Illustrator Claire Sedovic, of Des Moines, joins us on the podcast to talk about her journey to becoming a published illustrator. That book, Odd Animal ABCs, was published earlier this year (the book was written by June Smalls, of Virginia). During the podcast, Sedovic chats about what she learned d...
Read MoreShopping doesn’t have to be stressful this year. If you’re looking at making a big purchase, be sure to compare different options by checking out Consumer Reports online, free with your library card. Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a fair, just, an...
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'Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
So begins perhaps the most famous poem in American history, "The Night Before Christmas." (Fun fact: the real name of the poem is "A Visit from St. Nicholas"). The poem...
Standardized tests, like the ACT, SAT, GRE, and others, are a crucial part of taking the next steps in education, careers, and lives. When you’re preparing for the next big test (the next ACT exam is on December 14!), you can find free study tools on the LearningExpress Library at dmpl.org. The L...
Read MoreNovember is known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, in the writing community. Each year, writers young and old are encouraged to start and complete the first draft of the novel that’s been in their head or in the corner of their laptop home screen. Last year, more than 400,000 people tr...
Read MoreToday, we welcome Thaddeus Russell on the DMPL Podcast. Russell is the author of A Renegade History of the United States, a counter-history of the United States. The book examines groups of people that Russell says shaped the country without being etched into history books, including "drunkards, lag...
Read MoreThe second week of November is Young Readers’ Week. Created by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1989, the week brings awareness to the importance of reading, especially for young children and elementary school students. The Des Moines Public Library's Program Coordinator, Katie ...
Read MoreWini Moranville joins us on the DMPL Podcast. The former Datebook Diner columnist at the Des Moines Register has a new cookbook out - The Little Women Cookbook. The book is a love letter to the classic novel Little Women, using scenes from the book to create recipes that are classic, yet modern. Mor...
Read MoreThe holidays are around the corner, and with them come lots and lots of food. If you need some inspiration for your family potluck or want to try your hand at something new, We have hundreds of cookbooks at the library for you to browse. Below we’ve listed eight cookbooks that are useful for diff...
Read MoreDay of the Dead, or El Día de los Muertos, is a traditional Latin American holiday celebrating the lives of loved ones who have passed away. Originating in Mexico, the holiday has since spread across much of Latin America and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States. The holida...
Read MoreThe DMPL Podcast welcomes author and Iowa native Greer Macallister to the podcast. Greer and host Aaron Gernes chat about her most recent novel, Woman 99, which is largely set in a woman's insane asylum in the late 19th century. The book was called "A gorgeous ode to the power of female courage" by ...
Read MoreThe DMPL Podcast welcomes Bill Jamerson to the show this week. Jamerson, a singer-storyteller, is coming to the Franklin Avenue Library next week to present his program Dollar-A-Day Boys: A Musical Tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps. The program will take place on Wednesday, October 23,...
Read MoreOctober is LGBTQ+ History Month. The month-long observance was first recognized in 1994. The event was created by Missouri high school social studies teacher Rodney Wilson, who chose October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11. The month is a recognition of the contributions that ...
Read MorePlease note: all branches of the Des Moines Public Library will be closed on Monday, October 14 for our annual in-service day. It's the one time each year that employees from all branches gather together as a group to discuss timely topics and receive important education. We will reopen for normal b...
Read MoreWelcome to the new dmpl.org! The Des Moines Public Library is happy to launch a refreshed website for the first time in six years. We asked you, our users, for feedback, asking how you used the website and what you liked and didn't like about it. Hundreds of you responded, allowing us to build a web...
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