crime Take 1
We're trying something a little different this time and bringing our love of true crime to you, but with a library connection. The story of the Transy book heist - it's a doozy of movie references, hilarity, and theft. At this point, we couldn't even come up with alternative titles to this one...
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Graphic Novels
Our opinions about graphic novels (READ THEM) and some recommendations of graphic novels we love for specific reasons, what we've been reading in graphic format, and what we're looking forward to checking out soon! Alternate titles to this one are "Where Mandy Dogs Dickens 2.0" or "Is Hugh…
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Bloop 1.0
In honor of National Library Week, we give you a blooper reel and an "inside" listen to recording with us. Spoiler: it's a mess...oh look, a squirrel! Play along with us as we quiz each other on our classics reading - have you read more classics than your local librarian? Honestly, probs. Also,...
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Interview with Jen
Our interview with MHS teacher librarian and CJ resident Jen Keltner! We talk books we love, what we're reading, being a school librarian, and more!
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Books We're Glad We Finished
Erin compares people to steaks, and we talk books we're super glad we finished, including some that are outside of our usual box. Be prepared to be surprised, and maybe a few laughs along the way!
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Reading Challenges
Beginning of the year reading challenges can always be hard! Which one do you pick? How long do you give a book before you move on? Do audio books or graphic novels "count" as reading on your challenge? We'll give you our opinion on all those questions and more!
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Bridgerton Hot Takes
Erin and Mandy talk all things Bridgerton - books, show, social media, and THAT scene. Join us for a lively convo about everyone's favorite Regency family. PG-13
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Two small town library staff chat about books and reading. Part information, part book recommendations/book gushing, and part popular culture (Bridgerton anyone?!) - Columbus Junction Public Library's "Beyond the Bookshelf" Podcast will tackle all those burning topics and more! Join us with a cup of coffee or tea and talk everything books, reading, pop culture, and libraries.
HOSTED BY
Columbus Junction Public Library
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf have?
CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf currently has 31 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf about?
Two small town library staff chat about books and reading. Part information, part book recommendations/book gushing, and part popular culture (Bridgerton anyone?!) - Columbus Junction Public Library's "Beyond the Bookshelf" Podcast will tackle all those burning topics and more! Join us with a cup...
How often does CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf release new episodes?
CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf has 31 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf?
You can listen to CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf?
CJPL's Beyond the Bookshelf is created and hosted by Columbus Junction Public Library.
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