Central Library will reopen for some in-person services on a limited basis Monday, Sept. 28. Additional in-person services will begin at our remaining buildings on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Read more about this new phase of our reopening plan, called DMPL Express, HERE.
On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with some great books by Latinx authors. Janeé is up first to talk about kid's books, and then we're joined by Elizabeth, who gives us some adult book selections: Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play |...
Read MoreVoting is one of the most meaningful ways you can express yourself and your opinions in a democracy. Unfortunately, this right has not always been given in equal measures in America. Listed below are books for people of all ages that describe the struggle fair and equal voting rights, past and prese...
Read MoreToday on the podcast, Carrie recommends some books that are in non-traditional formats. This is one of the twelve categories in this year's ongoing DMPL Reading Challenge. Don't forget - it's not too late to sign up and take part in the Reading Challenge! Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Goo...
Read MoreSchool might be a lot different this year, but the "school scaries" are as real as ever for some kids. These picture books provide support and encouragement for young kids, whether they're in school, at home, or a mix of both this year. ...
Read MoreOn September 2, 1980, Burke Shiffler walked into the Central Library to start his new job in the reference department. His boss, Shirley Shisler, met him and showed him an entire room of reference books. “She gave me some slips of paper and said, ‘Go around the room and learn what’s in these b...
Read MoreIowa author Kali White joins us on the newest edition of the DMPL Podcast. White's newest novel, The Monsters We Make, was released last month. It is set in Des Moines in the mid 1980s and is partially based on the real-life Des Moines Register paperboy disappearances of that time. You may...
Read MoreAs you harvest your fresh fruits and vegetables, it's never too early to start thinking about your next garden. These 15 books offer tips and tricks that to make your garden bright and ripe next year. ...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Book Chat's Alissa joins us to discuss Magical Realism books. As Alissa says in the podcast, magical realism is "a realist fiction that blends magic into the everyday world," with deep roots in Latin American literary traditions. Apple Podcasts/iTune...
Read MoreThe Des Moines Public Library and the DMPL Foundation will be taking part in the first ever Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon, premiering this Saturday. More than 40 other libraries and several celebrities are participating in this project, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of author Ray Bradbury's birth. The Read-A-Thon will feature a reading of Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451. Among the celebrities taking part include Neil Gaiman, Susan Orlean, Marlon James, William Shatner, and Rachel Bloom.
Read MoreGrand, dreary buildings. Grey skies, blotting out the sun. The sense that something just isn't right, that something is just out of place. If you like reading something that'll make the hair raise on the back of your neck, this list of gothic fiction books is just what you're looking for. ...
Read MoreDr. Richard Deming joins the DMPL Podcast today to discuss his new book, Above and Beyond Cancer. Dr. Deming is the director at the MercyOne Cancer Center in Des Moines and the founder of Above + Beyond Cancer, an organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those impacted by cance...
Read MoreSpending time together in the kitchen is a great way to shake up the time you spend together as a family. When you cook together, you talk together, and kids can work on motor skills by scooping, pouring, and dumping. Writing out recipes together is a great way to work on spelling and writing as wel...
Read MoreAny night can be a free movie night when you borrow a movie from the Des Moines Public Library! We know you love checking out books via curbside pickup, but don't forget about our massive DVD selection as well, featuring more than 15,000 titles. Right now you can borrow tons of popular movi...
Read MoreWe're (hopefully) less than two weeks from the first pitch of the 2020 Major League Baseball season. It's been a long wait, but with luck, at least one of these books will be enough to hold you over until we hear "Play Ball!" for the first time this year. We have books for adults and children on thi...
Read MoreIt's the start of an unconventional holiday weekend. Though there may not be as much sand and travel in store for the 4th of July this year, it's good to remember "the beach" can be a state of mind. Kick back and relax, wherever you are this weekend, and grab one of these easy reads while enjoying y...
Read More