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The Ask Us Desk

The Ask Us Desk

By The Ask Us Desk

Get the inside scoop from three library professionals as we chat about libraries, books, and just about anything else. Have a question or need a book recommendation? Ask us!
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Happy Holidays!

The Ask Us DeskApr 11, 2021

00:00
47:54
Ask an Elder

Ask an Elder

May's #AskUsReadingChallenge prompt is "Ask an Elder." Listen as Britney, Gabi, and Amanda discuss what their elders read. They also discuss Queer Pirate Summer, Christian Theology, and Socialist Anarchy? 

May 22, 202201:05:28
Library Selection (feat. Mary)

Library Selection (feat. Mary)

Britney, Gabi, and Amanda are joined by Mary to discuss library selection practices and talk about Book Twitter drama. 

May 02, 202201:22:14
Rainy Day Reads

Rainy Day Reads

April showers bring cozy book suggestions! Amanda, Britney, and Gabi chit chat about some fun book to screen adaptations and share some suggestions for the April #AskUsReadingChallenge prompt- Rainy Day Reads. Or you could just... read whatever you're reading while it happens to be raining! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AskUsPod for more reading recommendations and podcast updates. 

Apr 10, 202250:54
BTS Reading Challenge (feat. Amy)
Feb 20, 202201:02:20
Let's Talk About Sex

Let's Talk About Sex

Gabi, Britney, and Amanda give recommendations for romance and sexuality nonfiction for the #AskUsReadingChallenge 2022 February Reading prompt "Let's Talk About Sex." Find the full year of prompts on TheStoryGraph or our Instagram page @AskUsDesk.

Jan 30, 202201:02:37
Reading Challenges

Reading Challenges

Amanda, Britney, and Gabi talk about Reading Challenges! They also do a recap of how the #AskUsReadingChallenge went for 2021 and they come up with the 2022 prompts. 

Jan 16, 202201:06:52
Santa, Baby

Santa, Baby

WARNING: This episode is extremely NSFW, listeners beware. The young and faint of heart should skip and watch The Muppet Christmas Carol with some hot cocoa instead. 

Gabi assigns Santa erotica for Amanda and Britney to read. From shape-shifting reindeer to evil, sexy elves-- what will Mrs. Claus think? This episode is the REAL War on Christmas. Enjoy. 

Dec 19, 202101:13:14
Be Gay, Read Romance

Be Gay, Read Romance

Listen as Amanda, Gabi, and Britney give LGBTQ Romance recommendations. The group also shares latest TV obsessions, Gabi explains the cat man with double dicks, and they all take a trip to Crustaceous Park. Enjoy!

Nov 30, 202147:35
Heritage

Heritage

Gabi, Britney, and Amanda give reading suggestions for the Heritage prompt (read a book by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author). They also chit chat about the state of of the state of Texas. Will Mic Jagger roll back the stone so that JFK Jr. can return from the dead to save us all? Find out!

Links from today's discussion:

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/curious-texas/2020/09/09/what-happened-to-native-american-tribes-that-once-existed-in-north-texas-curious-texas-investigates/

https://native-land.ca

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/11/02/qanon-supporters-gather-in-downtown-dallas-expecting-jfk-jr-to-reappear/

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/26/texas-school-books-race-sexuality/

http://societyofnativenations.org/about.html 


Nov 14, 202156:18
It Served Its Time

It Served Its Time

Britney, Amanda, and Gabi help each other select what to read next from their TBR (to be read) lists. They also chat about currently reading books and the ongoing dystopia that is the state of Texas. 


Make sure to participate in the yearlong #AskUsReadingChallenge on twitter and instagram by sharing a photo of the book you've read for one of our prompts and tagging us @askuspod. You can find the list of prompts on our StoryGraph page here: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/2cb8111b-8c11-4a9f-bdb0-9c6c24d3c156 

Oct 17, 202154:40
Spooky Spectacular 2: 2 Spooky 2 Spectacular

Spooky Spectacular 2: 2 Spooky 2 Spectacular

Gather 'round ghosts and ghouls! It's time for another Spooky Spectacular! This time with suggestions from listeners and a few horror movie party games. Can Gabi guess the fake horror movie? Who will win in a battle of horror knowledge, Britney or Amanda? 


Don't forget to participate in our year-long reading challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift card to bookshop.org. Post to Instagram or Twitter tagging us @askuspod using the hashtag #askusreadingchallenge to tell us about a book you are reading for the challenge. Link to the prompts in our Instagram bio. 

