How I Library

In episode 17, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor about their new documentary, “Free for All: The Public Library,” which premieres April 29 on PBS’s Independent Lens. “Free for All: The Public Library” is a love letter to America’s libraries that follows Logsdon and Faulknor as they travel across the United States to examine the history of our libraries and the unsung heroes behind them, from the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” of the late 19th century to the librarians whose influence helped ignite the Harlem Renaissance and other artistic and social movements to today’s librarians who serve us all despite book bans and threats to their lives. Logsdon and Faulkner join to show to discuss the film, its production, and some of its featured luminaries, the library’s place in American life today, book bans, and of course, how they library.

In episode 16, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with comic book artists—and honorary co-chairs of National Library Week—Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. Telgemeier is the New York Times-bestselling, Eisner Award–winning creator of the autobiographical graphic novels, “Smile,” “Sisters,” and “Guts.” She is also the creator of “Drama” and “Ghosts,” and the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. McCloud is the New York Times-bestselling author of “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art,” “Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels,” “Zot!,” and “The Sculptor.” He is a frequent lecturer on the power of visual communication and was inducted into the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in 2021. Telgemeier and McCloud are the creators of the new graphic novel, “The Cartoonists Club,” which follows a group of kids—each with their own distinct talents—who come together with the help of their school librarian to learn the art of comic book making. They join the show to discuss their new book, their careers as artists and comic creators, the joys of National Library Week, and how they library.

In episode 15, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with television, film, and podcast writer Eric Rogers, whose credits include “Futurama,” “NYPD Blue,” “Skylanders Academy,” “Polly Pocket,” “Teen Titans Go!,” and more. He is currently the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the animated series for kids, “Angry Birds: Mystery Island,” on Prime Video and Amazon Kids+. Rogers joins the show to discuss “Angry Birds,” his writing career, what goes into making a television show, especially an animated show for kids, and of course, how he libraries.

In episode 14 of the How I Library podcast, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with Vicky Jenson, Glenn Slater, and Alan Menken, the director, lyricist, and composer, respectively, of the animated musical, "Spellbound." Jenson, Slater, and Menken are behind some of the most acclaimed film and stage productions ever created. Jensen is the Oscar-winning director of "Shrek;" Slater is the lyricist of "The Little Mermaid," "Sister Act," and "School of Rock" on Broadway; and Menken is the Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar-, and Tony-winning composer behind "Little Shop of Horrors," "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "Newsies," and many more. They have come together to create "Spellbound," a new animated musical on Netflix about a young princess whose parents are monsters—literally. How her parents became that way—and how they can revert to their original form—is the crux of the film, and it’s not a simple story. It’s one about family strife, and how it impacts parents and their children alike. It’s serious, but also buoyant and fun. Jenson, Slater, and Menken join the show to discuss their careers, their creative processes, the making of "Spellbound," and, of course, how they library.

In episode 13, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association and I Love Libraries speaks with author Raj Tawney. Tawney is a writer and journalist whose work largely reflects his mixed-race upbringing. He has explored his identity through personal essays in The New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, I Love Libraries, and other outlets, and in his first book, “Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience” (2023). In his new book for young readers, “All Mixed Up” (2024), Tawney tells the semiautobiographical story of a multi-ethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 9/11. Tawney joins the show to discuss his writing, book bans and the importance of representation in books for readers of all ages, the power of food, and of course, how he libraries.

For this special Halloween episode, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with actor, writer, and producer David Dastmalchian. Dastmalchian is one of the most prolific and recognizable actors working today, especially in the horror, sci-fi, and superhero genres, who can be seen in “The Dark Knight,” The Suicide Squad,” “ Ant-Man,” “Dune,” “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” “Oppenheimer,” “Late Night with the Devil,” and more. He is also a voracious comic book fan, both as a collector and a creator, whose writing credits include “Count Crowley,” “Creature Commandos,” “Knights vs Samurai,” “The Headless Horseman Halloween Annual,” “DC Horror Presents,” and many more. Dastmalchian joins the show to discuss his love of comics and horror movies, his writing career, and of course, how he libraries.

In episode 11, show host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with New York Times-bestselling author Daniel Kraus. Kraus is one of the most acclaimed and prolific writers of terrifying fiction working today. His books include "Whalefall," "The Shape of Water" with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, "The Ghost That Ate Us: The Tragic True Story of the Burger City Poltergeist," "Rotters," "The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch," and "The Living Dead" with the late horror director George A. Romero. Kraus’ latest book, “Pay the Piper,” finds him collaborating posthumously with Romero again. It is one of two novels the director known best for zombie films like "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead" left unfinished when he died in 2017. “Pay the Piper" is an altogether different type of horror from Romero, about a mythical and mystical entity that terrorizes the Louisiana bayou. In Kraus’ hands, Romero’s work is finally out in the world. Kraus joins the show to talk about "Pay the Piper" and its origins, Romero’s influence, zombie movies, and of course, how he libraries.

In this special Banned Books Week episode of "How I Library," Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with New York Times-bestselling writer Beth Ferry. Ferry is the author of numerous books for young readers, including the recently released "Roar for Reading," a picture book about a brave little lion who decides to speak out against book banning. Ferry joins the show to discuss her new book, the book banning crisis engulfing the U.S., and her love of libraries.

In episode nine of “How I Library,” host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with actor and writer Max Greenfield. Greenfield’s acting credits include the Fox sitcom “New Girl,” for which he received nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Critics' Choice Television Awards; “The Neighborhood” on CBS, where he stars alongside Cedric the Entertainer; and the Fox animated series “Bob’s Burgers,” where he voices the character Boo Boo, the youngest member of the boy band Boyz4Now. He is also a successful author of books for kids, including “I Don’t Want to Read This Book,” “This Book is Not a Present,” “I Don’t Want to Read This Book Aloud,” and the recently released "Good Night Thoughts,” a sweetly funny bedtime book about anxiety. Greenfield joins the show to discuss his writing career, the inspirations for his latest book, and, of course, his love of libraries.

In episode eight of “How I Library,” host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery. Howery has appeared in films such as “Get Out,” “Free Guy,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and in the TV shows “The Carmichael Show,” Rel,” and “Eureka!” And now he’s back on the big screen in the film version of Crockett Johnson's beloved children’s book, “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” starring as both the animated and life-action versions of Harold’s friend Moose. Morehart spoke with Howery about bringing Johnson's book to the screen, the power of imagination, the intricacies of playing a moose, growing up in Chicago, and of course, his love of libraries.