A LITTLE TOO QUIET: THE FERNDALE LIBRARY PODCAST

A Little Too Quiet: Dalia Reyes

Dalia Reyes is an interdisciplinary artist, independent arts administrator and arts instructor from Southwest Detroit, and she'll be exhibiting her works here at the Ferndale Library in June! Dalia has been working in the arts sector for more than fifteen years, but she's been passionate about drawing and illustration since elementary school. We talk to Reyes about the positive ways in which a work of art can serve its audience, primarily by restoring and refreshing our auras. We also talk about the value of the social interactions that come with visiting galleries, (and she has lots of experience working in the gallery world). While we're at it, we should also talk about the importance of putting value ON a piece of art! http://daliareyes.com/

Reyes has worked in arts and culture-based non-profit organizations ranging from local galleries, arts fellowship organizations, and museums. Her work is cosmic, meditative and focuses on a metaphysical curiosity as well as surreal imagery. 

In this episode, you'll hear us discussing two books that Reyes brought with her: 

Mati & the Music
and Tiger Flower

 

 

A Little Too Quiet: Nadir Omowale

We're chatting with singer/songwriter/producer Nadir Omowale, an award-winning musician and the leader of a formidable funk-rock ensemble. Nadir Omowale gave a memorable performance at one of our Summer Concert Series showcases, and it was with his advice and encouragement that we wound up substantially enhancing our gear game at the library, particularly when it comes to sound systems for live events.

 

Omowale was raised in Tennesse, but has had a lifelong love of Motown, but especially funk music. He's adept at several other genres, like rock and soul, but even some country. He's produced several records and collaborated with dozens of local artists in the Metro Detroit area, but he resides just a block or so away from the library. We spoke with Omowale about his love of music, but especially about the influence of (not only icons like Prince,) but his mother, who was a dedicated volunteer to community causes, including serving on her local library board. 

You can see Nadir perform with his funk trio at Bowlero Lanes' Lounge on February 29. 

He will be performing at the Southfield Public Library on Wed., June 17

https://nadiromowale.bandcamp.com/track/the-right-kind-of-crazy-2

https://nadiromowale.bandcamp.com/track/blue-lights

https://nadiromowale.com/tag/michigan-state-fair-superstar

A Little Too Quiet: Youth Librarianship

We'll be honest and tell you that this episode was almost going to be titled: "...You Might Have To Clean Up Some Pee..." Just kidding. But that does inevitably come with the territory of a Youth Services Librarian...

We have brought you conversations with librarians who are in Adult Services, but today, librarian Elissa Zimmer is providing perspectives from the area of the library we call the Kids Corner: It's a chat about the ever-evolving aspects of Youth Librarianship. Zimmer has been full time at this library for about two years now, but she talks about her time working in her hometown (of Kalamazoo), as well as the need to always be brainstorming new craft activities to try out. Beyond that, we also talk about how important the topic of digital literacy for kids and teens is when it comes to the role of a Youth Librarian.

A Little Too Quiet: "Tween Readers" - Partnership with Ferndale Public Schools

We're chatting with Dr. Dania Bazzi, Superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools, as well as Mr. Aaron Blatt, teacher of 6th grade at Ferndale Middle School. We're also chatting with two Youth Services Librarians who collaborate with the schools, as part of our being a District Library, with annual events like Battle of the Books for 5th graders, and a Middle School Book Club. 

A Little Too Quiet: Film Collection minisode with Ed Burns

Reference Librarian Ed Burns is our Head of Adult Services, but he diverges from the stereotype of a librarian being obsessed with BOOKS and is, instead, primarily enchanted by the cinematic arts. Mr. Burns talks about his lifelong love of movies, dating back to his teenage days when he worked in a theater, leading up to his role as a librarian where he curates an excellent and diverse collection of films, providing the crowd-pleasing blockbusters along with the hard-to-find International releases by iconic directors from around the world, as well as up-and-coming independent filmmakers. Mr. Burns is our staff liaison to the Friends of the Ferndale Library; we chat about his time as a library volunteer in the 90's, leading up to his career change to librarianship, as well as his own endorsements for the rewards that can come when there is an active and supportive Friends group for a public library. We also talk about the Oscars, as well as film festivals! 

A Little Too Quiet: Author Kathe Koja

We're chatting with Detroit-based author Kathe Koja about the immersive qualities of her writing - not only in the way in which she creates vivid descriptions and dynamic characters through her words but also through her own theatre company. Koja has a new book of short stories, Velocities, coming out in April. She is currently working on a conceptual "book" that will utterly defy the boundaries of sequential pages between two covers, (it's called "Dark Factory.") Koja has been honored with the Bram Stoker Award and the Locus Award - she writes short fiction, young adult fiction. She is consistently redefining the genre we would conventionally call "horror." 

Referenced in this episode:

Tyke The Little Mutt: https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/TYKE-Little-Mutt-wDJ-author-signed/383430028/bd

Also, images of her 1990 novel, Cipher, and her upcoming release, Velocites:

Also:
A Dead Man in Deptford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dead_Man_in_Deptford
Green Velvet - Destination Unknownhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gseTQGX6rY 
&
more news from Kathe Koja: https://kathekoja.com/news-1/2019/5/15/dark-factory-and-patreon