Monday, September 21, 2026

October's Middletown Book for Discussion: A Founding Mother, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (October 30)

 

Statue of Abigail Adams

The MUM Book Discussion group will next meet on Friday, October 30.  Our title is A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Here is a brief summary:

"A sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams-wife of one president and mother to another-whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence-managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to "remember the ladies" in the new government. From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time-one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today." (publisher)

Here is where you can find the book:
  • There are copies available from Miami, OhioLINK, and SearchOhio, all searchable and requestable from the Miami University Libraries Search catalog. You may also access SearchOhio through your local public library.
  • Amazon has the paperback, Audible, and Kindle available, and Bookshop.org has links to purchase the title from independent booksellers.

Stephanie Dray will be speaking about the book on the Hamilton Campus on October 8 at 7:00pm (more details here) as part of the  MU Regionals Passport to Programming series for Fall 2026.

We will meet at 11:30am on the 30th 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 Yesteryear, the group also shared these titles for consideration at their September 18 meeting:

  • Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, Marie Bostwick
  • 11/22/63, Stephen King
  • Educated, Tara Westover
  • The Editor, Steven Rowley
  • Theo of Golden, Allen Levi
  • By Any Other Name, Erin Cotter
  • The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
  • The Last Mandarin, Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung
  • Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church, Hahrie Han
  • A Perfect Union, Catherine Allgor
  • Dickens and Prince - Nick Hornby
  • Buckeye, Patrick Ryan
  • Crook Manifesto, Colson Whitehead

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


Monday, September 14, 2026

Upcoming events at Gardner-Harvey Library (Grand Teton, 9/16, Navigating AI, 9/17, Short Story Club, 9/25)

 

National Parks
Photograph of Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton
Wednesday, Sept. 16 | 4:30 p.m.
| Zoom only event
Tammie L. Gerke, geologist, introduces attendees to the geology of national parks and other sites. Get your geology questions answered and participate in lively discussions!
Join us for an overview of Grand Teton National Park, where mountains tower over beautiful lakes and wildlife. 
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link

Enhance Your Education with the Library: Navigating AI in College
College student using AI.
Ethical AI Use for Academic Success
Thursday, Sept. 17 | Noon
| Zoom only event
Join us on Zoom to learn how you can incorporate AI in your study tools while keeping academic integrity intact. This workshop will discuss ethical use of AI for students, as well as AI uses to avoid.
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link


Short Story Club- Join us for a discussion about short stories! Selected stories take 20 minutes or less to read, so you don't need much time to prepare! How do you join the club? Just stop in the Zoom for one (or more) of our meetings!

Image of short story club offerings for Fall 2026


Zoom links and links to the individual short stories can be found in our events calendar on the library website.
--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown

Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Gardner-Harvey Library Fall Newsletter!

Cover page of GHL Fall 2026 newsletter.

Hello!


I hope your semester is off to a great start! The Gardner-Harvey Library fall newsletter is now available. This edition covers new makerspace equipment, events, and new designated spaces in the library!

--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Upcoming events hosted by GHL! (9/2 to 9/11)

Hello!


The Gardner-Harvey Library invites you to one (or all) of our upcoming events!


Fascinating Physiological Features
Photograph of organ systems within the human body.
Introduction + Overview of Organ Systems
Wednesday, Sept. 2
| 2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library | Middletown | Zoom and In-person
Important Things Everyone Should Know About How the Human Body Functions
Take a focused journey through various organ systems within our human physiology for optimal health and wellness. The first Wednesday of each month, we will walk through a new physiological system in the human body. All are welcome!
No RSVP is required.
Visit for Zoom Link

You Can Make It @ the TEC Lab Makerspace!
Photograph of stained glass.
Faux Stained Glass
Wednesday, Sept. 9
| 12:30-2 p.m. | Gardner-Harvey Library, 014 | Middletown
Give the Makerspace a try and see what wonderful creations you can make and take home. Drop in at any point during the workshop to start making your gear.
Create a faux stained glass panel to show off your Miami pride! Meet in the TEC SPACE, 014.
No RSVP is required.

Reflections on 60 years at Miami Middletown
Overview photograph of the Middletown campus.
Friday, Sept. 11 | 5:30 p.m. | Verity Lodge | Middletown
September 5, 2026, is the 60th anniversary of the first classes offered on the Middletown campus. Join a group of Middletown faculty, staff, students, and alumni to learn about the campus's founding and share memories from 1966 to the present.
RSVP to John Burke at BurkeJJ@MiamiOH.edu.
RSVP to John Burke

--
Jennifer Hicks, MLIS, MA Instructional Design & Technology

Outreach & Instruction Assistant Librarian
Gardner-Harvey Library
Miami University Middletown