Summer's heating up but we are cooling things down--perhaps too much!

In this episode of South Dakota Legends and Lore we learn about the blizzard that hit the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions of the United States on January 11, 1888. It became known as the Children's Blizzard or Schoolhouse Blizzard and caught most folks unprepared for the dangerous drop in temperature, high winds, and blinding ice and snow.

We focus on (South) Dakota Territory survival stories and experiences, and provide additional reading suggestions.

Voiced and edited by Adrian Ludens

Snowstorm sound effects by Dauzkobza, used by permission

South Dakota Legends and Lore returns this summer with three new episodes featuring famous, infamous, and not-so-famous historical figures from Dakota Territory and South Dakota.

This month, we'll hear recollections from two real-life cowboys. Bruce Siberts tells about "A Bad Winter on the Prairie" near Fort Pierre circa 1895, while Ike Blasingame recalls many a "Storm and Stampede" near Mobridge circa 1905.

These readings are from the books: Nothing but Prairie and Sky: Life on the Dakota Range in the Early Days by Bruce Siberts (1868-1952), edited by Walker Wyman; and Dakota Cowboy: My Life in the Old Days by Ike Blasingame (1884-1962).

Narrated and edited by Adrian Ludens. Music by Lance Conrad. Used by permission.

May is Be Kind to Animals Month, National Pet Month, Chip Your Pet Month, and National Service Dog Examination Month.

We look into what each of these observations means, and give some relevant book title recommendations for further reading.

We also explore the difference between service animals and comfort animals and talk briefly about the Humane Society of the Black Hills.

Podcast recording and editing by Adrian Ludens.

April 8th is National Library Workers Day and April 16th is National Librarian Day and we are celebrating!

We'll learn the (official) difference between a Librarian and a library worker, hear funny stories, and hear more about some of the many services we offer at the Rapid City Public Library.

Featuring Krista Licht, Mackenzie Betcher, Scott Olson, Sophie Brown, Jack Monroe and Brady Jones.

Interviews, editing and mixing by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Ziggy and Roie Shpigler. Used with permission.

March 8 is International Women's Day, and the entire month of March is Women's History Month!

To celebrate we are learning about several notable South Dakota women. Featured are:

Gladys Pyle, the first woman in the nation to be elected to a U.S. Senate seat.

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, a Native American author and teacher.

Becky Hammon, basketball standout, NBA coach, WNBA head coach.

Anna Simmons, instrumental in achieving women's right to vote in SD.

Plus book readings and recommendations.

Reading and editing by Adrian Ludens.

Music by YesteryBeat. Used by permission.

This month on South Dakota Legends and Lore, we celebrate Black History Month by learning a little bit about four notable South Dakotans.

Lucretia Marchbanks was the second black woman in Dakota Territory, and became very successful in Deadwood.

Sarah Campbell was the very first non-Native woman in Dakota Territory with the Custer expedition.

Oscar Micheaux was a homesteader in Gregory County, SD who went on to write novels and produce films.

Cleveland Abbott (born in Yankton, SD) became a renowned athlete and coach.

Plus reading recommendations for two notable February birthdays: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Narrated and edited by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Louis Island and Straight With Teeth. Used by permission.

The third Monday of January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, also known as Civil Rights Day. This year, that day is January 20th.

RCPL library associate Adrian has details on how this national holiday came to be, how it can be celebrated, and some basic info on MLK himself. Plus he lists some of the MKL-related books available from the RCPL and its sister libraries.

Music by Intrex. Used by permission.

January 3 was J.R.R. Tolkien Day! Take a journey through his best-known works with RCPL librarians Scott H. and Adrian!

Music by: Jono Heyes, Jozeque, and Joca Perpignan
Used by permission.