9:00am-6:00pm
Ames Public Library
515 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
United States
Sun: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Mon: 9:00am-9:00pm
Tue: 9:00am-9:00pm
Wed: 9:00am-9:00pm
Thu: 9:00am-9:00pm
Fri: 9:00am-6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-6:00pm
Search
by Sheila SchoferAs a homeowner of an older house here in Ames, I have appreciation for the ongoing upkeep it takes to keep a space in good repair. You put time and care into maintaining the places that hold meaning and importance to you.The same is true on a broader community level. The library is one such place that our community consistently expresses their value and appreciation for. The Ames Public Library turned 120 years old this fall and through the years, generations of…
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 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…
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.
Ames Public Library has entered into a new Strategic Plan.
The process of creating this plan began in the fall of 2019. Library staff gathered community input, analyzed data, reviewed library best practices, and looked at overall societal trends.
“Our goal was to have an open and inclusive process,” said Ames Public Library Director Sheila Schofer. Library staff read the results of 1,000 completed surveys, held staff and board input sessions, and hosted six community stakeholder…
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…
Strategic Plan
.collapsible {
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
border: none;
text-align: left;
outline: none;
}
.active, .collapsible:hover {
}
.collapsible:before {
content: '\002B\00A0';
font-weight: bold;
float: left;
margin-left: 5px;
}
.active:before {
content: "\2212\00A0";
}
.content {
padding: 0 18px;
max-height: 0;
overflow: hidden;
transition: max-height 0.2s ease-out…
2020 Summer Reading Challenge
:root {
--color1: #599394; /*blue*/
--color2: #fed53f; /*yellow*/
--color3: #883f6a; /*purple*/
--color4: #3a595e; /*dark blue*/
--color5: #aacdb5; /*green*/
--border-radius-large: 40px;
--border-radius-small: 20px;
}
/*----------*/
.titleBlock {
background-color: var(--color1, #599394);
border-radius: var(--border-radius-large);
position: relative;
}
.titleBlock img {
border-radius: var(--…
by Jill PhilbyGetting ready for a baby is a big job. Babies need plenty of diapers, bottles, and clothing, but there are always things—and services—that parents and families may not realize are available. A breastfeeding parent may know that a breast pump would be a wonderful thing to have, but not know where to find one. They might also not realize that lactation specialists are available for breastfeeding issues. Maybe an expectant parent is weighing the pros and cons of a hospital vs.…