Sanpete Bookmobile on the road in Nephi Canyon

On the Road Again With Utah’s Bookmobiles

By Renée Leta The road trip is a quintessential summer activity for many Utah families, but the day-to-day routes of Utah’s bookmobile librarians rival these epic journeys. For example, U.S. 89 is the longest highway in the state, covering more than 500 miles through the central part of the state. Approximately one-fifth of the road runs north to south through …

Making Connections: Conferences That Build Communities

By Reneé Leta Three June conferences spotlight the public-facing work of the State Library Division, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Division of Indian Affairs. These summits offer participants the chance to learn from subject experts, as well as network with colleagues and policy makers. Internet for All: Utah Broadband Confluence >> Wednesday, June 7, Utah Valley University Conference …

Current Challenges and Developments in a Post-Industrial Neighborhood: Part Two

Salt Lake West Side Stories: Post Thirty-Fourby Brad Westwood The Pioneer Park neighborhood has always been a contested space. Initially, the area was owned by Native Americans until Mormon (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Pioneers colonized the land. Since 1847, the region has been in constant transition as new and old residents and business interests …

Gary Bergera on his Life’s Work as an Author and Publisher of History

Date: March 10, 2023 (Season 5, Episode 10: 53 minutes long). Click here for the BuzzSprout version of this Speak Your Piece episode. Are you interested in other episodes of Speak Your Piece? Click here. The episode was co-produced by Brad Westwood and Chelsey Zamir, with sound engineering and post-production editing by Jason T. Powers, from the Utah State Library …

Youth painting a fish as inspiration for Celebrate Wildlife contest.

Celebrate Wildlife: A call for art recognizing Utah’s creatures

If you live in Utah, chances are you’ve had at least one wildlife encounter. From the bighorn sheep of Zion National Park to the chickadee in your backyard, no matter how you encounter wildlife in our state, we want to hear about it. And how you share your experience can be as varied as our state’s wildlife species. The Utah …

Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox present an MLK Art and Essay award

Students Showcase Artistic Reflections from MLK’s Legacy

By Reneé Leta // Photographs by Maegan Castleton Members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission honored nine Utah students for their artistic entries in an art and essay contest to honoring Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence.  The commission, a program of the Division of Multicultural Affairs, launched the contest for Utah students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. …

Brynn Patterson, of Viewmont High School, reciting her award-winning poem at the 2023 Poetry Out Loud state finals.

Eat Less

By Brynn PattersonEvery year in a health or gym class I have been asked to count the calories I eat in a day andplan out how I am going to burn them.Every year I write an essay titled “Eating Disorders” Instead.I have been told how much I should or should not eat my entire life.All based on how fat or …

Kellen Hunnicutt, of West High School, reciting his winning poem at the 2023 Poetry Out Loud competition.

Counterfeit

By Kellen Hunnicutt Mother Earth has been replaced and I pray for a Second Coming.  I thought I smelled Rain this morning, but it was just my Febreze. I licked the air and savored thetaste of a new god. I thought I was cold this morning, I thought I felt Snow singing with theBreeze, embraced in Heaven and endless light, cooled and condensed into what …

Todd Compton on “A Frontier Life: Jacob Hamblin, Explorer and Indian Missionary” (published 2013)

Date: February 3, 2023 (Season 5, Episode 8: 62 minutes long). Click here for the BuzzSprout version of this Speak Your Piece episode. Are you interested in other episodes of Speak Your Piece? Click here. The episode was co-produced by Brad Westwood and Chelsey Zamir, with sound engineering and post-production editing by Jason T. Powers, from the Utah State Library …

Aeva Dye-DelToro, of St. George, is the 2023 Utah Poetry Out Loud state champion.

On Winning: What Poetry Teaches Us

By Renée Leta || Photography by Samuel Jake Aeva Dye-DelToro, of St. George, was named 2023’s Utah Poetry Out Loud champion in the annual recitation competition sponsored by Utah Division of Arts & Museums. On May 9, Aeva will compete in the national semi-finals of the arts competition in Washington D.C. Poetry Out Loud contests emphasize reading, writing, public speaking …

Growing Up Latinx in Utah: A Conversation with Lee Martinez and Maria Garciaz

Date: February 6, 2023 (Season 5, Episode 9: 40 minutes long). Click here for the BuzzSprout version of this Speak Your Piece episode. Are you interested in other episodes of Speak Your Piece? Click here. The episode was co-produced by Brad Westwood and Chelsey Zamir, with sound engineering and post-production editing by Jason T. Powers, from the Utah State Library …

“Intermountain Histories,” the Podcast “Writing Westward” and More: A Conversation with Brenden Rensink (Parts 1 & 2 Reissued)

Date: January 13, 2020 (Season 1, Episode 9 — Part 1: 26 min. and 39 sec. long and Part 2: 23 minutes long). Click here for Part 1 and click here for Part 2 of the BuzzSprout versions of these “Speak Your Piece” episodes. Are you interested in other episodes of “Speak Your Piece”? Click here. The above image is …