Booklist's Shelf Care
Books & Literature
About
Where we talk all things readers’ advisory, collection development, reference, and other library-related bookish stuff, from your friends at Booklist. Want more? Is it even possible? Go to www.booklistonline.com/newsletters to discover the magic.
Episodes
- Episode 48: Summer Scares 2026
Folks are probably well into planning for summer reading programs, so now is the perfect time to talk about Summer Scares! On this Episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to the folks involved. First, this year’s celeb…
- Episode 47: Three Conversations about Reading
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire speaks to Seattle Public Library Reader Services Librarian Misha Stone about nerding out about reading, reading more (or at least reading more intentionally), and the thrill of…
- Episode 46: Editors' Choice 2025
It’s bigger than Santa, it’s bigger than the Super Bowl…it’s Editors’ Choice! The full list is a highlight of our December issue, but every winter, Booklist editors gather ‘round the podcast mic and share some of their favorites from the l…
- Episode 45: Once Upon a Fairy Tale Retelling
Fairy tale retelling are having a moment, a moment that has extended for, like, millennia, but now the trend feels particularly hot. Host Susan Maguire sat down with librarian and Booklist reviewer Lucy Lockley about what’s behind the fanf…
- Episode 44: A Tale of Two Sara(h)s
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with two of our favorite Sara(h)s. First, librarian and Booklister Sara Martínez talks about REFORMA’s National Book Award winner and tips for Spanish-language collec…
- Episode 43: Live from ALA!
In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’re coming to you live from ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with three authors who were excited to share insight into their forthcoming book…
- Episode 42: Why I Love Horror
Episode 42 Show Notes In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to librarian and horror expert Becky Spratford about the forthcoming collection of essays she edited, Why I Love Horror, what Mary Shelle…
- Episode 41: Summer Scares 2025
It’s time for Summer Scares, and the popular horror-reading program is in fine form again. Shelf Care host Susan Maguire spoke to librarian Becky Spratford, author Kendare Blake, and Booklist’s Julia Smith about this year’s selections for…
- Episode 40: It’s Not New (But It Sucks): Dealing with Book Bans from the Frontlines
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Katie Clausen, a Chicagoland children’s librarian, about what it’s like to be on the front lines of a book banning, who offers some tips and suggested language for dea…
- Episode 39: Editors' Choice 2024
It’s that time of the year again, when the Booklist editors gather ‘round the proverbial fire and share some of their favorite reads of the year. Covering everything from our Top of the List titles to personal faves, this episode has a lit…
- Episode 38: With a Little Help from Our Friends
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to two of her Friends, the co-chairs of the annual book sale at her local branch library. They talk about being picky about donations, pricing, layout, and the treasures…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Carole Boston Weatherford
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors talk to book people. This Shelf Care interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. In this episode of Shelf Care Interv…
- Episode 37: Book-Clubbable
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire spoke to Allison Escoto of the Center for Fiction about book groups, being a solo librarian, and getting the opportunity to read nonfiction for the Carnegie Awards. Then, Audio…
- Episode 36: So. Many. Book. Suggestions.
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’ve got lots and lots of reading suggestions. First, host Susan Maguire is joined by Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director, LibraryReads, for a mini-Read ‘n’ Rave, a version of the hit program that…
- The Shelf Care Interview: The Creative Team Behind RIFTS AND REFRAINS
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Dreamscape Media. In this episode of the Shelf Care in…
- After the Diversity Audit and Farewell, Maggie (sad emoji)
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sat down with Johanna Boyle and Marie Mulder from the Kent District Library in Michigan about the necessary work of the diversity audit, and what to do once the audit is done (…
- Summer Scares 2024
This episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast is all about Summer Scares! The reading program, a collaboration between Booklist, the Horror Writers Association, United for Libraries, Book Riot, and NoveList, announced their title picks in Februa…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. In this episode of Shelf Care…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Patricia Kreiser
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Capstone. In this episode of Shelf Care Interview, Sar…
- Episode 33: Memoirs, Author Visits, and Books Books Books
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Stephanie Sendaula, librarian and memoir enthusiast, about what’s so great about memoirs and what makes a great author visit. Then Audio Editor Heather Booth shares so…
- Episode 32: Editors' Choice 2023
It’s December, and that means…Editors’ Choice! Booklist’s full list of our Editors’ Choice titles can be found in our December issue, but on this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, the Booklist editors share some standouts from the alread…
- Episode 31: Craft Books, Celebrity Memoirs, and Evil Hamburgers
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with librarian Nanette Donohue to talk about all aspects of collecting craft books. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with librarian Emily Borsa about the appeal…
- Shelf Care Interview: BonHyung Jeong
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series in which Booklist talks with book people! This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Yen Press. BonHyung Jeong (Bon) studied Cartooning at the School of Visual Arts in N…
- Shelf Care Interview: Saadia Faruqi
