Middle Country Public Library Podcast

Discover more defining moments that shaped the United States in part two of this special series on Great Moments in American History with Mr. Ward. From groundbreaking inventions and daring firsts in aviation, to landmark civil rights advances, cultural shifts, and modern triumphs in space, explore the events that propelled the nation forward. This episode continues the journey through iconic achievements and turning points across the 20th and 21st centuries, highlighting resilience, innovation, and unity. If you missed it, check out the first part here: https://www.mcplpodcast.com/e/america-250-great-moments-in-american-history-part-1-ep-438

Discover the pivotal events that shaped the United States in this special two-part series on the podcast: Great Moments in American History with Mr. Ward! From the adoption of foundational documents to landmark battles, explorations, and unifying achievements, explore the defining chapters that built the nation. Part one highlights extraordinary turning points from the Revolutionary era through the late 19th century, featuring iconic scenes and decisions that continue to resonate today. Journey through America's most significant historical milestones and stay tuned for part two next week.

This week, Nicole shines a light on Mercy Otis Warren, the remarkable playwright and writer from Massachusetts whose works helped rally support for independence. Often overlooked in history, Warren used her plays and writings to challenge British rule and inspire the revolutionary cause.
Sara then delivers a "dramatic" reading of the full Declaration of Independence as only Sara can, followed by a discussion of its powerful words, the grievances against King George III, and the historical context of its creation and signing.

In this special America 250 episode, Sal quizzes Sara & Nicole with questions from the US Citizenship Civics test!
Explore the path to naturalization, eligibility requirements, and the naturalization process before diving into trivia covering the Constitution, separation of powers, the Great Compromise, the Electoral College, key amendments, historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Sojourner Truth, major events from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War, and more. Are you becoming a citizen? Did you know the library offers citizenship classes? Contact us to find out about our next sessions.
Did you pass the test? Let us know in the comments!

We kick off our special series celebrating America's 250th birthday with a discussion of the musical (and movie) Hamilton! Stay tuned to the end for some exciting news for our patrons coming this fall...

Join librarians from the adult, children's and teen departments as we cover this year's clubs and learn how reading this summer can enter you into a raffle to win amazing prizes and access to fun experiences.
Sign up and unearth a story with reading! And remember: audiobooks and graphic novels count, too!

Discover the untold story behind the film that changed cinema forever. On the 49th anniversary of its release, uncover the wild origins of Star Wars: surprising early concepts, revolutionary effects, and casting choices that nearly went a very different direction. From desert shoots to groundbreaking visuals and a soundtrack for the ages, this is how the original space opera was born.

This week, Nicole explores the Authors Guild's latest best practices for writers using AI, along with a major lawsuit settlement involving Anthropic and the implications for authors whose work may have been used in AI training.
Then Sara dives into timely summer advice on protecting your skin from cancer risks, including what to watch for and simple ways to stay safe in the sun.

Dive into a delightful chat about North America's only marsupial—the opossum—and why these wobbly, tick-munching backyard heroes deserve more love. Learn their wild facts: pouches full of tiny babies, playing dead like pros, snake venom resistance, and why they're secretly ecosystem superstars.
Then shift gears to the rising world of young adult romance graphic novels, where dreamy stories, figure skating rivals, and heartfelt connections come alive in stunning illustrations. Perfect for fans of sweet tropes and beautiful artwork.

Nicole explores the "Fourth Grade Slump"—the well-documented drop in reading comprehension scores that often occurs when students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Drawing from Daniel Willingham’s book "Why Don’t Students Like School?", she discusses how background knowledge is essential for understanding texts, why the gap widens along socioeconomic lines, and how prior exposure to ideas, vocabulary, and experiences gives some children a significant advantage. Then, Sara highlights popular music available to stream instantly on Hoopla Digital, playing a game of name-that-tune, along with plenty of "singing."