by Ben Schrag

Ten years ago, I began working at the Ames Public Library. What I didn’t know then was how much I would enjoy library work. Libraries strengthen our communities and I am proud to work in a public library.

The public library serves you at every phase of life. New child? Come to our Baby Time, or start the 1,000 books before Kindergarten program. Newly retired? Come volunteer with us. New in town? One of my very favorite things is being a first stop for people new to our city.

Need a place for your Zoom meeting or online job interview? Try one of our study rooms. Rehearsing your international dance troupe? Reserve our auditorium. Need a place for your Homeschool activities? We’ve got you covered. Stuck downtown with your kids while your van is being repaired? Come sit on our couches and play with our toys. We understand how important it is to have spaces that are free and open to the public.

But we are more than simply a space. We offer a variety of programs that enrich your life and contribute to the public good. We strengthen early childhood literacy. We educate and invite discussion on a wide variety of topics. We host book clubs, repair cafés, tax appointments, and even “Noon Year’s Eve” dance parties. And our impact extends beyond our building. We bring books to homebound residents. We bring storytimes to preschools. And we are an active part of Ames' vibrant downtown. We love participating in the many downtown events. Sometimes we even help organize them!

And we do all this for you. Because, the truth is, we think about you a lot. We think about your rights as a library patron and we work hard to connect you to the information you want. We think about the needs of the community and how we can help can meet them. We know our collections, programs, and even our spaces are invaluable public resources. We strive to be good stewards of them for you.

I now know that every word in the name Ames Public Library is special. Ames is special because we belong to Ames and its broader community. Library is special because it means we have resources for you to use for free. And Public is special because it describes who we serve. We serve the public - which includes you - and isn’t that wonderful?