Blog Entries

Winter Reading Challenge

To the average Iowan, winter brings with it a few challenges. Snow, ice, impressive windchills…the list goes on. Would you like a challenge to actually look forward to this winter? Look no further than the Ames Public Library! 

This winter we have a fun winter reading challenge going on. Hunker down under a blanket at home, find a cozy chair at the library, or even over a lunch break—wherever or whenever you find yourself with a free moment, pull out a good book, ebook, or eaudiobook and spend some time reading to earn pretty neat prizes! 

All ag... Read Full Blog

New Carpet Coming

As a homeowner of an older house here in Ames, I have appreciation for the ongoing upkeep it takes to keep a space in good repair. You put time and care into maintaining the places that hold meaning and importance to you.

The same is true on a broader community level. The library is one such place that our community consistently expresses their value and appreciation for.  The Ames Public Library turned 120 years old this fall and through the years, generations of residents, elected officials, and library trustees, employees and volunteers have continued to ... Read Full Blog

Library of Congress to Host 25th Anniversary National Book Festival in September 2025

The Library of Congress will host the 2025 National Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center, festival organizers announced.

This will mark the 25th anniversary of the Library of Congress National Book Festival, which was co-founded in 2001 with first lady Laura Bush. In 2025, the festival will expand its footprint in the Washington Convention Center to host book lovers from across the region and nationwide. Updates on plans will be shared at loc.gov/bookfest.

“We are thrilled to announce plans are set to celebrate the National Book Festival’... Read Full Blog

In the Christmas Spirit

This time of year, I love losing myself in a great Christmas novel. For me, “great” means teens enjoying seasonal glitz (snow, lights, music, etc.), lots of humor, a few plot twists and maybe a trace of romance. 

“Talk Santa to Me” by Linda Urban fits the bill perfectly. Francie’s (short for Frankincense) family runs a Christmas shop and a Santa school. I loved the dry, hilarious bits like her name:  her mom stared into the eyes of a wise man statue while giving birth. Francie is trying to settle into a new high school, save up for a Miata, and avoi... Read Full Blog

What an IDEA!

As December approaches, the time has come to celebrate a very special anniversary: the opening of the Ames Public Library’s IDEA Center! 

Haven’t heard of it? Well, the upcoming anniversary provides an excellent opportunity to review what makes the IDEA Center special.

Let’s start with the name. The “IDEA” in IDEA Center stands for Inspire, Design, Explore, Archive, which gives you a sense for how you can use the space. 

Within the IDEA Center, you have access to a wide range of technologies that enable you to undertake a similarly wide range of task... Read Full Blog

State Library of Iowa Announces the 2025 All Iowa Reads Selections

The State Library of Iowa has announced the All Iowa Reads books for 2025!

Established in 2003, the purpose of the All Iowa Reads program is to foster a sense of community through reading. Iowans are encouraged to come together in their communities to read and talk about a single book title in the same calendar year. All Iowa Reads consists of three programs, each with one title chosen per year: adults, teens ages 12-18, and kids ages 8-12. Libraries, book clubs, schools and other local organizations are encouraged to sponsor discussions of the title... Read Full Blog

Take A Road Trip with an Audiobook!

There’s nothing quite like sharing the road trip with your loved ones! But to help pass the time, you need something to focus on while you drive. Audiobooks offer hands free entertainment that keeps everybody in the car entertained and keeps the driver safe. 

Road trips are also opportunities for unforgettable shared literary experiences. I can still vividly remember books I’ve listened to on road trips from years past, who I listened to them with, and where we went together. 

I recall a beautiful summer drive across South Dakota my wife and I took as a ne... Read Full Blog

A Visit from The Nutcracker

“The Nutcracker Ballet” is coming to CY Stephens Auditorium on December 14 and 15, 2024, but you can get a sneak peak with excerpts from the performance at Ames Public Library on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 10:30am. The performance will be followed by an opportunity from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to use your engineering and artistic skills in a Nutcracker design challenge using LEGO® or other materials. In addition, attendees will be entered into a drawing for free tickets to see “The Nutcracker” at Stephens Auditorium courtesy of Iowa State Center.

“When My Husband Ran for President…”

If you’ve lived in Iowa for any amount of time you probably know the last name Harkin. When you hear it, you probably think of Tom Harkin, long-time Senator from Iowa. Did you know that it was his wife, Ruth, who was the first in their family to run for office? She not only ran for, but won, the seat of Story County attorney in 1973, making her one of the first female prosecutors elected in the United States.

Ames Public Library, the Iowa Center for the Book, the Ames Writers Collective, and KHOI Community Radio are thrilled to host Ruth Harkin in pre... Read Full Blog

Great Reads from Great Places: 2024 Youth Author Event

Come meet the author of Ten Beautiful Things, Iowa's youth selection for the 2024 Great Reads from Great Places, Wednesday, November 13, at 10am. The event at Ames Public Library will be livestreamed on Zoom. 

Molly Beth Griffin will share her writing process and the Iowa connections and inspirations behind this book. She’ll also offer tips and tricks for learning to notice the beautiful things all around us, and making art from what we find.

Books will be available to purchase at the event.

This free event is presented in partnership w... Read Full Blog

Building Bridges Through Culture and Connection

The Ames Public Library is fostering intercultural understanding and friendships through two upcoming events: the International Friendship Fair and the International Community Meetup.
 

International Friendship Fair

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024 Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm Location: Ames Public Library Auditorium

The International Friendship Fair promises to be a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, providing an opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in the global tapestry of Ames' international community... Read Full Blog

Lost and Found

It is not usually a pleasant task to clean my workspace, digging through the detritus of recent projects, notes from decades-old committee work and only then down to the worktop.  This time, however, I made an interesting discovery.  Tucked in a moldering folder in the back of a hand-me-down file cabinet were the papers of my predecessor’s predecessor, including an unpublished draft intended for this very column.  Thinking that this discovery would be of interest to readers (of the Ames Tribune and of books alike) here is the work of librarian Karel ... Read Full Blog

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 reading in their state. The Centers for the Book are also tasked with promoting their own state’s literary heritage; One way that is done is through the Great Reads from Great Places program, for which each Center selects an adult title and a youth title to represent their state.

For 2024, ... Read Full Blog

Calling All Readers! It’s the Author Fair!

Looking for your next favorite author? They might (literally) be just around the corner. Join us Saturday, October 12 from 2-5 pm for Ames Public Library’s 2nd Author Fair, presented in partnership with the Iowa Center for the Book. We’ll have 28 Iowa authors spread throughout our Auditorium on the main floor and Gallery space on the second floor, as well as representatives from two Iowa publishers.

If you’re already a fan of one of our authors, bring your copy of their book to have it signed. If you’re exploring and hoping to discover a new favorite, come ... Read Full Blog

Trivia Fundraiser for Library Lovers

When I was young my siblings and I loved reading “The People's Almanac” by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace.  Different from traditional almanacs that were mainly lists of facts, “The Peoples Almanac” aimed to be a reference book to be read for pleasure; a book that would tell the often-untold true tales of history.  We read predictions of Nostradamus, memorized famous epitaphs, learned about famous natural disasters, all the while stockpiling random bits of information.  In retrospect I can see how this encouraged me to seek out informatio... Read Full Blog