April's Middletown Book for Discussion: Murder Takes a Vacation (April 24)

The MUM Book Discussion group will next meet on Friday, April 24.  Our title is Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman.  Here is a brief summary:

"[A]n irresistible mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a former private investigator and middle-aged widow whose vacation on a Parisian river cruise turns into a deadly international mystery...that only she can solve." (publisher)

Here is where you can find the book:

• There are no copies available at Miami or OhioLINK, but ---- use Miami University Libraries Search to search both of those catalogs, plus ---- SearchOhio is back, and they have copies! It is now incorporated into the Miami University Libraries Search (if you search in "Everything" from the search menu). Once again we have access to the holdings of many Ohio public libraries in addition to our usual academic options. You may also access SearchOhio through your local public library.
• Amazon has the hardcover, paperback, and Kindle available, and Bookshop.org has links to purchase the title from independent booksellers.

We will meet at 11:30 am on the 24th both in Room 123 in the Library and on Zoom.  Join the Zoom here! 

Our group is always finding interesting titles to share, and we look forward to the new things you'll bring to the table. In addition to discussing Broken Country, the group also shared these titles for consideration at their March 27 meeting:

Rebellion 1776, Laurie Halse AndersonHarlan Coben (author)

Dreamland Burning, Jennifer Latham

"Romantasy"

The Library Book, Susan Orlean

The Orchid Thief, Susan Orlean  

Theo of Golden, Allen Levi

The Correspondent, Virginia Evans

She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb

Hour of the Witch, Chris Bohjalian

The Gilded Hour, and Where the Light Enters, Sara Donati

Rules at the School by the Sea, Jenny Colgan

The Jaipur Trilogy, Alka Joshi

The Many Lives of Mama Love, Lara Love Hardin

Colored Television, Danzy Senna

Reboot, Justin Taylor

Julia, Heather Moore

Harlem Rhapsody, Victoria Christopher Murray

Ishmael, Daniel Quinn

Scissors on Strike, Jennifer Jones

Glitter Kittens, William Joyce

On Her Trail, John Dickerson

Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Emperor of Gladness, Ocean Vuong

The Boys in the Light, Nina Willner

The Ghosts of Rome, Joseph O'Connor

Clear, Carys Davies

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

Orbital, Samantha Harvey

Voracious Science and Vulnerable Animals, John Gluck

Twist, Colum McCann

11/22/63, Stephen King

The Bedeviled, Thomas Cullinan

To Paradise, Hanya Yanagihara

Please come along to our discussions to share what you've been reading/watching/listening to/experiencing!

If you're looking for something interesting to read, check out our page of past and future reads at http://www.mid.miamioh.edu/library/bookdiscussion.htm

John

The semester home stretch! Library events and more! (GHL Newsletter)

Hello!

We hope you had a great spring break! Check out the GHL Midd-mester newsletter linked here for updates on events, tips for research, and highlights to services and equipment we offer. 

Along with the newsletter, below you will find our flyer about the mini-golf design competition (contact Jennifer Hicks at hicksjl2@miamioh.edu for more details; the competition runs through May 1) and our new Short Story Club (April 2)!  We hope you can join us for these fun spring events!

--

Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian

Gardner-Harvey Library

Miami University Middletown

513-727-3221

Help us help students! The Gardner-Harvey Library Care Cabinet is stocked with personal hygiene items for students in need. We also provide free snacks in the lounge because students can't focus when they are hungry. If you would like to help, we would gladly accept donations in person or sent directly through our Amazon Wishlist

Join GHL on Zoom today to learn about Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii! (3/17)

 

National Parks

Mount Vesuvius Tuesday, Mar. 17 | 4:30 p.m. | Zoom event Most have heard of the city of Pompeii and how it was buried under ash from an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, but have you heard of its sister city, Herculaneum, or that there were survivors from Pompeii? Why is Mount Vesuvius where it is? What is its relationship to Italy’s Campi Flegrei supervolcano? What is the likelihood of Mount Vesuvius erupting again? Join us as Tammie Gerke, Ph.D. in Geology, discusses the formation of this volcano and its impacts on previous peoples and possible impacts to residents of Naples and the region in the future. She will also share her experience and photos of her trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum and up the slopes to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius. No RSVP is required MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/Libraries | BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu

Visit for Zoom Link

March Short Story Club (April 2)

Due to spring break, March's Short Story Club will meet on April 2nd, at Noon (12pm). 

There will be two short stories by Ray Bradbury: "The Pedestrian" & "Rocket Summer." They are available (for free) at libraryofshortstories.com (The Pedestrian and Rocket Summer).

Zoom link for meeting.

See you there!

