Coming Soon: September’s Makerspace Monday

Get your creative juices flowing and join your friends at the Library for an incredible night of relaxing pottery mastery. You will learn how to sculpt your very own clay pottery into works of art. Discover how to make designer mini pots, plant vases, owls, snake pots, and whatever else you can dream up in just one night!

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Date: September 13, 2021
Location:
Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Ages:
All Ages!
Online Registration

If you are not able to make it to our Pottery Workshop in person, no problem, we can mail an activity kit and email a video link for you to do at home.  Just complete the online registration form and choose “mail activity kit and video link”.

A special thanks to Pam Hide from “The Block” who has generously agreed to give our pottery treasures a firing glaze!

Please contact Denise Bean if you have any questions, denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us or 515.452.1338

*This event is free and limited spots are available

Library News Podcast: September 2021

Join library staff for September’s Library News podcast which features information about the library’s upcoming youth library programs, the ten most challenged books of 2020 for this month’s Banned Books Week, information about Library Card Sign Up Month, news about STEM activity kits, and information about ongoing library events and programs.

Did you know? Celebrating Libraries!

Library Card Sign-Up Month with picture of Marley DiasSince 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries unite together in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card. 

Did you know? 

  • The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with more than 167 million items on approximately 838 miles of bookshelves, which would span roughly the distance from The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • A growing body of evidence suggests that students’ academic success is linked to library usage, including improved student retention and an enhanced academic experience.  
  • Libraries play a critical role in the happiness of Americans. Communities that spend more on libraries, parks and highways are shown to support the well-being of community members.
    • Patrick Flavin. State government public goods spending and citizens’ quality of life.  Social Science Research, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.11.004  
  • Americans go to public libraries more often than they go to the movies.  
  • There are more public libraries than Starbucks in the U.S. – a total of 16,568, including branches. Nearly 100% of public libraries provide Wi-Fi and have no-fee access to computers. There are 16,568 total libraries including branches in the U.S. per 2016 PLS survey 

Celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month!  Check out our Library Blog “Turning the Pages” to learn more about what our library has to offer. 

A Poem: Reading…

Library staff member, Jodi, wrote a great poem about reading that we wanted to share.  Jodi has written some fabulous poems honoring our volunteers, staff and library.  Thank you, Jodi, for sharing your talents with us!

Reading…

When you’re feeling tired and stressed,
at the end of a long hard day.
Grab a romance or a biography,
And take some time away.

Lose yourself inside of a book,
and forget about all your worries.
So many titles to choose from,
Lots of wonderful stories.

Wander back in time,
With historical fiction.
They are so intriguing,
It may be your new addiction.

Take a trip to the wild wild west,
You are sure to enjoy.
Isn’t it every little boy’s dream,
to become a cowboy.

Or how about a mystery,
of conspiracy and crime.
You won’t want to stop reading,
It will occupy your time.

Maybe a light-hearted fairy tale,
With a princess and a unicorn
A little girl to imagine
Of the crown she’d adorn.

No matter what the story is,
or where the plotline leads.
You’ll open the door to so many things,
When you pick up a book and read.

— Jodi Aldini-Zepeda

Makerspace Mondays Are Back! Join us for September’s Pottery Workshop

Get your creative juices flowing and join your friends at the Library for an incredible night of relaxing pottery mastery. You will learn how to sculpt your very own clay pottery into works of art. Discover how to make designer mini pots, plant vases, owls, snake pots, and whatever else you can dream up in just one night!

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Date: September 13, 2021
Location:
Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Ages:
All Ages!
Online Registration

If you are not able to make it to our Pottery Workshop in person, no problem, we can mail an activity kit and email a video link for you to do at home.  Just complete the online registration form and choose “mail activity kit and video link”.

A special thanks to Pam Hide from “The Block” who has generously agreed to give our pottery treasures a firing glaze!

Please contact Denise Bean if you have any questions, denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us or 515.452.1338

*This event is free and limited spots are available

Library Chat Podcast: August 2021

In August’s Library Chat library staff discuss some great summer reads that are perfect for vacation or staycations.  We also discuss various podcasts all about books that can help us find our next great read.

Library Chat Podcasts:  August 2021

Library Chat Booklist:  August 2021
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