Due to software issues affecting all libraries using the service, the Des Moines Public Library’s Iowa Adventure Pass program will no longer be available in 2025. Any reservation already made for 2025 will be honored, but we encourage anyone with a current reservation to print those passes immediately. Customers can make new reservations for passes that must be used by December 31, 2024. We hope to reintroduce the service at a later time, and we apologize for the inconvenience.
This 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 MoreOver the weekend, Netflix premiered the anticipated adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series. The Netflix series incorporates characters from Grishaverse, which is the world where the novels are set. If you spent the weekend binge-watching the series, and want more, we put together a lis...
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...
Read MoreWith Earth Day coming later this week, you might be thinking about time spent in nature. Though there's no substitute for a peaceful walk through the woods, this book list is the next best thing. Enjoy the wild with these 15 novels set in various natural settings across the Earth. Adult books are at...
Read MoreMarlú joins us to discuss some great books and Kanopy movies! Kanopy is the library's free video streaming service. To use Kanopy*, go to dmpl.kanopy.com and create an account using your library card number and PIN. *You must live in Des Moines, Windsor Heights, or Saylor Township to use Kanopy f...
Read MoreThis is Week of the Young Child. It’s a time to celebrate young children and families through activities that focus attention on the programs and events that meet their needs. We already had a great start to Week of the Young Child with Grace Fitness’ virtual program this past Saturday. Thank you...
Read MoreTake a tour across the city this month and view some beautiful public art. As part of April being Art Month, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite murals across the city for you to view as part of a self-guided tour. The sixteen murals being featured were chosen by librarians at each ...
Read MoreOn April 8, 2006, the Des Moines Public Library turned the page on a new chapter in its history. The Central Library was relocated downtown in a brand new building, located at 1000 Grand Avenue. This month, that building turns 15 years old. The original Central Library was opened in 1903 at 100 L...
Read MoreNew Weird fiction is a subgenre of both science-fiction and fantasy, written by authors who are constantly pushing boundaries and turning those genres on their heads. Perhaps the well-known author of New Weird is Jeff VanderMeer, author of The Southern Reach Trilogy, which includes Annihilat...
Read MoreAViD author Tayari Jones takes part in the DMPL Podcast ahead of her virtual visit this coming Saturday. She talks about her favorite story growing up, the scene she considered toughest in her award-winning novel An American Marriage, and when she thinks she writes best. Tayari Jones w...
Read MoreOn the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Jenny from the Book Chat team joins us to talk about books with crazy plots and premises. As Jenny describes them, these books feature "a thriller sympathetic towards the murderer, a heist that focuses on student debt, and a remake of an old favorite childr...
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