Oct 03, 202150:31
Birthday Buddies

Birthday Buddies

Amanda, Gabi, and Britney talk more about how much they love fall. Amanda admits that Steve from Blue's Clues "still looks good" and the crew share some author recommendations. This episode is centered around the #AskUsReadingChallenge prompt 'Birthday Buddies.' Read an author born in the same month as you. 

Don't forget to post about the #AskUsReadingChallenge on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag and making sure to tag us @AskUsPod. You could win our next $25 bookshop.org gift card!

Sep 19, 202101:01:34
The Book is Better

The Book is Better

Gabi, Amanda, and Britney talk about the #AskUsReadingChallenge prompt "The Book is Better" and share some of their favorite book to movie adaptations. Stuff gets spooky and depressing in the chit chat. Gabi shares a spicy current read and Amanda share a spicy book to movie. You know goddamn well which kind of spice. 

Sep 05, 202101:20:48
Phone a Friend

Phone a Friend

Britney, Gabi, and Amanda have a heartfelt discussion about friendship and talk about their friends' favorite books. This episode is inspired by the "Phone a Friend" prompt in the #AskUsReadingChallenge. To participate in the year-long reading challenge, post about a book you're reading for one of the prompts on Twitter or Instagram using #AskUsReadingChallenge and tag the podcast @AskUsDesk. Don't forget, you can send us a voice message. You might make it onto the show! 


Remember: they can't make you read Santa porn in prison. 

Aug 15, 202101:06:08
Too Graphic

Too Graphic

Amanda, Britney, and Gabi talk about ongoing COVID stress and graphic novels. 

Participate in the #AskUsReadingChallenge with @AskUsPod on Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win a $25 gift card for bookshop.org. 

Have a library question or need a book recommendation? Ask us by emailing askuspod@gmail.com. 

Aug 01, 202101:16:02
What's Cookin'?

What's Cookin'?

In this episode, Gabi shares her love of food industry memoirs with Britney and Amanda. The three also discuss pandemic mask wearing weirdness and Waffle House.  

Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @AskUsPod and participate in our year-long #AskUsReadingChallenge. 

Jul 19, 202101:10:46
Listen Up

Listen Up

This week, Britney, Gabi, and Amanda talk about their favorite audiobooks to give suggestions for the "Listen Up" prompt from their #AskUsReadingChallenge. Need reading suggestions or have a reference question? Don't forget you can always Ask Us! 

Jul 04, 202150:52
Childhood Favorites

Childhood Favorites

Britney, Gabi, and Amanda talk about their favorite books from childhood. Gabi wants everyone to know that she had loving parents. 


Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @AskUsPod. Don't forget to participate in the #AskUsReadingChallenge for a chance to win a $25 gift card to bookshop.org. The next deadline for submission is June 30. Details on our instagram. 

Jun 20, 202151:58
Check it Out

Check it Out

Amanda, Britney, and Gabi are back! In this episode they talk about reopening their libraries, alarming new laws, and give reading recommendations for books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. They also promote the #AskUsReadingChallenge and the "Check it Out" prompt. Any book you check out or read with library resources will count! Make sure to submit your entry to win in the next giveaway on June 30th. Post about any book you are reading for the #AskUsReadingChallenge and tag us @AskUsPod on Instagram on Twitter. You can also email us at AskUsPod@gmail.com.  

Jun 06, 202158:30
Well Verse'd

Well Verse'd

Happy belated National Poetry Month! Gabi, Britney, and Amanda share their current reads, talk about automated library services, and read you poems. Lots of poems. Don't forget to follow the podcast @AskUsPod on Instagram and Twitter. And make sure to participate in our year-long reading challenge #AskUsReadingChallenge to win $25 to bookshop.org. The next giveaway deadline is June 30. 

May 09, 202159:21
True Crime

True Crime

Turns out True Crime is more than just murder books! Join Amanda, Britney, and Gabi as they discuss current events and give some True Crime recommendations for the #AskUsReadingChallenge. 

Apr 25, 202158:39
Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Spring is a time lush with holidays. Whether you celebrate Easter, Holi, Ramadan, Passover, or any other holiday this time of year-- Happy Holidays! Britney, Gabi, and Amanda talk about COVID vaccines and library working conditions. They talk about who gets to say fuck in the library profession. And they talk about books you can read for their #AskUsReadingChallenge prompt- Happy Holidays! 

