Blog Entries
What to read next…?
by Ellen WanamakerI’ve done it again, that thing that librarians do. I’ve brought home too many books and can’t settle on which one to start. It’s a good problem to have, being surrounded by so many books that you’re paralyzed by the sheer pile of awesomeness in front of you.
One of the books in my heap is “The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird” by Joshua Hammer. This one made it home because I’m just a sucker for books about birds. Also, how can you resist a true crime story about a man so desperate to steal rare peregri... Read Full Blog
Reading Requests
by Jill Philby
We get lots of requests at Ames Public Library. Sometimes it is a simple request, like needing a study room. Other times, it’s a bit more complicated, like putting an item on hold or a purchase request. And, occasionally, it is for something that may take a bit more time and thought, such as title suggestions for advanced young readers—children who are reading quite a bit higher than their grade level.
When we have an adult talk to us here in Youth Services about their advanced reader, we get excited. It’s exciting that ... Read Full Blog
Supernatural
by Alissa Lee DorninkMy friend recently sent me a life-sized carboard cutout of the character Dean Winchester, of Supernatural fame, that she found at a vintage shop in Minneapolis. For those not familiar, Supernatural was a long running CW show that followed two brothers as they crisscrossed the country in their 1967 Chevy Impala hunting monsters and fighting evil supernatural beings.
I thought it would be in keeping with the road trip spirit of his character to bring him along as I traveled to visit family in Nebraska and Minnesota, so I folded him up and brought him al... Read Full Blog
Settling In
by Sheila SchoferI moved into a new old house recently. It feels good to settle further into my chosen home town of Ames in a more permanent way, after years of NYC apartment living. I bought an older home, an aesthetic that speaks to me; I was recalling to a colleague recently that I’d had a clawfoot bathtub in nearly every place I’d lived since graduating from college.
Older homes come with interesting layouts, smaller closets and storage challenges though. Plus, moving homes forces you to confront your stuff. I had parted ways with many items when I moved across ... Read Full Blog
To Be Read?
by Seth WarburtonOne month of 2022 is already gone, which means this is the time of year to default on all those lofty goals that you made only a few short weeks ago. I rarely make New Year’s resolutions myself with the exception of setting the number of books I want to read in the year to come. With my goal comes a constantly-growing pile of books that I aspire to read: my TBR pile. My TBR, or To-Be-Read, list never seems to shrink, no matter how many books I read. My biggest problem is rank promiscuity. When it comes to books I’m an unrestrained phil... Read Full Blog
Resources for the New Year
by Jonathan Tostado-MarquezWith the New Year comes new beginnings, new adventures and, for some, new resolutions and goals. Whether you are interested in finally finishing up that small project you keep putting off or picking up a new skill or hobby, the Ames Public Library has a wide range of books, CDs and, other materials to help you along the way.
If, in this New Year, you would like to express more of your artistic side consider checking out books on topics like woodworking, painting, drawing, knitting and so much more. If woodworking seems appealing, consider the bo... Read Full Blog
It Comes Down to Empathy
by Ellen WanamakerTwo times recently I’ve had that bittersweet experience of reading a book I couldn’t bear to finish. Of course I finished both, and have been raving about them ever since.
A few years ago I read Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light You Cannot See.” That story, set in Nazi-occupied France, gave us two characters so real I felt like I’d been personally introduced. The story featured blind teenager Marie-Laure, whose father carved a replica of their walled city so she could learn the layout by feel, and Werner, forced into the Nazi army as a teen.
I eag... Read Full Blog
A Reading Habit
by Jillian Ocken“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” - W. Somerset Maugham
January is a time for starting fresh, setting goals, and building good habits. While many of us focus on starting a healthier lifestyle for our bodies, there’s a lot to be said for exercising your mind regularly!
As a child I was always reading. As an adult, not so much. Until now. Enter the Winter Reading Challenge. Okay, so it started a few weeks ago, but there’s over a month left! Just enough time to complete the ... Read Full Blog
Award-Winning Reads
by Danielle ZieglerIt’s almost one of the most exciting times of the year for a youth services librarian! That’s right, the ALA Youth Media Awards are coming up. What does that long title even mean? These awards are a chance to, according to the American Library Association, “honor books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens.”
You might be familiar with some of the awards. The Caldecott medal, for example, is given to the illustrator with the best art in a picture book for children aged up to and including fourteen. Some of my favorite possible ... Read Full Blog
Tough Topics: Death and Dying
Anessa OlsonLet’s talk about death. It’s not a very comfortable subject; no one really likes to think about themselves or a family member passing away. But whether or not we like to think about it, the reality is that death is inevitable for us all. Another reality is that death and dying are complicated. There are a lot of legal and financial issues that arise when someone is dead or dying, and these issues are often the responsibility of their family. There are steps that you can take to make things easier for your family, and ensure that your wishes are ... 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
Musical Memories
by Jill PhilbyComing back to Iowa from Thanksgiving this year, the car was packed tightly. My parents were passing on some items they no longer used, so my daughter was the lucky recipient of my dad’s old stereo system--the kind with a turntable that you could stack with records. While I remember my dad occasionally listening to classical music, what really comes back to me is my own little red portable record player. I played all sorts of records–anything we had in the house. Captain Kangaroo, Cowboy Bob and Janie, and, yes, even back then, Disney records.
Eve... Read Full Blog
Hot Reads for Cold Days: Local Romance Author Denise Williams
by Cathy CooneyDenise Williams always loved stories with quirky humor and plenty of heart. Now, in addition to reading those books, she writes them too. Her novels, “How to Fail at Flirting” and “The Fastest Way to Fall” both featured prominently on a variety of lists including LibraryReads, Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, Indie Next List, and Good Morning America.
Ames Public Library (APL) is thrilled to host Denise Williams on Monday, December 6 at 7 pm for a facilitated conversation about the romance genre, her novels, and how life is different now that she’s a pu... Read Full Blog
Wrapped Up in Christmas
by Anastasia Tuckness
Holiday picture books are a delightful part of the Christmas season, their illustrations inviting readers to imagine Christmases past and present. Our library has a great section of them, shelved all together in one place for easy browsing. But maybe this year you’d like to get truly wrapped up into a Christmas story you can read over several nights, a story that can transport you back in time or off to some other place. You need a juvenile fiction Christmas story! Read on to hear about several I’ve discovered this year as I wandered the stacks looking f... Read Full Blog
How Comics Changed My Life
Tyler CampbellThe library has always been a staple of my life. As a child I remember every summer I would take home my summer reading program and a different book every week. At first I would make my way through the reading program by devouring the local library’s Hardy Boys collection. Then I slowly transitioned into Choose Your Own Adventure novels before setting in on the popular Alex Rider series. I loved reading these series as I could envision kids my own age going on adventures and solving mysteries or completing “James Bond-esque” missions, and I couldn’t get enough.
H... Read Full Blog