Maureen Clements

For November's edition of Playback we turn once again to "First File", the series where we talk with NPR hosts, reporters and producers about what it was like to file their first piece. This month we feature public radio stalwart and NPR national correspondent, Noah Adams. Before coming to NPR in 1975, Noah worked for member station WBKY in Kentucky. His first piece came in the form of an interview with the McLain Family Band, which he sent off to All Things Considered hoping they would play it. ATC played the piece all right, and the rest, as they say, is history. So pop on those headphones and take a listen to Noah as he reveals juicy tidbits about himself, his first piece, and what it was like working for NPR in the 70s.

Here's Noah's first piece, which aired on All Things Considered on June 17, 1975

by Jo Ella Straley
French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss died last Friday at his home in Paris. By way of remembering the man and his work, here is an hour-long documentary--originally broadcast November 27, 1980--that explores his ideas about culture using a lot of complicated sound mixes. It's called "A Question of Place." From NPR, 1980 edition.

By Maureen Clements

October, it's the time to rake leaves, bob for apples, take a hayride and listen to the latest episode of Playback, the monthly podcast that revisits the best NPR had to offer from 25 years ago. This month's episode conjures up some frightening stories including the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the epic battle between Geraldine Ferraro and Barbara Bush, the mind games of Leon Redbone, and the twisted wreckage of John Waters' hilarious visit to the demolition derby. No matter if you like trick or treat, this month's Playback has a little something for everyone.

By Kee Malesky
Today, Saturday 9/26, is the start of Banned Books Week -- sponsored by the American Library Association, American Booksellers Association, and others. Since 1982 this annual event has celebrated the freedom to read, even unorthodox or unpopular material. Among the giants of American literature that have been banned in the past are Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby; To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and (can you believe it?) Charlotte's Web. More recently, the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, have been challenged.

Stick up for your freedom! Read a banned book this week.

By Maureen Clements

Kerry Thompson mined the depths of the NPR archive for September's episode of Playback, the podcast that revisits NPR's finest from 25 years ago this month. Not only did she unearth a classic piece on chair calisthenics, she also dug up a story about a brand new technology called the CD. In addition, there's some great interviews with comedian George Carlin, Shoe creator Jeff MacNelly, and an "oh so very young" Ellen DeGeneres. This month's episode also features another installment of "First File", the occasional series where we interview NPR's best and brightest about the very first piece they ever filed. Up this month is Art Silverman, a producer for All Things Considered, with his first piece entitled "Rat Olympics". It's destined to be a classic in the annals of NPRness.

By Janel White

As part of our audio reference services, librarians here at NPR are frequently asked to find old newsreels covering a specific topic or historical sound of a specific person. We do have a small but important collection of speeches, movies and television shows for the staff to use. Often times, though, we search known websites with archival sound for that perfect clip to be used in a reporter's story.

Recently two organizations have released free archival material on their websites that could come in handy for future audio reference questions.

Continue reading "Opening Up the Archives" >

By Jo Ella Straley

Anyone who has been to an airport in the last few years knows that there are a lot of rules: Take off your shoes. Put your lip balm in a plastic bag. Get that computer out of your bag!

NPR's Brian Naylor reported today on whether these measures actually make flying any safer. But whether or not the "millimeter wave whole body imager" is truly effective, I think it's safe to say many of the enhancements to airport security that were made since 1985 do benefit travelers. Take for instance the fact that the baggage under the aircraft is now actually screened which was not true back then, as you'll hear in this report by Wendy Kaufman:

from June 24, 1985 All Things Considered

By Janel White

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. The American Library Association (ALA) and local libraries across the country are sponsoring a marketing campaign to encourage children, teenagers, and adults to sign-up for a library card at their local public library. Basketball star Candace Parker is featured in multiple radio public service announcements as well as print media. This year's theme focuses on library cards as being the "new" must-have school supply and being one of the "smartest cards in your wallet."

Here in NPR's Spoken Word collection, I found a short skit The Library Card performed by Mr. Television Milton Berle, in which he tries to take out a book from the library but he doesn't have a library card.

from The Golden Age of Comedy: 50 Years of Great Humor, from Vaudeville to Video. Larchmont, NY : Longines Symphonette Society. 1971.

By Janel White

Freelancer reporter Ben Calhoun did a story about Reading Rainbow this morning. Today is the last day that Reading Rainbow will be broadcast on PBS.

I remember watching this show growing up and wanting to be one of the kids who recommended books. NPR's Ira Glass captured some of those kids auditioning for the show, as well as librarians and publishers discussing the value of the program.

from October 19, 1986 Weekend All Things Considered

by Janel White

Public libraries have become more important in communities around the country during this tough economic time. Still states are forced to cut budgets therefore reducing library services and/or closing library branches.

I was pleasantly surprised to catalog a story broadcast on Weekend All Things Considered highlighting one community that is making a significant investment to ensure future generations continue to explore and grow their imagination at their library.

Continue reading "Investing in a Child's Imagination" >