The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress is a community of 56 Affiliated Centers, promoting reading, libraries and literacy through the Library of Congress and its Affiliated Centers across the country.
The Iowa Center for the Book at Ames Public Library celebrates and promotes Iowa's unique literary heritage.
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Iowa Center for the Book
Did you know that the Ames Public Library has a national distinction? As of April of this year, the library began serving as the Iowa Center for the Book. Each U.S. state and territory hosts a Center for the Book, which serves as an affiliate of the Library of Congress and promotes literacy and r...
Great Reads Authors coming to Ames and Zoom
The authors of Iowa's 2024 selections for Great Reads from Great Places are coming to Iowa!
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Join Swine Republic author, Chris Jones, for an author talk and book signing Wednesday, October 30, at 7pm. The event at Ames Public Library will be livestreamed o...
Great Reads from Great Places
Every year, a list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is distributed by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book during the National Book Festival.
The National Book Festival Roadmap to Reading is made possible by the generous support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Iowa's 2024 Great Read for Children
“Ten Beautiful Things”
by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Lily and her grandmother search for ten beautiful things as they take a long car ride to Iowa and Lily's new home with Gran.
A heartfelt story of changing perspectives, Ten Beautiful Things gently explores loss, a new home, and finding beauty wherever you are.
Author Event
Join us for an event with author Molly Beth Griffin online or at Ames Public Library November 13. Find out more at www.AmesPL.org/event/TenBeautifulThings
Iowa's 2024 Great Read for Adults
"The Swine Republic: Struggles With the Truth About Agriculture and Water Quality"
by Chris Jones
The Swine Republic has been an unexpected hit across Iowa. Jones, a retired University of Iowa researcher, writes for a popular audience about how politics and economics have influenced changes in Iowa’s water quality.
His ability to simplify the complex relationship between agriculture and water makes his science writing uniquely accessible. Jones is passionate about getting the truth about the water we consume out to everyday Iowans, farmers, and scientists alike.
Author Event
Join us for an event with author Chris Jones online or at Ames Public Library October 30. Find out more at www.AmesPL.org/event/TheSwineRepublic
Literary Events
Library of Congress National Book Festival
https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-book-festival/about-this-program/
Around Iowa
All Iowa Reads
June 11-12, 2024
www.statelibraryofiowa.gov/index.php/libraries/programs/all-iowa-reads
AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines)
www.dmpl.org/attend/featured-programs/AViD
DMPL Fall Author Series
Iowa City Book Festival
October 14-20, 2024
www.iowacityofliterature.org/icbf/
Literature to Life: The Giver by Lois Lowry
February, 2025
desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-giver/
Poetry Palooza
Do you know about another large literary event in Iowa? Drop us an e-mail at iowacenterforthebook@amespubliclibrary.org
at Ames Public Library
See the winning entries to the Ten Beautiful Things photo contest, inspired by the book by Molly Beth Griffin. Entries came from all over Iowa, celebrating the beauty of our state.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
Join Ruth Harkin, author of the new book When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories, for a talk and book signing.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
Come meet the author of Ten Beautiful Things, Iowa's youth selection for the 2024 Great Reads from Great Places initiative through the Library of Congress Center for the Book.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.
More Resources
List of Independent Bookstores (from Midwest Independent Booksellers Association)