cover to cover
PODCAST

Cover to Cover with DGPL is a podcast that takes the listener behind the scenes at the Downers Grove Public Library, giving the inside scoop on how the library works for its patrons.

We'll talk to staff members about the ins and outs of DGPL, community events, and more! Join Lauren, Cindy, and Ed for their monthly chats. Episodes are released the first week of the month.

How to Listen:

  • Click on the episode below, or
  • Subscribe to Cover to Cover on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Episode 52

Find your inner panda and listen to a movie discussion about the film Turning Red (2022)! The team also discusses upcoming programming, how to Book-An-Expert, and what they can't put down.


Episode 51

Join the One Book One Town Book Discussion with this month's episode about Answers in the Pages by David Levithan. Childrens' Program Coordinator Amanda B. visits with the Cover to Cover team to talk about the book's themes.


Episode 50

Get ready to have fun! Games of all kinds are discussed by the Cover to Cover team and Adult Program Coordinator, Karen Bonarek. Find the discussed games in the library to take home!


Episode 49

Wondering why the library needed a new elevator and workspaces? Find out with a deep dive into the library's current construction projects with Building Operations Director Ian Knorr.


Episode 48

The Cover to Cover Team reflects on books that inspired them in 2022.


Episode 47

Learn about the Staff Picks program with Adult and Teen Services Librarian Mary Sustar! Organization of the Month: Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley.


Episode 46

Learn about the library's genealogy resources and get to know one of our newest librarians, Jaymie Middendorf! Organization of the Month: Giant Steps.


Episode 45

Learn about the library's genealogy resources and get to know one of our newest librarians, Jaymie Middendorf! Organization of the Month: Giant Steps.


Episode 44

Meet the library's newest manager, Lucas McKeever! Organization of the Month: Hope for the Day


Episode 43

Meet Library Director Julie Milavec in a discussion about what's coming up at the library. Organization of the Month, Literacy DuPage, discusses the county's strong need for language tutoring. 

Episode 42

Meet the library's new Board President, Swapna Gigani. Organization of the Month, TEACH Empowers, joins the studio to discuss their services.


Episode 41

Find your next read in our Summer Reading Club special! This month, the Cover to Cover team shares what they can't put down in the following genres: literary fiction, romance, teen/YA, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, nonfiction, audiobook, historical fiction, thriller, and Kids grade school/picture books! Andi Voinovich from our Organization of the Month, Youth Outlook, also visits the studio to share what their organization has to offer.

Episode 40

The team welcomes Ann Cummins from grit2 to the Media Lab with its first Organization of the Month guest since the pandemic! The mini-series, The Night Manager is also discussed. 

Episode 39

Laugh through Pheobe Robinson's Please Don't Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes with the Cover to Cover team. Organization of the Month: DuPage Health Coalition.


Episode 38

Children's Librarian Assistant Gracie Ruyle joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss The Golden Hour by Nikki Smith. Organization of the Month: DuPage Foundation.


Episode 37

Celebrate Black History Month with Lauren, Cindy, and Ed as they unpack their viewing of The Friendliest Town, a documentary about a small-town's first Black police chief's abrupt firing. Organization of the Month: Food Rescue US - Willowbrook.


Episode 36

Join the Cover to Cover team as they discuss the book Fables Book 1 by Bill Willingham.* Organization of the Month: Midwest SOARRING Foundation.

*Fables contains mature content.


Episode 35

Kira Riddle, Adult and Teen Services Librarian, joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Organization of the Month: YWCA Chicago


Episode 34

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the library's Land Acknowledgment in a Q&A session with ATS Librarian Van McGary: hear about what prompted the library to make a land acknowledgment, how it was written, and why it's important. Organization of the Month: Hope's Front Door.


Episode 33

Join the Cover to Cover team as they discuss the first season of What We Do In The Shadows. Organization of the Month: Child's Voice.


Episode 32

Joy Matteson, Adult and Teen Services Librarian, joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss the library's new Aspen catalog. Then, they discuss The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron. Organization of the Month: DuPage Symphony Orchestra.


Episode 31

Lizzie Matkowski, the Adult and Teen Services Manager, joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss the library's reintroduction of services and reopening. Then, they discuss the Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Organization of the Month: West Suburban Humane Society.


Episode 30

Join Lauren, Cindy, and Ed as they review and discuss the film First Cow (2019). Organization of the Month: Wellness House.


Episode 29

Join Lauren, Cindy, and Ed as they review and discuss the book An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Organization of the Month: Downers Legacy Seed Library.


Episode 28

The Cover to Cover team each chose an album for the others to listen to. Albums were chosen based on their significance to the selector. 

Ed: The Masterplan by Oasis
Lauren: The Essential Dolly Parton
Cindy: Hang On Little Tomato by Pink Martini

Find the albums in the library's catalog and listen along! Hear what the team thought in this month's episode. 

Organization of the Month: Hephzibah Children's Association


Episode 27

Join Lauren, Cindy, and Ed as they review and discuss the book How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. Organization of the Month: NAMI DuPage.


