In This Day and Page

In today’s episode, I got to sit down and chat with our Teen Services Assistant, Hailey McKinney, about the book c lub that she runs for kiddos ages 11-14: Tween Club Read. Tween Club Read recently turned a year old, so I wanted to check in with her on how the year has been (and we might just get a little testimonial from one of the Tweens in the club themselves!) Learn more about the West Des Moines Public Library's book clubs here: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/events/book-clubs

I had the immense pleasure to sit down with the library’s new Director, Traci Glass, to chat about her background in libraries and her ultimate vision for the West Des Moines Public Library as she looks to the future. This is one you won’t want to miss.

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Head of Youth Services, Jenna Ehler. She highlighted some of the new learning kits we recently added to our collection and shared how our patrons can start checking them out and exploring them at home. Check out a Learning Kit here.

In today’s episode, we sat down with local picture book author Brooke Van Sickle. Not only is Brooke the author of three picture books, but she is the creator of a children’s publishing house called Bibliokid Publishing. Through Bibliokid and her blog, Journey to Kidlit, she has helped over thirty picture book authors realize their dreams of getting published.

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Library Director Darryl Eschete. If you’re listening to this episode between October 1-7, it’s Banned Books Week. While we chatted, Darryl shared the historical context behind Banned Books Week and explained why we celebrate here at the West Des Moines Public Library. Learn more about it at BannedBooksWeek.org.

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Homebound and Outreach Assistant Betsy Richter. Betsy wears many hats in the outreach world, but one of her newest is coordinating memory care storytimes and kits to eldercare facilities in our community. She shares what inspired her to start this program and why it’s so important to engage with our population experiencing cognitive decline. Learn more about this program by visiting: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/services/outreach/elder-care-facilities

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Youth Services Summer Intern Ben Siegal in honor of National Intern Day! He spoke with us about his experience working at the West Des Monies Public Library for the summer as well as plans for his future.

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with four library staff members in honor of National Library Week. First, we’ll speak with Susan Greenwood, the Library’s Administrative Secretary. Next we’ll chat with Megan Hartman, a Youth Services Assistant. Third on the list is Rachel Bussan, our Collection Services Specialist. And last but certainly not least we’ll talk with Chris Mortimore, one of our hardworking Circulation Clerks. National Library Week is a yearly, week-long celebration that highlights our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions and promotes library use and support.

In today’s episode, we’re highlighting the important work that volunteers do here at the library. We had a chance to sit down with Hailey McKinney, who coordinates our teen volunteers; Heather Hildreth, who helps coordinate our adult volunteers; and Sue, Malina and Sarah , three of our current library volunteers. If you’re interested in applying to become a library volunteer after hearing from these incredible people, visit www.wdmlibrary.org/volunteer.

In today’s episode, we sat down with author Denise Williams. Denise will be the guest author at our upcoming Friends Foundation Author Event on Tuesday, March 28 from 6:45 – 8:00 PM. Denise is the author of "touching, funny, steamy romance novels" including How to Fail at Flirting, The Fastest Way to Fall, Do You Take This Man, and her latest collection of novellas, The Sweetest Connection. If you'd like to join us for Denise's talk via Zoom, you can register for that here. To keep up with all of the exiting things Denise is working on, you can follow her journey on her website, denisewilliamswrites.com.