The following article was written by Tim Gadzinski, a Marketing Associate for the Manitowoc Public Library.
March 9, 2023—a day that will live in infamy.
Okay. Maybe not infamy, but it certainly was years in the making. Because it was on this fateful Thursday that “MPL Insider: Beyond the Books with Tim & Emily” made its debut. And now, over two years later, after beaming onto your internet-capable devices through the magic of the infowebs, we’ll be taking our curtain call on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 12 PM CST.
Month-in, month out—except for when my cohost, Emily, was recovering from being upended by one of her beloved dogs—we put together a broadcast that took our community behind-the-scenes at the Library. It gave people access to the inner-workings of putting programs together, as well as getting to know staff members—at least a little bit—that typically weren’t front-and-center to the public.
Our initial tagline—“Always on Time, Rarely on Topic”—gave a pretty good snapshot of what one could expect when they tuned-in. The show was a good combination of useful information meeting nonlinear irreverence. Because, quite honestly, while we all take the job of meeting the public’s needs and likes seriously as we maintain an excellent public library, we still have a lot of fun doing it.
During the run of “Insider,” Emily and I have had every MPL staff member on that was game to appear. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I believe that anyone that embraced appearing didn’t regret their decision and, honestly, had a good time. There was always a lot of laughter, which played to our goal of connecting while having a fun conversation with our guests.
Speaking of guests, they weren’t just limited to MPL staff. Whenever we could, we would welcome Guest Artists that were doing programs at the Library. We’ve had everyone from the higher-ups of Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-mas, Inc. to our state’s most entertaining paranormal investigator to a cartoonist employed by the Charles Schulz Studios who lives and works in California.
Tim Gadzinski
During one particularly fantastical stretch of the show, we welcomed a series of mythic individuals on to promote seasonal fun and games or larger scale programs—a female leprechaun and her winged fairy companion (that looked considerably like a small, smush-faced dog), Cupid, a storm cloud, a mom driven to the brink by all the amazing Summer Reading Program activities in which her kids wanted to participate. The Statue of Liberty even visited us once. We always strove to present the sweep of possibilities available at the Library and, for those that were watching, to live creatively.
Our final broadcast on Thursday, May 18—which livestreams exclusively on MPL’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/manitowoclibrary) and YouTube channel—aims to go out on a High Note. We’ll be welcoming back Youth Services Manager, Sharon Verbeten, Teen Associate, Kristin Keck, and Public Services Librarian, Tony Plekan, to chat en masse about the most highly-anticipated, wide-ranging event on MPL’s calendar—the Summer Reading Program! Additionally, we’ll be bringing Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Devins-Horohoe, into the studio to discuss the upcoming Friends of Manitowoc Public Library Used Book Sale.
But, wait—there’s more! As an absolutely amazing Bonus Attraction, Emily and I will be welcoming Michael Perry—New York Times bestselling author and Wisconsin Public Radio contributor—to talk about his upcoming June appearance at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: Manitowoc Campus Theatre, generously sponsored by the Manitowoc Public Library Foundation!
While I have mentioned quite a few people that have been kind enough to appear on “MPL Insider” since its inception, I would be utterly remiss if I didn’t mention the one person without whom the show couldn’t have gone on—my partner-in-“Insider”-crime, Emily Brandt. Emily created the spectacular bumper with which we have always opened the show, as well as all of the animated bits we used throughout its run (including the wondrous “Lisa-Palooza” bumper from the episode in which we welcomed all four Lisas from the MPL staff as our guests for a single segment.
It also took me approximately five years before our first episode aired to persuade her that doing a live broadcast was something in which she wanted to be a part. Because while you may not guess it watching her enthusiastically interact with patrons at the library’s Service Desk, Emily doesn’t relish being the focal point of attention for a large unseen mass of people. Like the one that may exist when you put a show online. But, in spite of her initial misgivings, Emily was an absolute champ. I saw her go from being pale and sweaty, moments away from passing out from anxiety seconds prior to our first broadcast to becoming a conversational maestro—funny, insightful, quick, and genuine. 100% Emily. The Emily I would have ridiculous conversations with in our office that made me think, “You know, this type of banter would probably make a fun podcast.” And I was right. And it did. It was an absolute joy taking this talk show adventure with her.
So, join us, won’t you, one last time for the Series Finale of “MPL Insider: Beyond the Books with Tim & Emily” at noon on Thursday, May 15, on Facebook or YouTube. My guess is that it’s going to be a hoot! Perhaps a hoot-and-a-half!
