This weekend, our country celebrates Independence Day, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The books picked below give you insight into revolutions and independence movements of all kinds, including the Boxer Rebellion in China, the Russ...
Read MoreOn today's DMPL Podcast, librarian Rebecca Cloud, with the Book Chat team, provides some book picks for Pride Month.
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Celebrate Pride and hear from members of the LGBTQ+ community and their family and friends about their experiences in their own words. Our Book Chat team has put together this list of memoirs that will make you laugh and cry while being both entertaining and insightful. ...
Read MoreREGISTER for Rachel McCarthy James' author event on Saturday, June 12, at 2:00 PM. The event will also be available online beginning Monday, June 14, and will be available through Sunday, July 11. In the early 20th century, a series of families were murdered over the course of nearly two decade...
Read MoreJune is Refugee Awareness Month, and June 20, 2021 is World Refugee Day. People are encouraged to celebrate refugees, their journeys, and the ways they make the communities they resettle in a better place. Our Book Chat team has helped put together lists of books about refugees and their stories on ...
Read MoreHost Aaron Gernes chats with AViD author Elin Hilderbrand in preparation for her virtual visit on Wednesday, June 9. Among other things, she talks about what it is about summer that she loves so much, the two moments that changed her career, and what hidden gem she thinks everyone should read. RE...
Read MoreHundreds of Des Moines Public High School students are donning their gowns and getting ready to toss their hats into the air this weekend as the class of 2021 graduates. Graduation season is a great time to reminisce on your own high school experience, and if you went to a high school in Des Moines,...
Read MoreBrighten up your home with help from these fifteen books! Let the experts guide you on houseplant care and using houseplants in home design, and learn about the healing power of houseplants. ...
Read MoreMay is Mental Health Awareness Month. Erica, a librarian at the Franklin Avenue Library, joins us on the podcast today to discuss a selection of picture books that can help kids learn about mental health and feelings such as grief, anger, and anxiety. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | G...
Read MoreThis career was never Rebecca Cloud’s original plan. Nor was moving to Iowa, not after growing up in Louisiana and going to college in Portland, OR. But as she handles her duties as a librarian at the South Side Library, it’s clear she enjoys everything she’s doing in Des Moines. “I am so happ...
Read MoreJenny Goulden AViD continues next Tuesday, May 11, as Ibi Zoboi graces our computer screens and digital devices on Zoom. Zoboi is a young adult (YA) author and a National Book Award finalist. We asked two of our librarians to discuss what they love about Ibi Zoboi. Jenny Goulden is a Nor...
Read MoreOn today's episode of the DMPL Podcast, Iowa author Joseph LeValley joins host Aaron Gernes. LeValley is the author of the Tony Harrington thriller series, about a small-town Iowa newspaper reporter who uncovers conspiracies and solves mysteries using his reporting skills and sources. LeValley's ...
Read MoreToday, May 4th, is affectionately known as "Star Wars Day" by fans of the franchise. In honor of Darth Vader, an antagonist in the original trilogy and one of the most well-known known bad guys in the history of storytelling, our Book Chat team has put together a list of books and stories told...
Read MoreMay is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Our Book Chat team has put together a a great list of books for readers of all ages in honor of this month. These books both honor Asian and Pacific American historical figures and celebrate the Asian and Pacific American experience. A small selecti...
Read MoreWhen you want to know about Des Moines’ past, start at the Des Moines Public Library. Not only do we have dozens of books in our collection, but our local history pages are chalk full of great information. Find them by clicking on the Research menu at the top of the page. Here’s part of what we have...
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