What historic figure deserves the musical treatment? In this episode of the New Title Drop, Angela, Melanie and Mark prepare for the holiday season by sharing what bookish things they’re thankful for. The conversation with our Collection Development librarians continues with a preview of books to expect on OPL’s shelves in November and December.

• Take My Word for It: A Memoir by Levar Burton
• Long Wave by Daisy Johnson
• The Telephone: A New History by James Gleick
• The Friday Bookshop by Sawako Natori
• Cha Chaan Teng: Comfort Food From Hong Kong's Iconic Diners by Lucas Sin
• Love, Witches, and Wahala by Christine Cowan
• Overserved: The Lucky Life of the Office Drunk by Kate Flannery
• The Blue Hours: My Summers and Winter in Antarctica by Stephanie Krzywonos
• William Howard Taft: A Great American Life by Walter Stahr
• Ravenous by Mark D. Freeman

Bonus mentions:

• Akkadian Poetry: Before the Muses, An Anthology of Akkadian Literature
• Jaws (the movie)
• Reading Rainbow

Get the MyOPL app to place holds on any of these titles!

Check in with us on the first Tuesday of every month to hear about books we think you should be excited about.

Have you drank enough water today? On the latest episode of the New Title Drop, Angela, Melanie and Mark reflect on how the transition to spooky season can change their fall soundtracks. Keep listening for a preview of new book releases for October 2026.

Check out this month's titles and place holds here or visit omahalibrary.org/podcasts.

• Americans Without Borders: The Radical Activists Who Fought for Us Ideals Abroad While Facing Political Persecution at Home by Julia Harte
• Bruja's Nest by Brenda Latorre
• Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong
• A Wall Is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz
• A Bad Deal in Mormon Land by T.I. M. Wirkus
• Every Story Is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue
• Serling: A Journey Into the Twilight Zone With Tv's First Visionary by Alan Sepinwall
• Rebel Gardeners: Groundbreaking Mavericks and Unsung Pioneers of Gardening and Botany by Camilla Anderson
• Tyrant Lizard Queen: The Love, Life, and Terror of Earth's Greatest Carnivore by Riley Black

Bonus mentions

• Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie "Prince" Billy
• The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television by Koren Shadmi

Get the MyOPL app to place holds on any of these titles!

Check in with us on the first Tuesday of every month to hear about books we think you should be excited about.

This week on The Book Drop, we explore the powerful themes of aging and loss, inspired by this year's Omaha Reads selection, Remarkably Bright Creatures. We sit down with a local death doula who is bringing Death Cafes to Omaha Public Library, creating open spaces to talk through end-of-life topics. While this conversation touches on sensitive subjects, it offers a thoughtful and uplifting look at how we process loss, along with a list of meaningful book recommendations to guide you through it.

All the books and resources we talk about in this episode can be found here or by visiting omahalibrary.org/podcast.

Happening at the Library:

• Omaha Reads: Death Cafe | Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1 to 3 p.m. at Saddlebrook Branch
• Omaha Reads: iMovie Memories | Tuesday, Sept 29, 1 to 3 p.m. at Milton R. Abrahams Branch
• Omaha Reads: Lonely Folks | Sunday, Oct. 18, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Downtown Branch

Explore all upcoming events at omahalibrary.org/events.