Episode 8 - Rochester Public Library - Rochester Vermont

In Episode 8 I talk with Maya Newroot, the Library Director at the Rochester Public Library in Rochester, Vermont. Every public library has a great history story. The Rochester Public Library building used to be a church and still has beautiful stained glass windows. As Maya talked, I imagined myself reading a book on the second floor, sitting on one of their comfy couches under a stained glass window. 

The Rochester Public Library's Summer Reading Program starts this week on June 20th and they host "Stories in the Park" at the local farmer's market every Friday from 3:30 - 4:30. Kids will also have an opportunity to "Learn How at the Library" thanks to a grant from the Winnie Belle Learned Fund.  Kids can choose a book that comes with supplies to learn a new skill. Maya talked about these and many more services and collections at the library, including one of the largest Library of Things collections I've heard of.

Of course, Maya and I also offer some book recommendations. Maya's first book takes place in a natural history museum. A preserved giant squid has gone missing. There is no evidence of what happened. She says it's really cool and weird. Her second book is about the pressure of competitive sports on teens and also about mermaids. It's about feeling like an outsider and is told in an amazing way.

I offer three books in this episode. My first book is by the Irish author Donal Ryan and the story centers on three generations of women and is about love and pride and all the things a family can be and sometimes isn't. I'm waiting for my second book to be made into a movie. It's a road trip book with two unlikely characters, a college drop out and an elderly woman. It's a little twisty turny, great fun and has some unexpected side roads. The final selection on today's episode is a book by Phaedra Patrick about a widow who finds a curious charm bracelet that he never knew his wife had. He finds a phone number on one of the charms and his adventure begins. 

Thanks for listening! Show notes for all episodes and all the books we talk about can be found at https://www.wherethebooksarenow.com/ and please visit us at Facebook for more Vermont public library tidbits. If you would like your Vermont library to be featured on an episode of WTBAnow, please use the contact information on the website or send a Facebook message!