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Sounds from the Shelves

Sounds from the Shelves

By: Salt Lake County Library
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About this listen

Ever wondered what the B-side of library life is about? Well, here’s a hint… it’s not just books. Come join Mieke, Leonides, and Sarah from the Salt Lake County Library as they flip that record and discuss the less known sights and sounds of the library world. With special guest appearances dropping in to chat about music, writing, community, gaming, and yes, even books.Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Branch Spotlight: West Jordan Library
    Jan 17 2026

    Learn more about the West Jordan library with Vern Waters and Jennifer Flake.

    00:00 - Intro 00:37 - Reader's Advisory 05:41 - Vern Waters and Jennifer Flake 06:58 - When was West Jordan Library built? 08:17 - West Jordan staff 09:15 - Size of Collection 09:51 - Cool West Jordan Library Facts 15:40 - Regular Programming 19:26 - Upcoming Events 20:23 - 3D Printing (and Reader's Choice) 23:09 - Favorite Things About West Jordan Library 26:06 - Anything Else (Come See Us) 27:40 - Potatoes! 29:15 - Outro

    Full list of Reader's Advisory books:

    History of West Jordan by Bernarr Furse

    The only item I could find about the city and its history.

    Salt a World History by Mark Kurlansky.

    The way salt shaped civilization from the beginning. Wars have been fought over it, the taxes on salt secured empires across the world, and also inspired revolution.

    Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.

    Why and how did Eurasians conquer, decimate or displace the people of the Americas, Africa and Australia. Instead of the reverse. Telling the story of human history and the environmental factors responsible for of all the worlds people.

    The hobbit and the Fellowship of the rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

    Hobbits of course! Adventure, Wizards and magical rings. People that like potatoes!

    Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.

    Because it is helpful, it once helped me get a job, and it has the humor of E.B. White

    I Still Dream about You by Fannie Flagg

    The absurdity and dark humor.

    Should I Share My Ice Cream by Mo Willems

    Because learning to share is super hard and Mo Willems shows that in a funny and amazing way.

    Skulls : an exploration of Alan Dudley's curious collection by Simon Winchester.

    Because it is full of amazing pictures of animal skulls. Tells the rich and fascinating story of skulls, both human and animal, from every perspective imaginable: historical, biographical, cultural, and iconographic. Presenting details about the parts of the skull (including the cranium, the mandible, the shape and positioning of the eye sockets, and species-specific features like horns, teeth, beaks and bills), information about the science and pseudoscience of skulls, and a look at skulls in religion, art and popular culture, his stories and information are riveting and enlightening.

    Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

    I just love how Anne Shirley is written! She's such a quirky girl, who definitely had ADHD (which is so relatable to me).

    The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater.

    The author has such a unique style of storytelling. The blend of magical realism and character development is superb! It was the series that got me through the pandemic.

    Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell.

    This book is written in ballad form and is just so good!

    Weyward by Emilia Hart.

    Female resilience against abuse, it was one of those books that is rage-inducing but a deliciously cathartic ending.

    Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein

    Because of its epic story that I've loved since I was a kid,

    Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

    Les Mis in particular is a favorite as it was a favorite of my grandfather that passed away when my mother was little. The first time I read it, it was his copy that he took notes in and I have loved it ever since.

    A Witch's Guide to Burning by Aminder Dhaliwal

    Because it has beautiful and unique art.

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    31 mins
  • Librarian Myths and Body Modifications
    Dec 17 2025

    Join our hosts as they discuss various myths about librarians, including the fact that they are tattooed, pierced, and color their hair.

    Time stamps: 00:00 - Intro/Reader's Advisory 04:06 - Librarian Stereotypes 21:48 - How Common is Body Modification for Library Employees? 24:29 - What Body Modifications do Our Staff Have? 25:54 - Reasons for Body Modification 34:40 - How do Patrons and Other Staff React? 40:49 - How have perceptions of Library Staff appearance changed? 45:55 - Potatoes (and Soup!) 49:00 - Outro

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    51 mins
  • The Jail Library
    Nov 14 2025

    Join us as we talk to Gentry and Jenn from the Salt Lake County Jail Library about the jail library, and what it is like working there.

    Book Recommendations from Vern:

    • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
    • Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman
    • The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela
    • The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
    • Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson
    • In the Belly of the Beast by Jack Henry Abbott
    • Solitary by Albert Woodfox
    • Prison Writings: My Life Is My Sun Dance by Leonard Peltier
    • Monster : the autobiography of an L.A. gang member by Sanyika Shakur, aka Monster Kody Scott.
    • The autobiography of Malcolm X with the assistance of Alex Haley ; introduction by M.S. Handler ; epilogue by Alex Haley ; afterword by Ossie Davis
    • Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

    Time stamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:21 - Reader's Advisory 03:37 - Gentry Densley and Jenn McKague 04:23 - What is the Jail Library? 05:06 - Does it Look Like a Library? 06:28 - Where is the Jail Library? 09:22 - How long have we had a Jail Library? 12:39 - How many staff work at the Jail Library? 13:22 - What is in the Jail Library collection? 16:17 - Jail Library programming 18:03 - How do inmates check materials out? 23:07 - What is it like to work at the Jail Library? 27:55 - A Typical Jail Library Work Day 29:32 - Favorite Memories and Stories 32:07 - What do you wish the public knew about the Jail Library? 36:04 - Anything Else? 38:41 - Potatoes! 41:13 - Outro

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    43 mins
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