It'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 MoreThe Summer I Turned Pretty, based on the bestselling novel by Jenny Han, is a story of a love triangle between one young woman, Belly and two brothers, set at a summer home in a small coastal town. It is a story of first love, of growing up, and the magic of summer. If watching the TV adaptation ...
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 MoreLove all things Stranger Things? Take a trip to the Upside Down with creepy reads that push the bounds of reality. Check out these recommendations from our Book Chat librarians for books to add to your holds list. Easily place holds on any of these items on our Stranger Things list on our new lib...
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 MoreIn honor of Refugee Awareness Month, the June bonus category for the 2022 DMPL Reading Challenge is " A book featuring the story of an immigrant or refugee." On June 20, 2022 the Des Moines Public Library is thrilled to be partnering with Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa for their World Refuge...
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...
Read MoreThe Netflix drama Ozark follows the story of Marty Byrde, a financial advisor, and his family, who are wrapped up in laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel. Following the death of Marty's business partner they move their family from Chicago to Lake of the Ozarks. After the discovery of the body ...
Read MoreAViD Author Jason Mott joins us on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! During this chat, he talks about the development of Hell of a Book, including when how the special cameo by Nic Cage came to be. He also talks about the book's amazing reception and what surprising nonfiction topic he en...
Read MoreMay is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. To celebrate our librarians, curated a list of recommendations of books by authors from the Asian Pacific American community to read and enjoy during the month of May, and throughout the year. Read the blog to see some of our staff recommendations. Fo...
Read MoreIn this edition of binge-then-read we are covering not one, but three trending shows. If you have been watching Des Moines native Andrew Fuller rise to stardom on Is it Cake, we have recommendations to inspire your baking endeavors. If you are loving the Apple TV adaptation of Pachinko, we h...
Read MoreThe American Library Association recently revealed their list of the 10 most challenged books of 2021. 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. ...
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