Find Your NEXT READ
by Brianne Anderson“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read." — Abraham Lincoln
By far one of the best parts of our job as librarians is getting to recommend books. Don’t get us wrong, we love the satisfaction of helping someone discover a link to an ancestor, or helping kids find just the right source for their school paper, but the absolute best feeling is when we get to walk the shelves, pulling out our favorite titles and describing them to patrons. Our goal at APL is to be just like Abraham Lincoln’s bes... Read Full Blog
Solar-Powered Bench Offers Charging Stations
There's a new bench in front of Ames Public Library, and this one's powered by the sun!
Made by SELS - Smart Era Lighting Systems, the new new seating option offers wireless and USB charging stations for phones and electronic devices, including USB ports and wireless. It also has built-in lights for night time. The system is completely self-sufficient, storing power collected by solar panels in built-in batteries. As an added bonus, the Library's wi-fi can keep you connected to internet while you charge.
Stop by and charge up while you wait for the bus or enjoy the ... Read Full Blog
Read for Fun
by Tracy BriseñoI challenge you. I challenge you to read for fun this summer. Just for you. Whatever you want. I encourage you to do it visibly where your kids or neighborhood kids can see you. It sets a powerful example. But mostly, I encourage you to read for your own enjoyment or interest. Just to be clear – I embrace a WIDE view of reading. Read the newspaper, read an e-book, listen to an audiobook, crack open your favorite magazine, read a picture book for fun (no kids required!) or dive into a book you’ve always wanted to try. Just read.
We know that reading for fun... Read Full Blog
What a Novel Idea!
by Anastasia TucknessWhat do roleplaying games, flip-flops, and magnetic cup holders have in common? Not much, you might say, except this: they all became part of Ames Public Library as a result of our Novel Ideas program! Novel Ideas fosters innovation and creative thinking among Library staff. In the four years since its inception, it has done just that, prompting some unique and interesting initiatives. Any staff member can propose an idea to be considered by the Novel Ideas team. After approval, a cross-department team works together to implement it. Funding comes from a specia... Read Full Blog
Wintering
by Tracy BriseñoIt is becoming colder and darker. I am not excited about winter. I don’t like being cold, and I thrive in the sunshine. This is a time that my introvert self likes to hibernate at home. If you are like me, here are some suggestions for how the library can help you enjoy this season of chilliness.
Checkout the library’s online options for reading, listening to music, or watching movies, films, and TV shows. The library’s Winter Reading Challenge is for all ages and runs from December 15th - Feb 14th. You can sign up online or through the Beanstack app. Thro... Read Full Blog
Ames Public Library: A Story, by You
by Keirra McFaddenHere at Ames Public Library we know we provide something different for everyone. We want to know more about the community members we serve every day and how the Library plays a role in their lives. This is why we are asking--what does Ames Public Library mean to you? We want to see how you view the Library and to accomplish this we are asking you to submit a story and photo you believe tell your experience with the Library.
If I was to turn in my story, I would submit a photo of me working on this article. Accompanying it would be a story about my ... Read Full Blog
Your Library is a Center of Civics
by Megan Klein-HewettAmes Public Library values the role we play as a connector of information to help you be an informed citizen in our community. The Library always strives to make access to information easy, through events like voter registration drives and local candidate forums, but also through the Civics Center webpage at AmesPublicLibrary.org and through materials you can borrow.
Are you registered to vote? Have you moved and need to update your voter registration records? Next Tuesday, September 28, is National Voter Registration Day and it provides the per... Read Full Blog
Student Library Cards
by Tracy BriseñoWhen my middle schooler came home yesterday, she was excited to have met her school librarian and check out some books she’d never read before. Also, she wanted to share with me some big news. “Did you know that we all have library cards?!” Cue my shocked face. Actually, I did know this as I was part of the team at Ames Public Library (APL) who worked with a school district team to organize this. In June, APL partnered with Ames Community School District (ACSD) to issue over 5,000 public library cards to students.
My daughter has always had library access.... Read Full Blog
Next Generation of Homeschooling Resources
by Brianne AndersonAt the end of last school year, most of us parents were celebrating a return to “normal” over the summer. The pool was opening again, the summer reading program was back at the Library, and we could again look forward to spending time outside with our families at summer concerts and fun events.
I don’t know about you, but the fact that we are not totally back to pre-COVID normal is still a hard pill for me to swallow. Masks are again donning faces as cases surge and social distancing is definitely still an important part of being out in society. Our are... Read Full Blog
My Epic Journey of Becoming a Library Cardholder
by Keirra McFaddenI feel like today nothing is actually free and easy to obtain, especially when it comes to becoming a part of a membership program. Services with memberships draw you in with lines like “first month free!” but to get that free month you have to put in all of your information, payment method, and agree to a million terms and conditions. It is stressful, confusing, and intimidating. After going through that process time and time again it makes you weary. That was why when it came time to get an Ames Public Library card, I was prepared to bear the entire process... Read Full Blog
The Library as Gathering Space
by Sheila SchoferOver the last decade, the library’s role as community gathering space has becoming increasingly clearer. As e-books and downloadable content took off and libraries’ digital collections grew, some wondered whether the library would continue to exist. I always reassure people that libraries will always be relevant. While collection formats change and evolve, the physical book won’t go away completely and more importantly the library is so much more than its physical collection.
Libraries are also about space. Free space, accessible space, ... Read Full Blog
What Will You Read Next?
by Cathy CooneyWith so many fantastic books in the world, and in the library, how do you narrow down your options? Some readers choose what to read based on their mood. Others go through phases where they only pick one type of book. (I once read nothing but cozy mysteries for 2 years.) Some move alphabetically through a list, grab a book with an eye-catching cover, binge series by series, or follow an order only they understand. What do all of these readers have in common? No matter what method you use, at some point you’ll finish your current book and need to decide on your next l... Read Full Blog
Armchair Adventures
by Ashley WilsonThere are a million good reasons to go on an armchair adventure. You probably already travel in your armchair a few or more times a week without even thinking about it! Maybe it’s armchair dining with your favorite food channel, space exploration with the latest issue of “National Geographic,” or revisiting your favorite trip with a photo album. All of these are great ways to explore from—and with—the comforts of home. However, if you're like me and have found yourself wanting to explore something new, be sure to stop by the Ames Public Library as there is plenty more to... Read Full Blog
Free Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccinations
Ames Public Library will host free walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations:
Saturday, May 15, from 10am to 3pm Tuesday, May 18, from 10am to 3pm Saturday, May 22, from 10am to 3pm Thursday, June 3, from 3 to 7pmMary Greeley Medical Center staff will administer the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single-dose vaccine for ages 18 and older.
CyRide will offer free rides to these vaccination events.
For more information visit www.amespubliclibrary.org/vaccine
... Read Full Blog
A Year of Pandemic at the Library
by Jillian Ocken
As Ames Public Library prepares to reopen “the stacks” to the public, I can’t help but think about how much a visit to Ames Public Library has changed over the past year.
I was home with my children over spring break when the news of COVID-19 in the U.S. hit. While they enjoyed their time away from school, I was swept up in a flurry of emails and changes at the Library. There were new cleaning protocols, toys were stored away, and events were being cancelled. And then, on March 16, everyone rushed into the Library to stock up on books and movie... Read Full Blog