Blog Entries

Summer Reading Begins!

Ames Public Library's annual Summer Reading Challenge is here!
 

Read for Prizes

Do you love free stuff? Are you between the ages of 0 and 120? Then join our Summer Reading Challenge starting Tuesday, June 1!

Three Ways to Play

Visit amespubliclibrary.beanstack.com Download the Beanstack Tracker app Or pick up a Summer Reading Challenge gameboard at the Library

Find out more at www.amespubliclibrary.org/summer2021.
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Events for Everyone

We have a summer full of fun and learning planned for all ages, incl... Read Full Blog

Better Together

by Jill Philby

When kids ask for help finding books here at the library, it seems as if they fall into one of two camps.  They like either fiction or non-fiction, and there isn’t much overlap.  Once in a while someone will ask for non-fiction books about dragons or some other magical creature—which always makes me chuckle—but in general, it’s a definite one or the other. 

But the few kids who ask for both are on to something.

When you pair fiction with nonfiction, you learn better.

Reading fiction works on your emotional brain.  Fict... Read Full Blog

Free Books For Students at Grab and Go Meal Sites

Ames families will again have access to free books on Fridays at four grab and go meal sites: Meeker, Mitchell, Sawyer, and the Ames Public Library. The location for Ames Public Library is at the south end of the alley behind the Library. Vehicles enter the alley from 6th Street. Pedestrians should approach from 5th Street between Douglas Avenue and Kellogg.

One book per week per student will be distributed for students in grades pre-K through 12. Scheduled dates are July 17, 24, 31 and August 7, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Books were purchased by the Ames Public Library ... Read Full Blog

COVID-19 Closure Update

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ames Public Library is closed for the safety of our visitors, staff, and community.

We are working with the City of Ames and health officials to plan for a gradual reintroduction of services. 

Watch for updates as we approach mid-May.

... Read Full Blog

What's Happening During the Closure?

New York Times Online
You asked for it! Ames Public Library now offers free access to The New York Times online! Connecting you with news and information sources is more important than ever.

Book Give-Way
Did someone say free books? Kids can pick up a free book along with their Grab & Go lunch from Ames schools thanks to the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation, United Way of Story County, and Ames Community School District!

Little Free Libraries
Working with Raising Readers in Story County, the Ames Public Library Friends F... Read Full Blog

Behind the Scenes

As always, Library staff are hard at work behind the scenes. We're still ordering books, movies, and music and getting them ready for you to check out when we reopen. We're shelving any returned items and packing the holds shelves as new books come in. (If you don't need an item you've put on hold, please be sure to cancel it online or by calling us.)

We're also answering questions by phone and e-mail and rearranging some collections to prepare for our reopening. We can't wait to see you again!

... Read Full Blog

Small Talk Builds Babies' Brains

Did you know that Ames Public Library is part of an exciting research program about brain development in babies?

Small Talk Story County is a program that not only trains parents how to help their child’s brain development through talk, but also performs research on the outcomes of the training! The program uses an innovative “talk pedometer” to give parents feedback on how much they are talking with their baby.

We’ll have a special event Thursday, August 15, at 7pm in the Library’s Auditorium to share what the research tells us educating parents to better... Read Full Blog

Experiment with a MERGE Cube

Would you like to hold the sun in the palm of your hand? Try it out at the Library!

Visit Ames Public Library's children's area this summer to explore a MERGE Cube. Using an app and the camera on one of our tablets, you can interact with a virtual object that moves, tilts, and rotates with the cube. Different apps bring you different augmented reality experiences, from the solar system to the human heart to a pirate island.

 

... Read Full Blog

Dog Man Wins March Madness

After a month-long, no-holds-barred brawl, Dog Man (along with Cat Kid) has claimed the title of most popular children's book at Ames Public Library.

The Library's annual March Madness bracket invited visitors to vote on their favorite book in four weeks of match-ups. Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus flew to the top of the Picture Books brackets, going on to beat Willems' own Let's Go for a Drive, the winner of the Easy to Read Books brackets. Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark topped the Juvenile Chapter Books brackets, but couldn't stand up to Juveni... Read Full Blog

March Madness

It’s March Madness, book-style! We’re pitting the most popular books in our children’s section against each other in a literary showdown. Each week, vote for you favorite from each face-off by visiting www.bit.ly/APLMarch2019. (Paper ballots are also available at the Youth Services Desk.)

You can track your favorite books' progress on the bracket displayed on the south side of the Youth Services area. In the end, there can be only one!

 

... Read Full Blog