Learn about AI tools that help you get things done! (3/12)

Join the Gardner-Harvey Library on Thursday, March 12th from 2pm-1pm for "Accomplishing Tasks with AI."

You've heard the hype, but what can AI do for you? Join presenters Jennifer Hicks and John Burke to explore daily tasks that AI tools can assist you with. Find pratical applications that put AI to work, for you!

In person (GRD 111) or on Zoom!

The MUMSTOCK Concert: Remembering Country Joe McDonald

The death of musician Country Joe McDonald on Saturday (March 7, 2026) brought to mind his participation in a concert at Miami University Middletown on May 30, 1971. A writer for the Middletown Journal referred to the event, which co-headlined Edgar Winter, as "MUMSTOCK." Read more in the Gardner-Harvey Library archives: https://mum50.omeka.net/items/show/1433#

3 events at GHL this week (3/3, 3/4, and 3/6)

 Today-

 

Mar. 3

4pm-5pm, Zoom link

Making Sense of Murmurations: What We Can Learn from Starlings

In this talk, Dr. Natalie Hofmeister (Biological Sciences) will explain the clouds of birds (starlings) we see on most drives in southwest Ohio this time of year. Drawing from her ongoing book project, we will explore how biologists make sense of the murmurations that transform individual starlings into a coordinated whole, and how we identify ourselves in these birds.

Wednesday-

March 4, 2026 4:00pm-5:00pm

What's In Our Backyard Series

A Tour of the Natural Areas Around Miami University Middletown, A Campus Among the Trees!

The beautiful, natural areas around the Middletown Campus are a positive protective factor for our region and our university. These areas are a favorable investment for our Metroparks and are open to the community to improve their health through visiting the green spaces.

Zoom and In-person event.
No RSVP is required.
Questions? Email John Burke at BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu.
Visit our Library webpage at MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/Libraries for additional information and future events. 

Friday-

March 6, 2026 12:00pm- 1:00pm

“A Sand County Almanac” Book Discussion

Join a discussion of “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold, a classic of American nature writing that celebrates the changing seasons, wild creatures, and the beauty of everyday landscapes. Explore how Leopold’s “land ethic” continues to inspire local conservation during Community Read and Leopold Week at Miami Regionals.

Zoom and In-person event.

No RSVP is required.
Questions? Email John Burke at BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu.
Visit our Library webpage at MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/Libraries for additional information and future events.

Events at GHL this week!

 Hello from Gardner-Harvey Library!

This week we have 2 events you can join in-person or on Zoom! Find Zoom links and more information below.

Thursday, Feb. 26th-noon- Using AI in Your Research

Friday, Feb. 27th-noon-Short Story Club- The Yellow Wallpaper

Your AI Toolkit

Using AI in Your Research Thursday, Feb. 26 | Noon | Gardner-Harvey Library, 111 | Middletown Zoom and In-person event There are ways to use the power of AI to ease your research journey. Generative AI tools can help with grammar and suggest ways to edit text, but they can also help you develop a topic and find search terms. Join John Burke, Middletown Library director, to learn strategies for using AI tools as you research sources for papers and presentations. No RSVP is required. MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/GHL-Events | BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu

Visit for Zoom Link

Check out the GHL Short Story Club! We will be meeting once a month to discuss a short story. The short story of the month for February is: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. You may access the short story through this link: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1952 When: Friday, February 27th, 12pm-1pm, both on Zoom & at GHL   Sign up for the Short Story Club to receive info on future meetings

--

Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian

Gardner-Harvey Library

Miami University Middletown

513-727-3221

Help us help students! The Gardner-Harvey Library Care Cabinet is stocked with personal hygiene items for students in need. We also provide free snacks in the lounge because students can't focus when they are hungry. If you would like to help, we would gladly accept donations in person or sent directly through our Amazon Wishlist

New this Semester! GHL Short Story Club (Feb. 27)

Do you like the idea of being in a book club, but you don’t have the time to read full books?

Check out the GHL Short Story Club! We will be meeting once a month to discuss a short story.

The short story of the month for February is: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. You may access the short story through this link: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1952

When: Friday, February 27th, 12pm-1pm, both on Zoom & at GHL  

Sign-up to receive information about stories, Zoom links, and meeting dates. 

Questions? Contact Jennifer Hicks at hicksjl2@miamioh.edu

"Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Yellow Wallpaper House" by juliejordanscott is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Join us on Zoom today to learn about Iceland's volcanoes!

