Sara’s here to let us know which Golden Globe winners you can take out from the library, plus Nicole has a follow-up on the Sold a Story podcast and what the future may be on teaching kids how to read.
☕ Cozy Up at the Library This Winter
Don’t forget—Middle Country Public Library is open every day, even during these chilly months! Come grab a cinnamon caramel dolce latte or a classic peppermint mocha at the café while you cozy up with a book, magazine, or newspaper. Our space is perfect for relaxing, working, or escaping the cold.
📖 Adult Book Bingo: A Fresh Take on the Reading Challenge
Sara kicks things off with an exciting update to last year’s 24 in 2024 challenge: Book Bingo!
🔹 How It Works:
- Pick up a Bingo board at the Adult Services Desk.
- Complete reading prompts like:
- Read a book by a local author
- Listen to an audiobook
- Read a food memoir or a self-help book
- Complete a row (across, diagonal, or vertical) to earn a raffle ticket.
- Submit as many boards as you like—all unique, all fun!
- End-of-year raffle prizes await lucky participants.
📌 Note: Book Bingo is paper-based, but participants are encouraged to snap a photo to track progress digitally if they wish.
🎥 Golden Globes 2025: The Winners and Where to Watch
Next, Sara and the team explore the 2025 Golden Globe Awards—with a librarian twist. Not only do they cover the major winners, they also share which titles are available at the library (and which ones are frustratingly locked behind streaming services).
🏆 Highlights:
- Amelia Perez (Netflix): A big winner in multiple categories, including Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy). Not yet available at the library.
- Hacks (starring Jean Smart): Available at MCPL. A smart and sharp series about a mentorship between a legendary comic and a Gen Z writer.
- Shogun (FX/Hulu): Swept multiple categories. Coming soon to the library when released on physical media.
- Baby Reindeer and The Bear: Major wins, but again, streaming-only content for now.
- Conclave: Available at the library! A gripping thriller about a Vatican conspiracy.
- The Substance: A surprise win for Demi Moore in a body horror film. Available at the library—but not for the faint of heart!
💡 Streaming Frustration Alert: Many award-winning titles are only available via paid streaming platforms. Remember: DVDs labeled “All Region” on Amazon are likely bootlegs and not legal for library use.
📚 Youth Winter Reading Program: “Yeti, Set, Read!”
Nicole shares the details of this season’s adorable and fun Youth Winter Reading Program.
❄ How It Works:
- Sign up at the Youth Services Desk.
- Log reading in Beanstack or use a paper log.
- For every 15 minutes of reading, color in a Yeti footprint.
- Reach 4 hours of reading and receive a prize!
This program runs through March 1st, making it perfect for February break reading goals.
🎧 Must-Listen Podcast Recommendation: Sold a Story
Nicole dives deep into a powerful, investigative podcast that’s shaking up education: Sold a Story by APM Reports.
📘 The Premise:
Why can’t so many kids read? It turns out, a popular but scientifically unsupported reading method (called “whole language” or “three cueing”) dominated classrooms for decades—often with harmful effects. The podcast exposes how bad ideas about reading instruction were sold to schools and teachers nationwide.
🔎 Key Takeaways:
- Phonics vs. Whole Language: Many children weren’t learning to decode; they were just guessing.
- Pandemic Wake-Up Call: Remote learning revealed just how many students were struggling with basic literacy.
- Political Drama: The Bush administration’s phonics-based “Reading First” initiative was dismissed by critics—despite strong results in some underserved schools.
- Real Consequences: Parents, educators, and lawmakers are now re-evaluating how reading is taught in U.S. schools.
🎙️ Recommended for parents, educators, and anyone curious about literacy education. The episodes are gripping, emotional, and deeply informative.
🎬 Final Thoughts
This episode was a fantastic mix of entertainment, education, and community updates. Whether you’re curling up with a book, streaming the latest award-winning drama, or exploring the future of reading education, Middle Country Public Library has something for everyone.
🔗 Stay Connected:
- Visit mcplibrary.org for more info.
- Listen to the podcast and find show notes at mcplpodcast.com.
- Subscribe on YouTube for more great episodes.
- Drop by the library for warm drinks, cool reads, and friendly faces!
