Are you looking for your next great read? We can help! Visit us in person, explore reading recommendations online, join an in-person or online book discussion, get recommendations on Facebook, tune in to our televised book club segments, and more. Get started here!
Sunday Nights on Facebook
Join us on Sunday nights at 8:30pm on Facebook for Currently Reading. Enjoy this hour during which book enthusiasts share favorite books and offer suggestion about what to read next. Find out about the books that have everyone talking.
Indy Now Book Club
Catch book recommendations and IndyPL program highlights from your own local librarians once a month on the Indy Now Morning Show with Ryan and Jillian on Fox59. The show airs at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Browse our past appearances.
In-Person & Online Book Discussions
Do you love talking about books? Join one of our book discussions or book clubs available both in-person and online.
Online Reading Recommendations
NovelList and NovelList K-8 are online services that offer reading recommendations. Browse both fiction and nonfiction, read-alike suggestions, series information, reviews, and lists of recommended and award-winning books for adults, teens and kids. Learn how to start on this video tutorial. Also try Book Connections which includes a “find the right book for you” feature.
Would you prefer one-on-one help? Call or ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email ask-a- librarian.
Make a selection from one of the book lists below created by our staff of avid readers. You can also follow our staff’s most recently published lists on the library catalog home page. Don’t miss our If You Like… suggestions that cover all the favorite genres like science fiction, graphic novels, romance, and more. Finally, don’t miss What We’re Reading Teens and What We’re Reading Kids.
Fiction by Arab American Authors
A list compiled to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month – first established in 2017 to recognize the achievements of Arab Americans – with a focus on adult fiction.
Land Art, Earthworks, and Environmental Art
Land Art also referred to as Earthworks emerged in the 60s and 70s and was a part of the larger movement of Conceptual Art. It is art that is made directly in the landscape, using the land itself or making structures in the landscape using natural materials.
Catching your Zzzs
Sleep isn’t always easy to come by. If you or someone you love struggles with insomnia, these books may be able to help.
Climate Fiction for Earth Day
For earth day this year, consider delving into the dystopian subgenre of Climate Fiction. These books feature future visions of an earth devastated by climate disasters likes droughts, floods, and more. Some stories end hopeful, others end bleak but all make us think about our own impact on the planet.
Exploring STEM and Poetry During National Poetry Month
Astronauts have written poems about their experiences in space, offering perspectives on lunar missions and bridging the gap between the vastness of space and human expression. Indianapolis poet James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) captured rural life, celebrating the arrival of fall and the harvest season, capturing the sounds and sights of the natural world in “When the Frost is on the Pumpkin.” Explore this list of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) poetry during the month of April.
Secrets in the Deeds
Explore land records focused on Indianapolis-Marion County, public domain states, state land states, bounty land warrants, section, township, and range, metes and bounds, and other topics.
While You Wait for the Next Season of All Creatures
If you’re anything like me, you can’t get enough of the charming TV series All Creatures Great & Small. Bide your time until the next season with this list inspired by the show.
Exposing Corruption
Corruption affects the safety and security of the public regardless of political slant. With recent attempts to remove Federal Inspectors General, tasked with fighting governmental waste, fraud, and abuse, it is important to understand the implications. These titles examine prior instances of corruption revealed by whistleblowers and the consequences some have experienced, while resources at the end explain protections offered to whistleblowers standing against corruption.
Climate Fiction for Earth Day
For earth day this year, consider delving into the dystopian subgenre of Climate Fiction. These books feature future visions of an earth devastated by climate disasters likes droughts, floods, and more. Some stories end hopeful, others end bleak but all make us think about our own impact on the planet.
Vows of Suspense: Thrilling Tales of Wedding Day Mysteries
Weddings are meant to be a celebration of love, but these stories turn “happily ever after” into a nightmare. From deadly secrets exposed at the altar to mysterious disappearances and shocking murders, these thrillers set against the backdrop of a wedding prove that not all unions are made in heaven. Packed with twists, betrayals, and page-turning suspense, this collection of 12 wedding-themed thrillers will keep you on the edge of your seat—and make you think twice about saying, “I do.” Perfect for fans of whodunits and psychological suspense, each tale promises high stakes and chilling revelations.
From Alphabetical Order to the Index: Microhistories with a Bookish and Literary Bent
Bibliophiles and history buffs take note! These microhistories are a perfect way to spend an afternoon delving into the origins of the notebook, examining the use of pencils, or reading a biography of a punctuation mark!
Tricks for Dips!
There is a nutrition education class coming up that will be all about making dips with a twist using fresh, wholesome ingredients. We created a display based on this class which includes these books on dips and the snacks/appetizers you might have them with.
Rock Art & Cave Paintings
Rock art and cave paintings are evocative echoes of an oft distant time. Discover more about these mysterious images, the people who created them, the importance of preserving them with this introductory list.
Indiana Geology & Geography
Indiana’s geology and geography is as fascinating as its people. From secluded waterfalls, to limestone caves, to fossil evidence of ancient seas, Indiana has plenty of wonders to explore.
Whiskey
Whiskey has roots in Ireland and Scotland and its first iterations were distilled in the 13th century. Since then it has spread around the world, and regions have developed their own styles. People who immigrated to the United States took the distillation methods they brought over from Ireland and Scotland and created bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. Whiskey is not just a drink. It is a combination of tradition, culture, science, history, and community. It has evolved over time into a nuanced sensory experience. Enjoy these books about whiskey, perhaps while sipping an old fashioned.
Financial and Economic History
Tariffs are in the news. I had a list for that, but the Library took issue with it, so I took it down. To get a deeper understanding of how we got to where we are, you’ll have to start with a review of US and World financial and economic history, instead. But there are plenty of books in the collection on Tariffs and Trade. Simply search those terms in the catalog. Filter for those published after 2021.
Poetry in Translation
Translating poetry from one language to another is an art form all its own. In this list you’ll find works representing many languages from around the world and across time—ancient to modern. Many of the poems in these collections are shared in their original languages in addition to their English translations. Enjoy!
Information Literacy for the Digital Age
Find a self-guided course from Northstar Digital Literacy on Information Literacy and other computer and smartphone topics. Information Literacy is more important than ever with an ever-increasing number of sources for information. Learn the skills and attitudes that will help you use and communicate information effectively. The skills are also necessary to keep yourself safe when communicating and researching online.
