How I Library

American Library Association
How I Library

The American Library Association (ALA) is proud to present the podcast, “How I Library.” Hosted by ALA Communications Manager Phil Morehart, this monthly series features authors, filmmakers, musicians, scholars, thought leaders, and, of course, librarians discussing the importance of libraries, their favorite library memories, and issues facing the library world. Along the way, they’ll share thoughts about their work, what inspires them, and so much more. The podcast is an extension of the #HowILibrary campaign that ALA launched last fall that asked authors “how they library”: what the library means to them, how they use and have used the library, and how the library has impacted their lives.

  1. Episode 19: Nick Brooks

    JUN 13

    Episode 19: Nick Brooks

    In episode 19, Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with Nick Brooks. Brooks is the critically acclaimed author of the award-winning young adult (Y.A.) thriller, "Promise Boys,” a filmmaker, and a musician from Washington, D.C. His new book, "Up In Smoke," is another page-turning, Y.A. thriller that follows the events that spiral after a murder is committed during a Black Lives Matter protest. It’s part murder mystery, part call to revolution. Brooks joins the show to talk about "Up In Smoke" and its influences, his writing career, empowering today's youth, and of course, how he libraries.

    15 min
  2. Episode 18: Mariam Zahra and Aruja Misra

    MAY 15

    Episode 18: Mariam Zahra and Aruja Misra

    In episode 18, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with Marium Zahra and Aruja Misra, two high school students from El Paso, Texas, who are participants in “On Our Minds,” an award-winning podcast series from PBS News Student Reporting Labs about the teenage experience. Each season is hosted by two high school students, and episodes are co-created with teens and feature segments produced by student producers across the country. The new season, which premiered April 16, asks teens, “Who Inspires You?” For Zahra and Misra, it was their school librarian, Mr. Biddle, who is beloved on campus for his outgoing personality and for being a proponent of reading banned books. Zahra and Misra join the show to discuss working with PBS News Student Reporting Labs, podcasting, journalism, banned books, and of course, how they library.

    20 min
  3. Episode 17: Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor

    APR 26

    Episode 17: Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor

    In episode 17, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor about their new documentary, “Free for All: The Public Library,” which premieres April 29 on PBS’s Independent Lens. “Free for All: The Public Library” is a love letter to America’s libraries that follows Logsdon and Faulknor as they travel across the United States to examine the history of our libraries and the unsung heroes behind them, from the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” of the late 19th century to the librarians whose influence helped ignite the Harlem Renaissance and other artistic and social movements to today’s librarians who serve us all despite book bans and threats to their lives. Logsdon and Faulkner join to show to discuss the film, its production, and some of its featured luminaries, the library’s place in American life today, book bans, and of course, how they library.

    28 min
  4. Episode 16: Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

    APR 10

    Episode 16: Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

    In episode 16, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with comic book artists—and honorary co-chairs of National Library Week—Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. Telgemeier is the New York Times-bestselling, Eisner Award–winning creator of the autobiographical graphic novels, “Smile,” “Sisters,” and “Guts.” She is also the creator of “Drama” and “Ghosts,” and the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. McCloud is the New York Times-bestselling author of “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art,” “Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels,” “Zot!,” and “The Sculptor.” He is a frequent lecturer on the power of visual communication and was inducted into the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in 2021. Telgemeier and McCloud are the creators of the new graphic novel, “The Cartoonists Club,” which follows a group of kids—each with their own distinct talents—who come together with the help of their school librarian to learn the art of comic book making. They join the show to discuss their new book, their careers as artists and comic creators, the joys of National Library Week, and how they library.

    36 min
  5. Episode 15: Eric Rogers

    FEB 27

    Episode 15: Eric Rogers

    In episode 15, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with television, film, and podcast writer Eric Rogers, whose credits include “Futurama,” “NYPD Blue,” “Skylanders Academy,” “Polly Pocket,” “Teen Titans Go!,” and more. He is currently the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the animated series for kids, “Angry Birds: Mystery Island,” on Prime Video and Amazon Kids+. Rogers joins the show to discuss “Angry Birds,” his writing career, what goes into making a television show, especially an animated show for kids, and of course, how he libraries.

    41 min
  6. Episode 14: Vicky Jenson, Glenn Slater, Alan Menken

    12/23/2024

    Episode 14: Vicky Jenson, Glenn Slater, Alan Menken

    In episode 14 of the How I Library podcast, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with Vicky Jenson, Glenn Slater, and Alan Menken, the director, lyricist, and composer, respectively, of the animated musical, "Spellbound." Jenson, Slater, and Menken are behind some of the most acclaimed film and stage productions ever created. Jensen is the Oscar-winning director of "Shrek;" Slater is the lyricist of "The Little Mermaid," "Sister Act," and "School of Rock" on Broadway; and Menken is the Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar-, and Tony-winning composer behind "Little Shop of Horrors," "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "Newsies," and many more. They have come together to create "Spellbound," a new animated musical on Netflix about a young princess whose parents are monsters—literally. How her parents became that way—and how they can revert to their original form—is the crux of the film, and it’s not a simple story. It’s one about family strife, and how it impacts parents and their children alike. It’s serious, but also buoyant and fun. Jenson, Slater, and Menken join the show to discuss their careers, their creative processes, the making of "Spellbound," and, of course, how they library.

    51 min
  7. Episode 13: Raj Tawney

    11/26/2024

    Episode 13: Raj Tawney

    In episode 13, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association and I Love Libraries speaks with author Raj Tawney. Tawney is a writer and journalist whose work largely reflects his mixed-race upbringing. He has explored his identity through personal essays in The New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, I Love Libraries, and other outlets, and in his first book, “Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience” (2023). In his new book for young readers, “All Mixed Up” (2024), Tawney tells the semiautobiographical story of a multi-ethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 9/11. Tawney joins the show to discuss his writing, book bans and the importance of representation in books for readers of all ages, the power of food, and of course, how he libraries.

    25 min
  8. Episode 12: David Dastmalchian

    10/31/2024

    Episode 12: David Dastmalchian

    For this special Halloween episode, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with actor, writer, and producer David Dastmalchian. Dastmalchian is one of the most prolific and recognizable actors working today, especially in the horror, sci-fi, and superhero genres, who can be seen in “The Dark Knight,” The Suicide Squad,” “ Ant-Man,” “Dune,” “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” “Oppenheimer,” “Late Night with the Devil,” and more. He is also a voracious comic book fan, both as a collector and a creator, whose writing credits include “Count Crowley,” “Creature Commandos,” “Knights vs Samurai,” “The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual,” “DC Horror Presents,” and many more. Dastmalchian joins the show to discuss his love of comics and horror movies, his writing career, and of course, how he libraries.

    36 min
See All (19)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The American Library Association (ALA) is proud to present the podcast, “How I Library.” Hosted by ALA Communications Manager Phil Morehart, this monthly series features authors, filmmakers, musicians, scholars, thought leaders, and, of course, librarians discussing the importance of libraries, their favorite library memories, and issues facing the library world. Along the way, they’ll share thoughts about their work, what inspires them, and so much more. The podcast is an extension of the #HowILibrary campaign that ALA launched last fall that asked authors “how they library”: what the library means to them, how they use and have used the library, and how the library has impacted their lives.

Information

  • Creator
    American Library Association
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    How I Library

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