Victor D.O. Santos, author of several children's books, including My Dad, My Rock, joins the DMPL Podcast today. Victor will be taking part in the Des Moines Public Library's Iowa Author Series this Thursday, November 17. The program begins at 5:30 PM at the Central Library and is free to all! On...
Read MoreCrashing waves, falling leaves, a shadowy forest - books that provide a strong sense a place are what we're talking about on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Book Chat team member Rebecca talks about three new books that she thinks of when she thinks "atmosphere." Apple Podcasts/iTunes...
Read MoreThis week is Banned Books Week! Veronica Fowler, the ACLU of Iowa Communications Director, joins us to discuss Banned Books and the Freedom to Read. This is one of many things happening at the library this week celebrating the Freedom to Read. Check out our social media accounts, including Instag...
Read MoreEach year, the American Library Association releases their list of the 10 most challenged books. The ALA tracks challenges to library, school, and university materials each year as part of their work to ensure free access to information. In 2021, 1,597 books were targeted for various reasons - the 1...
Read MoreRachel Mans McKenny, author of The Butterfly Effect, is the newest guest on the DMPL Podcast! Rachel stopped by as she gets ready to appear at the Iowa Author Spotlight Series on Thursday, September 15, at 5:30 PM at the Central Library. The Butterfly Effect was selected as the 2022 A...
Read MoreAViD author Karin Slaughter joins host Aaron Gernes on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! Karin will be in Des Moines on Wednesday, August 24, at 7:00 PM as part of the AViD series. Her best selling novels include Cop Town, Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her, amon...
Read MoreHappy Iowa State Fair Season! To celebrate our Book Chat Librarians made recommendations for books you might like based on your favorite fair foods and activities. Keep reading and let us know on social media which books you will be checking out. If at the Iowa State Fair you love: ...
Read MoreWhat's the "spark" that shaped the lives of our local leaders? Each month, librarian Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez as they share their "Spark Story," the specific experience that sparked them to create change in the community. In addition, we’ll hear details about the work they are doing and what keeps...
Read MoreIt's State Fair time, and the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast is sure to make you hungry to head to the fairgrounds. Kay Fenton Smith is the author of Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Food Competitions. Smith and host Aaron Gernes talk about what happens duri...
Read MoreOn the latest DMPL Podcast, host Aaron Gernes chats with Haley, a Book Chat librarian, about series starters - books that are the first titles in their respective series. Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | Dow...
Read MoreAfter a successful program last month, pop artist Michael Albert is back in Des Moines next Friday, July 22 to present two different programs. This second visit in Des Moines is part of his Summer Pop Art Tour, where he's hosting 120 programs in 9 states over 65 days! His program at the North Side L...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, host Aaron Gernes sits down with Beth Hoffman, author of Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America. The book traces the journey Beth and her husband have taken as they started farming on a 5th generation family farm in south centra...
Read MoreAuthor Chuy Renteria joins the DMPL Podcast to talk about his memoir, We Heard It When We Were Young. The book details Chuy's life growing up Mexican-American in West Liberty, Iowa, the first minority-majority town in Iowa. During the talk, Chuy and host Aaron Gernes talk about his experie...
Read MoreOn today's DMPL Podcast, Sarah from the Book Chat team is talking about some of her favorite recent romance reads. Listen to the podcast, and then be sure to come to Meet Cute, Book Chat's romance event on Wednesday, June 15! Apple Podcasts/iTunes | Google Play | Spo...
Read MoreSeveral recent events have, including the tragic shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, have brought to light the importance of talking to children about traumatic events. Our Book Chat team has put together a list of books - fiction and nonfiction, for kids, teens, and adults, that can help you discuss t...
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