 

National Parks

Iceland's Volcanoes Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 4:30 p.m. | Zoom event Did Iceland’s volcanoes really cost airlines millions of euros in 2011, disrupt parts of Africa and Asia, and even contribute to famines in Europe? Join us as Tammie Gerke, Ph.D. in Geology, breaks down the lcanoes cause mass emigration to Canada and the US, how are they responsible for a loss of millions of euros to airlines in 2011, how have they impacted areas as far away as Africa and Asia, and how have they caused famines in Europe? If these are events that you would like to learn more about, then this is a presentation you will not want to miss. Join us as Tammie Gerke Ph.D. in Geology, will share more about these events, the relationship between Iceland’s volcanoes and plate tectonics, and the possible connection between Iceland’s volcanoes. No RSVP is required MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/GHL-Events | BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu

Check out what's going on at GHL!

Welcome back for the spring semester!

• See what we dragged out of the archives
• Learn about the grant the library was recently awarded (new TEC Lab equipment incoming!)
• Find out about our upcoming events

And that's not all! I don't want to spoil it, so check out the Spring 2026 newsletter and see what else GHL is up to this semester!

--

Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian

Gardner-Harvey Library

Miami University Middletown

Gardner-Harvey Library events this week!

 Join us at the Gardner-Harvey Library in Middletown this week for our first two events of the semester! 

What's In Our Backyard Series

A Virtual Tour of the Natural Areas Around Miami University Middletown, A Campus Among the Trees! Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 4 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library, 014 TEC SPACE | Middletown Zoom and In-person event The beautiful, natural areas around the Middletown Campus are a positive protective factor for our region and our university. These areas are a favorable investment for our Metroparks and are open to the community to improve their health through visiting the green spaces. No RSVP is required. MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/GHL-Events | BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu

Visit for Zoom Link

You Can Make It @ the TEC Lab Makerspace!

Valentine's Day: Wood Burning Pens and 3D Pens Thursday, Feb. 5 | Noon - 2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library, 014 TEC SPACE | Middletown Burnin' love! Join us in the TEC Space to create a wooden heart Valentine using our wood burning pens or create your own design with 3D pens. No RSVP is required. MiamiOH.edu/Regionals/GHL-Events | BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu

Double the Fun! Two Middletown Books for Discussion in March: A Sand County Almanac (March 6) and Broken Country (March 27)

The MUM Book Discussion group will have two book discussions in March! First, we'll join forces with the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Writing (LLW) and their community read of Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac on Friday, March 6. Here is a brief summary:

"First published in 1949 and praised in The New York Times Book Review as "a trenchant book, full of vigor and bite," A Sand County Almanac combines some of the finest nature writing since Thoreau with an outspoken and highly ethical regard for America's relationship to the land." (publisher)

Then on Friday, March 27, we will discuss Claire Leslie Hall's Broken Country. Here is a brief summary:

"Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, though their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn't realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives."

Here is where you can find the books:

• For A Sand County Almanac, thanks to a grant that Marianne Cotugno received, there are free copies of the book available at the Gardner-Harvey Library, while supplies last. Please let me know if you'd like one.
• For Broken Country, there are copies available at Miami and in OhioLINK. Use Miami University Libraries Search to search both of those catalogs. SearchOhio, allowing for lending among over 40 public library systems in Ohio and also OhioLINK, is still not operating (but should return to service in February -- I will send an update once that is operating again). If you have a card for MidPointe, Lane, or Cincinnati Public, you can find available copies through those systems. Amazon has the hardcover, paperback, and Kindle available, and Bookshop.org has links to purchase the title from independent booksellers.

For A Sand County Almanac, we will meet at 12 noon on the 6th both in Room 123 in the Library and on Zoom. Join the Sand County Zoom here!

For Broken Country, we will meet at 11:30 am on the 27th both in Room 123 in the Library and on Zoom.  Join the Broken Country Zoom here! 

Our group is always finding interesting titles to share, and we look forward to the new things you'll bring to the table. In addition to discussing What Happened to the Bennetts, the group also shared these titles for consideration at their January 23 meeting:

Eternal, Loyalty, The Unraveling of Julia, and The Truth About the Devlins, Lisa Scottoline

Harlan Coben (author)

Call the Midwife (the show)

West Wing (the show)

Landman (the show)

Dark Winds (the show)

11/22/63 (the show and the book by Stephen King)

Frankenstein (the movie and the book)

F1 (the movie)

Eleanor of Avignon, Elizabeth DeLozier

Rebellion 1776, Laurie Halse Anderson

The Girl From Greenwich Street, Lauren Willig

Kingmaker, Sonia Purnell

Life of the Party, Christopher Ogden

Which Way Tree, Elizabeth Crook

A Woman of No Importance, Sonia Purnell

Fight Night, Miriam Toews

Please come along to our discussions to share what you've been reading/watching/listening to/experiencing!

If you're looking for something interesting to read, check out our page of past and future reads at http://www.mid.miamioh.edu/library/bookdiscussion.htm

John

"Wisconsin Farmland in the Fall" by pistosbooks is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.