Join Ames Public Library for free special activities and a reading challenge for all ages this summer!
Everyone from babies to adults can earn prizes just for tracking their reading in the Summer Reading Challenge. Pick up a game board or sign up online starting June 1.
Once again this summer, children and teens can eat a nutritious free lunch at Ames Public Library. Lunch is available weekdays form Monday, June 5, through Friday, August 18 (except July 4).
Check the Library's calendar for…
by Danielle Ziegler
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and here are some books for you and your kids to read! But wait. Why would I write an article about books to read with your children about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and publish it the day after? Simply put, reading diverse books and thinking about antiracism are activities that should happen all year long, not just in January. This is one very small way that we can carry on Dr. King’s work throughout the year…
by Megan Klein-Hewett
The acclaimed American author, Willa Cather, would have been 150 years old on December 7, 2023. On February 28, from 7-8 pm, join the Ames Writers Collective, the National Willa Cather Center, and Ames Public Library to honor Cather’s great life and works in the Library’s Auditorium, or on Zoom.
Some of Cather’s most popular works, like “My Antonia” and “O Pioneers!” were heavily influenced by her time spent in Red Cloud, Nebraska, now the home…
byJerri Heid
Summer reading and activities are back at your Ames Public Library! Thanks to technology the Library has continued reading challenges and activities throughout the pandemic, but this summer will be more like a normal summer.
For youth, a normal summer means school’s out. It means time for activities, reading, and exploring and learning in a different way than they do in a classroom. After a hectic school year, participating in special Library events and the reading challenge can…
by Jillian Ocken
Most people who have spent time in Ames, Iowa, know the names of Jack Trice and George Washington Carver. Many are just now becoming familiar with James Herman Banning, with the possible renaming of the Ames municipal airport in his honor. These three African American men broke down barriers and left their mark on Ames and Iowa State College. Their portraits are being featured as part of Ames Public Library’s Black History of Ames Exhibit this month in the Library’s entryway,…
By Chelsie Gohlmann
Interested in practicing your language skills and connecting with others? Come join one of the Ames Public Library's Conversation Circles programs! Our programs provide a welcoming environment where language learners of all levels can improve their skills by chatting with others in their chosen language.
Conversation Circles: English is led by myself and my colleague, Ellen, every Monday from 12:30-1:30pm. It is the only Conversation Circles program that is…
2020 Summer Reading Challenge
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by Bri Martin
All who are on TikTok and have a passion for books, more than likely, have encountered this phenomenon called “booktok”. Yet, what exactly is it? Can I learn something from it? How are individuals coming up with a “booktok” book? What are the standards?
To answer your questions, I’ll share my own personal take on what booktok is, and how you can join this community of bibliophiles. So, to the first question, what is booktok? Booktok is a land of wonderful reads where fellow…
by Jill Philby
Quite a few years ago, my husband and I brought home our first child. He went back to work after a few days. I stayed home with our daughter. I held her, fed her, bathed her, rocked her, and repeated all of that until I couldn’t stand it anymore.
My husband and I had planned for me to stay at home. I wanted to be home with her. It wasn’t that I didn’t love her, and I certainly wanted the best for her. I just didn’t know what to DO with…
by Megan Klein-Hewett
Summer is an exciting time at Ames Public Library, filled with fun and exciting programs for all ages. In adult services, we focus on bringing engaging and educational programming to our adult community members. This summer we’ve been lucky to host a number of talented guests, with more still to come!
First up, join Ames Public Library, Ames Pride, and Dog-Eared Books in welcoming author, poet and essayist, Diana Goetsch. Diana’s 2022 memoir, “This Body I Wore,”…