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Meet the C-SPL March 2025 Reader of the Month, Cori Burbach!
I am a mom, a gardener and foodie, and love music. I am also the Assistant City Manager for the City of Dubuque, where I get to serve my community and see the impact of my work daily. At this stage in my life, I can be found shuttling my kids to activities and camping, hiking, or just being outside.
Reading has been an influential part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s a way for me to learn about new perspectives, people, and ideas, and also an entertainment form – I love a good story. My favorite genres include historical fiction for a good story and a long list of leadership books, although I’m currently loving podcasts and other ways of digesting those without picking up the book.
C-SPL March 2025 Reader of the Month Q & A:
Q: What book(s) are you currently reading?
A: “Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
Q: What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?
A: I have a short memory so this is virtually impossible to answer! But overall, my favorite genre is probably historical fiction.
Q: What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?
A: Give me a great children’s book with a pile of toddlers in my lap any day. But on my own, curled up on my porch with a blanket, coffee and my dog before any other human in my house gets up.
Q: What book are you most excited about reading next, and what about it is exciting?
A: I really love being in a book club where I just read whatever the next person assigns. My list of what I want to read is long, and I like that someone just tells me what to read and I don’t have to make any hard choices!
Q: What format do you prefer and why (physical book, ebook, audiobook)?
A: Physical books. There’s something about the feel of the book that I prefer. It’s easier for me to get caught up in them.
Q: What is something interesting you learned from a book?
A: I often check out a random cookbook from the library in addition to whatever I went there for. I’ve explored food from around the world through these books, and my kids have joined me in this exploration.
Q: When do you decide to stop reading a book? In other words, do you read every book you start to the last page, or is there a moment when you decide to stop?
A: Historically, I’ve been a person who feels like they need to finish a book. I still will give a book a pretty solid try (think at least 1/3 of the way through) but am getting better at putting something down if it’s not doing it for me.
Q: Do you remember when your love for reading began?
A: When I was little, my mom would buy me a Little Golden Book as a reward for good behavior when we went shopping. She says they were 10 cents each then. I think I’ve had a book of some form in my hand since then.
Q: What other library resources do you enjoy (DVDs, CDs, board games, baking pans, digital content, etc.)?
A: Our family has really enjoyed checking out board games, especially during COVID. I also have checked out the donut baking pans so many times I should really own my own set but am grateful to not have to store them!
Check out Cori‘s Favorite Books
Be the next C-SPL Reader of the Month!
More Reader of the Month posts.