Episode 26

Join us as we review and discuss the movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020). Organization of the Month: Downers Grove Organic Gardeners


Episode 25

Join us as we review and discuss the movie The Donut King (2020). Organization of the Month: Senior Suburban Orchestra


Episode 24 

Join us as we review and discuss the book The Devil in the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. Organization of the Month: Organization Support Our Troops - America.


Episode 23 

Join us as we discuss the book The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. Organization of the Month: Art Department.


Episode 22 

Join us as we discuss the book A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Organization of the Month: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County 


Episode 21 

Join us as we discuss the book The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Organization of the Month: Paws with a Cause.


Episode 20

Board President Jonathan Graber discusses navigating the library through the COVID-19 pandemic. Organization of the Month: DuPage Pads


Episode 19

Ms. Erin from the Kids Room talks about home learning and education resources for families as the community enters into the school year. Organization of the Month: Downers Grove Park District Adult Center


Episode 18

The team talks about their favorite memories and moments from the Harry Potter series. Upcoming Virtual Programs are discussed. Organization of the Month: DuPage Habitat for Humanity


Episode 17

Summer Reading Club is open for signups! Get excited about prizes and learn about how to sign up to participate digitally this year. Upcoming Virtual Programs are discussed. Organization of the Month: Diveheart


Episode 16

Looking for some great recommendations? The Cover to Cover team talks about their favorite book to movie adaptations! Organization of the Month: Downers Grove Area Fish Food Pantry.


Episode 15

Hear about what the librarians behind the service desk do all day with Adult and Teen Services Librarian Misty, and learn about the Organization of the Month: Help Save Pets


Episode 14

This month's episode is all about music at DGPL! Hear from ATS Librarian Joy Matteson about how the library chooses which CDs to buy for the public, learn about sheet music and using the media lab. Enjoy a special treat as our resident expert, Ed, talks about his top 5 albums he recommends. Organization of the Month: Community Adult Day Center

Episode 13

Join the Fred Fan Club and hear all about his journey to DGPL, romance at the Downers Grove Public Library, and upcoming events. Organization of the Month, DuPage Health Coalition, features Sonja Altmayer to discuss services. 

Episode 12

Join the Cover to Cover team and Nancy Rooney, Adult and Teen Services Librarian, in discussing the library's language learning resources. For the first time the Organization of the Month, the West Suburban Humane Society, visits the studio.

Episode 11

Meet Assistant IT Manager Max Mogavero and learn about 3D printing at the library; popular Book-an-Expert services are discussed; Literacy DuPage.

Episode 10

Hear library success stories during our month of Thankfulness; meet Jon Graber, President of the library's Board of Trustees, and learn about his role; Pick-a-Palooza book fair information; Organization of the Month: Sharing Connections.

Episode 9

DGPL is hosting a month of homelessness awareness through October. Join the Cover to Cover team as they discuss the There's No Place That's Home initiative with Director Julie Milavec; Halloween events; Family Shelter Service of Family Services DuPage

Episode 8

Meet Erin Linsenmeyer, Children's Librarian and Outreach Coordinator, and Allyson Renell, Children's Services Manager, while they discuss early literacy at the library and outreach programming; PAWSitive Therapy Troupe

Episode 7

Love the artwork in the library? In Episode 7, we chat with Melody Danley, Graphics and Display Coordinator, to hear about the permanent collection and rotating art exhibits in the North and Cafe galleries. Hear about the One Community One Read that is coming up at the end of the month, and learn more about our Organization of the Month, SEASPAR.

Episode 6

Follow a book through its journey from selection to check out! Hear from Lizzie Matkowski, Adult and Teen Services Manager; Nora Mastny, Cataloging Librarian; and Tim Raub, Circulation Clerk to learn about how a library book gets to the shelves; Hamiltunes; Organization of the Month: West Suburban Community Pantry

Episode 5

Find out about some of the little known services at DGPL, including notary, restricted cards, and the brand-new Anything Emporium. Hear from Katelyn Vabalaitis, Executive Assistant; Christine Lees, Circulation Manager; and Shannon Gruber, Adult and Teen Services Librarian to learn all about how to use these services; Organization of the Month: Project C.U.R.E.

Episode 4

Teen Services Librarian, Amanda Klenk, joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss what teens can do at DGPL, Bookology, Summer Reading; Find out where the library will be in the community this Summer; Organization of the Month: Hope's Front Door

Episode 3

Assistant Director, Jen Fredericks, joins the Cover to Cover team to discuss a few ways the library partners with local organizations; Founders Day is coming up with activities for the whole family; Organization of the Month: Watts of Love

Episode 2

Get to know one of the library's most dynamic staff members, Ian Knorr, Facilities Manager; learn where to register to vote, and how to get informed for April's election; Organization of the Month: Bridge Communities

Episode 1

Meet your hosts, Lauren, Cindy, and producer, Ed, as they introduce the podcast and DGPL's Media Lab.