A new mural is spicing up the Forest Avenue Library. A manga-inspired piece by local artist Bill Barnes is now covering the library’s back wall. We sat down with Jen Thomas, a library assistant at Forest, to talk about the project. Jenn is a manga enthusiast and was the point person at the libr...
Read MoreHappy New Year! With the calendar flipping to 2019, there's a new opportunity to find "the best book I read this year." These eight books are just some of the great books the industry is buzzing about right now. Whether you're looking for a mystical fantasy, a page-turning thriller, or a real-l...
Read MoreHello! Celebrate the New Year at the library this year. All branches will be closed tomorrow, January 1, to celebrate the New Year. We will reopen as scheduled on Wednesday, January 2. This week, we have movies, crafts, and games to keep you busy! Storytimes are back on as scheduled, except fo...
Read MoreWe hope the holidays are treating you well! Whether you're reading this from your computer at work, on your phone in the car, or on your laptop on the couch at home, we know your mind may be starting to wander to the new year. We have lots of great things coming up in January, including programs, ev...
Read MoreDo you like reading books? Do you like winning cash? We thought so, so we made a contest just for you. It's time to tell you about the 2019 DMPL Reading Challenge. What is the 2019 DMPL Reading Challenge? The Reading Challenge is simple. We're asking you to read 12 books in 12 month...
Read MoreHappy Holidays! All branches of the Des Moines Public Library are closed today, December 24, and tomorrow, December 25. Our branches will open for their normal hours on Wednesday, December 26. With our doors shut for two days, we're packing in the fun the rest of the week and keeping you entertained...
Read MoreOn Wednesday, we released our most popular books of the year for children, teens, and adult non-fiction. Today, we start with DVDs, before heading to the main event - the most popular fiction books of 2018. What do you think of the list? Let us know by following us on Facebook, T...
Read MoreSo what were the books that everyone was buzzing about this year? This week, we're revealing the most popular books and movies of 2018 according to stats provided by you, our patrons. Your requests and your checkouts are how we built these lists. Today, we'll start with children's and...
Read MoreIowa photographer and artist Barry Phipps joins us on the podcast today. Barry recently published a collection of photos called From Gravity to What Cheer: Iowa Photographs. The book has several striking photos of sites across Iowa, with a focus on color and architecture. Several of those photo...
Read MoreHappy holidays from the Des Moines Public Library. This week, we have plenty of crafts and STEM activities to help whet your creative whistle. Come to the library to grab your holiday reads, and check out these great activities. Go to our online events calendar for a full listing. You can ...
Read MoreWhat she does: Information Services and Collection Development Librarian. She started with the Des Moines Public Library in 2013. How would you describe your job with DMPL? "I spend the morning in the Technical Services department working on ordering all of the materials for the library&n...
Read MoreFor those voracious readers among us, several books captivate the mind. Every now and then, however, there's a book that changes the course of our lives. Some members of our staff were recently asked about this. Their answers ranged from stories about that opened their minds and changed their life p...
Read MoreWe're 15 days from Christmas, and the library is as busy as ever. This week, we'll have lots of holiday-themed programs, and you'll have the chance to hang out with Rosie Reader and her friends Llama Llama, Skye from Paw Patrol, and one of the Minions.
On the Blog:
We asked our staff w...
December starts with a flurry of new book releases a few weeks before the holidays. We've taken a look at all the books coming out and selected a handful from a variety of genres. Cozy up near the fireplace with a mystery, learn new recipes for the holidays, and power through the shortest days of th...
Read MoreThe holidays are coming, and perhaps the stress has already started. You have an idea for a gift – perhaps you want to buy that budding chef in your life some new cookware, or your kid is pestering you about a new tablet. Your library card can help you find a gift that is of solid quality, ...
Read More