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series in which Booklist talks with book people! This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Capstone Young Readers. Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American writer, interfaith act…
- Shelf Care Interview: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care interview, an occasional podcast where Booklist editors get to talk with authors and artists about their books. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. In this epi…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Jackson Lanzig and Collin Kelly
Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care interview, an occasional podcast where Booklist editors get to talk with authors and artists about their books. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by IDW. In this episode, Sarah Hunter t…
- Episode 30: Free People Read Freely: Banned Books Week 2023
In this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to four people addressing banned books in different ways: Cortney Hall and Matt Rodrigues from NBC Chicago Today’s Banned Book Club; Amanda ReCupido, Vice President of th…
- The Shelf Care Interview: DK Dyson and Rudy Gutierrez
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Random House Children's Books. In this episode, Heather Booth talks with author DK Dyson…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Rachel Werner
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Capstone. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks to author-illus…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Pedro Martín
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks to…
- Episode 29: Cool People Talking about Cool Books
In keeping with our annual post-Annual tradition, Susan invited LibraryReads Executive Director Rebecca Vnuk on to participate in a mini Read ‘n’ Rave, in which they shout and generally make positive noises about some forthcoming books tha…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Kate Glasheen
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Holiday House. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Ronny Khuri talks to Kate Gla…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Sarah Sax
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Random House Children’s Books. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter…
- Episode 28: Summer Scares 2023!
This episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast is all about Summer Scares. First, host Susan Maguire talks to Summer Scares committee member Konrad Stump and librarian Rebecca Leannah (from the Racine, WI Public Library) about what kinds of progr…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Paul Gilligan
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Penguin Random House Canada. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter ta…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Jessixa and Aaron Bagley
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sara…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Andrea Beaty and Bahni Turpin
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series, where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Dreamscape Media. Andrea Beaty is the author of the bestselling QUESTIONEERS series, amo…
- Episode 27: RA Training, The Audies, And Mothman
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Jessica Trotter of the Capital Area District Libraries (MI) about all things readers’ advisory training, from grassroots staff efforts to defining core competencies an…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Heather Murphy Capps
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series, where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. Heather Murphy Capps grew up in a small Minnesota town where th…
- Episode 26: A Deep Dive into Book Groups
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Indianapolis (IL) Public Library’s Montoya Barker about all things book group—selecting titles, leading a group, and all kinds of other stuff. Then, Susan chats with B…
- Episode 25: Editors' Choice 2022
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s Editors’ Choice time, when we here at Booklist pick the best of the best for 2022. As in years past, Booklist editors picked some stan…
- Episode 24: Reading Glasses and Other Helpful Insights
On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to the hosts of another podcast, Reading Glasses. Mallory O’Meara and Brea Grant chat with Susan about reading wheelhouses, extol the virtues of the library, and encourag…
- The Shelf Care Interview: Tameka Fryer Brown and Nina Crews
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series, where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. Tameka Fryer Brown is the author of several picture books, incl…
- Shelf Care Interview: Saadia Faruqi
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series in which Booklist talks with book people! This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Abrams Books. Saadia Faruqi was born in Pakistan and moved to the United States when…
- Episode 23: Personal Weeding and Personal Reading
In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to RAILS Community Engagement Manager Dan Bostrom about how to weed one’s personal book collection, Audio Editor Heather Booth hears from reviewers about how a…
- Shelf Care Interview: Svetlana Chmakova
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Yen Press. Svetlana Chmakova was born and raised in Russia until the age of 16 when her f…
- Shelf Care Interview: Daniel Minter
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care interview is sponsored by Random House Children's Books. In this episode of The Shelf Care Interview, Maggie Reagan…
- Shelf Care Interview: Reimena Yee
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Random House Children's Books. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter…
- Shelf Care Interview: April Lavalle and Alex Boniello
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by ABRAMS Children's Books. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Julia Smith talks t…
- Episode 22: Book Banning and Book Suggesting
In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Kelly Jensen about the current state of book banning, what’s behind the recent slate of challenges, and what to do when collection development policies are…