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Beyond the Shelves Episode 5: Pride Month Picks

Jes and Sarah are back and celebrating Pride with a super-sized episode! They'll share some of their favorite joyful LGBTQIA+ related titles in a variety of genres. Plus, here what they're reading right now, and stick around for a couple new segments - First Dibs and Best Bets. Apple Podcasts...

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Planting a "Three Sisters" Garden

A special program series this summer aims to help participants broaden their plant-based recipe repertoire by learning to cook with what are known in some indigenous communities as the “three sisters.” Those food items – corn, beans, and squash – are staples in Mexican cuisine which grow w...

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DMPL Podcast: AViD Author Emily St. John Mandel

AViD Author Emily St. John Mandel joins host Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Mandel will be in Des Moines at the Central Library on Wednesday, May 10, at 7 PM. Doors open at 6 PM. During the podcast, she discusses the simulation hypothesis, revisiting characters, and the w...

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Beyond the Shelves Episode 4: Keeping Track

On the newest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah talk about reading logs, why you might want to track your reading, and all the different ways you can track and apps you can use to do so. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher |&n...

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DMPL Podcast - AViD Author J. Ryan Stradal

AViD Author J. Ryan Stradal joins host Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Stradal will be at the Central Library on Monday, May 1, at 7 PM for the program. During the podcast, Stradal talks about what he misses about the midwest, the Succession-esque struggles of family bus...

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DMPL Podcast: M. Chris Fabricant and 'Junk Science'

Innocence Project attorney and criminal justice advocate M. Chris Fabricant takes part in the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Fabricant is the author of Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System, a book that highlights the flaws and outright fabrications inherent in forensic sci...

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Beyond the Shelves Episode 3: Cross-Genre Picks

Jes and Sarah are back for another episdoe of Beyond the Shelves! This month, they're talking about cross-genre book picks and discussing how you can use the free database Novelist to find books you'll enjoy. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | St...

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DMPL Podcast: AViD Author Sarah Penner

AViD author Sarah Penner joins Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Penner is coming to Des Moines to kick off the 2023 Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | ...

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Beyond the Shelves E1: Reading Resolutions

Welcome to Beyond the Shelves, a new podcast hosted by the Des Moines Public Library! This podcast is hosted by DMPL Librarians Brooklyn and Jes, both of whom are on the Book Chat team. In this first episode, they introduce themselves and talk about their reading goals this year, while also providin...

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Simple Steps Finds New Success in Des Moines Community

We all want children to have the skills they need to succeed in school and life. That’s where the Simple Steps to Success initiative comes into play. The program, which began in 2017, aims to increase awareness of the pre-literacy skills of reading, writing, singing, playing, and talking. We provide...

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Book Chat's Best of 2022

Last night our Book Chat Librarians shared their favorite books of 2022 with a group at the Franklin Avenue Library. If you were unable to join us due to weather or other extenuating circumstances we have shared each of their lists blow.  Rebecca Cloud, South Side Library Migrat...

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Binge-then-Read: 2023 Book to Screen Adaptations January-July

Do you love to read the book before you see the movie or TV show? Our team put together a list of the books being turned into movies and TV shows in the first half of 2023. So you can get reading before you turn on the TV or head to the theater.  Please note we are listing books and movies w...

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