Aaron's blog

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This week is National Library Week. This year's theme, "Libraries = Strong Communities," reminds us that public libraries remain a vital part of the fabric of society in towns, cities, and neighborhoods across the country. In fact, there are more public libraries in the United States than there are Starbucks!

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Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) has begun its 19^th year. Since 2001, more than 125 authors have come to Des Moines to have insightful conversations with delighted audiences. What began as a three-day event across the city has bloomed into a highly regarded, free series attended by hundreds of people each year.

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International Women’s Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years. The day has become a focal point to recognize efforts for women’s equality and to empower women around the globe. The library is home to hundreds of inspiring books that highlight the achievements of women in politics, the arts, revolutions, and more. We encourage you to read their stories and find inspiration in their lives.

March is very eventful, being Women’s History Month, Irish American Month, and (usually) a transition into spring. There’s a book out there for those topics and more. These nine titles offer just a taste of the new items hitting our shelves; we recommend getting your holds in now. If you want to learn more about the books everyone is buzzing about, sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly book picks straight into your inbox.

Tomorrow is Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss' birthday. In the spirit of rhymes and reading, we asked our staff what their favorite Dr. Seuss book was. So many of us grew up with these classic stories, and the memories of reading them have not faded away. We got lots of responses — are any of these your favorites?

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