Apr 11, 202147:54
Found in Translation

Found in Translation

Gabi, Britney, and Amanda talk about vaccinations, children's books by celebrities, and suggest some translated titles for the #AskUsReadingChallenge.  

Mar 28, 202147:07
Black Trans Lives Matter

Black Trans Lives Matter

Britney and Gabi regale Amanda with their harrowing tales of the Texas Snowpocoplyse. The trio also discuss recent Dr. Seuss shenanigans and give suggestions for Black Trans authors to read for their #AskUsReadingChallenge. The first giveaway ends March 31st, so make sure to post about which books you are reading for the challenge prompts by tagging @askuspod on twitter or instagram and using the #AskUsReadingChallenge to win a $25 gift card to bookshop.org. 

You can find the full list of prompts here:

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/2cb8111b-8c11-4a9f-bdb0-9c6c24d3c156 

You can learn more about the work of doctoral student DeAnza Williams here:

https://ischool.illinois.edu/people/deanza-williams 

You can check out this list of Black Trans authors here:

https://emmiebooks.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/its-queer-here-black-trans-nonbinary-writers-to-support/ 

Mar 14, 202140:39
Brownie Points

Brownie Points

Gabi, Britney, and Amanda talk about Girl Scout cookies and their favorite books of all time. 

Jan 31, 202150:29
Talking Bodies

Talking Bodies

Amanda, Britney and Gabi give reading suggestions for the Talking Bodies prompt of the #AskUsReadingChallenge and the currently reading section goes a little off track with a Bridgerton detour. They also discuss library life in the times of COVID and coups at the capital. Also sheep? Baa.

Jan 18, 202150:51
Start That Series

Start That Series

New Year, new podcast format! Amanda, Britney, and Gabi focus more on books and reading in The Ask Us Desk Season 2. They introduce the #AskUsReadingChallenge, which is 26 prompts to keep you reading all year long. This episode is centered around prompt number 1: Start That Series.  Get some reading suggestions and listen as Amanda uses her librarian superpower to solve a "What's that book?" for Britney. 

Jan 03, 202146:17
Holidays in the Library

Holidays in the Library

Amanda, Britney, and Gabi discuss celebrating holidays in public libraries. They get sidetracked discussing cheesy Christmas movies and answer some questions about library services. Amanda can't for the life of her remember any details about How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Britney discloses her childhood fear of Santa, and Gabi tries to convince everyone that Santa can be sexy. They also reveal their exciting new format for the new year, which includes the #AsUsReadingChallenge. 

Dec 20, 202048:18
Fake News
Dec 06, 202044:19
National Native American Heritage Month
Nov 22, 202052:11
NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Gabi, Britney, and Amanda discuss their own writing methods, NaNoWriMo library programs, and answer questions from library twitter to try and quell their election day anxieties. Find out why they love cozy mystery titles, how little they know about growing plants, and why animals are no longer allowed at a certain library. 

Nov 08, 202050:15
Libraries and Elections

Libraries and Elections

In this episode, we talk about what some libraries are doing to support elections and answer a few library related questions. Where do you take breaks during COVID? Do your managers work weekends? And more.

Oct 25, 202057:02
Spooky Spectacular

Spooky Spectacular

Instead of answering library questions, Amanda, Britney, and Gabi decide to share 5 TV shows, movies, and books to consume for the autumnal season in this special, Spooky Spectacular. Muhahahahaha.

Oct 11, 202001:28:43
Oh COVID

Oh COVID

We've passed the sixth month mark of the pandemic. In this episode, Gabi, Britney, and Amanda discuss how libraries have changed for COVID times and answer some library questions. Is now a good time to get your library degree? How do you get your foot in the door at libraries? Is it a good idea to live in the community you serve? Buckle up for this longer episode, folks. 

Sep 27, 202047:17
Oh Douglas County, Part II

Oh Douglas County, Part II

In this episode, Britney, Gabi, and Amanda discuss the continuing foolishness over the Douglas County Library diversity statement. They also get into lighter topics like shoes, library pets, and, you know, how we all die and what is life even. 

Sep 13, 202037:26
Oh Douglas County

Oh Douglas County

In this episode, we discuss the reaction from the Sherif's Office to Douglas County Library's Black Lives Matter statement, the myth of the library neutrality, and how to handle challenges to library programs. 

Aug 30, 202029:51
Oh JoAnne

Oh JoAnne

In this episode we talk about our disappointment in J. K. Rowling, share our current reads, and answer some library questions about reader's advisory and nasty book drop finds. 

Aug 16, 202030:19