The Des Moines Fire Department celebrated its 135th anniversary last year, and the Iowa Association of Fire Fighters Local 4 in Des Moines is recognizing its 100th anniversary. To celebrate these momentous occasions, the department created a “Legacy Book,” honoring its predecessors an...
Read MoreThe film industry’s biggest night is on Sunday, as awards season finally culminates with the Academy Awards - also known as the Oscars. As usual, books and other art available at the library can help you dig deeper into some of the year’s best movies. Of course, if you want to watch the Oscar-nom...
Read MoreChange will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama February is Black History Month. Below, our librarians have selected ten books, both fiction and non-fiction, that fo...
Read MoreWith Valentine's Day occuring this week, we invited Iowa Romance Novelists President Jan Walters on the podcast. Jan shares with us a new book from an Iowa author and a romantic paranormal series she loves that was recently completed. She also talks about her own books and shares how working wi...
Read MoreIt’s the winter that never ends. More snow fell again last night. You’re probably tired of shoveling and wiping the snow off your car, and the kids have cabin fever. Don’t you wish you were on an island right now? Take a mental break and find paradise in your mind by reading one of these eight books...
Read MoreAward season continues with the Grammy Awards this Sunday. You may not be able make it to Los Angeles to see some of music’s biggest stars walk the red carpet, but you can see them rock the stage from the comfort of your home with the Des Moines Public Library's Qello streaming service. Qello has hu...
Read MoreA steamy romance for Valentine's Day, thrilling family dramas, and a new novel from Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give... February is full of great new books. We've highlighted eight of those books below; if you want more great book picks, sign up for our email newsletter. ...
Read MoreKevin Gannon, Ph.D., is a history professor at Grand View University. Kevin will be moderating the Becoming American series that begins next Monday at 6:00 PM at the Franklin Avenue Library. Becoming American is a documentary film and discussion series examining immigration. ...
Read MoreWhat she does: Librarian at Franklin Avenue branch. My primary job is customer service. I work at most of the public service desks at Franklin so I’m helping people find their books, upload their resumes, figure out what to read next, use our apps for eBooks, start their first email accoun...
Read MoreWith bitter cold temperatures settling in this week, the Des Moines Public Library is here for those who need to get out of the cold. All library branches are official Des Moines Warming Centers. For people that need to spend time in the library during this cold spell: what is there to do here?...
Read MoreAfter a nominally pleasant November and December, it's fair to say winter is having its revenge. With the frigid temperatures and recent snow storms, the need to take refuge on the couch with a blanket and a book is understandable. We've put together a list of books that can transport you to a winte...
Read MoreDespite being closed today for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we still have programs happening each day this week at the library. We have just a sampling of programs below; be sure to go to our online events calendar for a full listing of programs. You can also sign up for our ema...
Read MoreIt’s going to be a tremendous year in fiction. Award-winning authors are returning with new novels, hotly anticipated series are launching, and we even have a sequel 24 years in the making. Take a look at what books we’re most looking forward to in 2019. ...
Read MoreIt's impossible to predict the future with 100% accuracy, but who's to say we can't try? We think these 11 books will be worth your while in 2019. Women and true crime take center stage, but there are also books about The Troubles in Northern Ireland, a gunslinger in the Wild West, the world beneath...
Read MoreIowa native Paul Kix joins us on the DMPL Podcast today. Kix, who grew up in Hubbard, is the author of The Saboteur. The book details the life of Robert de La Rochefoucauld, a French aristocrat-turned-resistance fighter in WWII. During the podcast, Kix talks about: Finding out about La Ro...
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