In today’s episode, we sat down with Ann Renken, our Head of Collection Services, to learn more about how to donate physical materials to the library. Now’s your chance to listen! Find out which items we’ll gladly accept and how your generous material donations can benefit the WDM Library. Our full donation policy can be found here: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/about/material-donations

In today’s episode, we sat down with Carol Grant, the president of our library Board of Trustees, and Darryl Eschete, our library director, to talk about our new five-year strategic plan. They each shared what the development of the plan looked like as well as the initiatives they look forward to seeing take shape in the next five years. You can read our full strategic plan at wdmlibrary.org/strategy.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Stacy Conradt, a member of the West Des Moines Public Library Friends Foundation Board. She spoke about the upcoming author series that the Friends will be hosting this year including visits from Heather Gudenkauf, John Mahoney, Kali Van Baale, and Denise Williams. If you’d like to learn more about the Friends Foundation, you can visit www.wdmlibrary.org/friends.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Gale Brubaker, the Executive Director of the West Des Moines Historical Society. Gale spoke with us about the return of the Iowa Files History Series and gave us a preview into what to look forward to for the next eight months of the program. The first session, The Only Free Road, meets here at the library on Sunday, September 18. See the full list of Iowa Files events here: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/events/upcoming?keywords=iowa%20files

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

In today’s episode, we sat down with the library’s two Teen Library Assistants, Hailey McKinney and Sarah Allen. Hailey and Sarah shared about their role and how they work together to engage our teen patrons. We're also celebrating the year anniversary of our podcast and are happy to share we have moved officially into season 2! Thanks for joining us on this journey. 

In today’s episode, we sat down with two teachers and two students from Stilwell Jr. High School to talk about their year-long project titled “Refugee Voices.” Through this project, the 2021-2022 class of seventh graders worked with local refugees to create 26 picture books depicting the refugee’s life story. Each of these books will be available at the West Des Moines Library in our Meet Your Neighbors Storybox Kits based on the region that the refugee is from. See the kits here: https://bit.ly/MeetYourNeighborsKit 

In today’s episode, we sat down with Courtney Bench who is an Adult Services Assistant here at the library. Courtney chatted all things crafts with us and highlighted some of the exciting upcoming adult crafting programs on the horizon!

In today’s episode, we sat down with Sara Ennis, an author who recently presented at a Friends Foundation author event here at the library. Sara chatted with us about the process of writing and self-publishing three psychological thrillers in a little under a year. She also gave some wonderful advice for writers who are thinking of making that leap into publishing.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jenna Ehler, Head of Youth Services, and Jen Ohzourk, Head of Adult Services, to get a sneak preview at Summer Reading 2022! Registration opens on May 23rd and you won’t want to miss out on all of the exciting things happening in the library from May 23 – July 30! Learn more about Summer Escape at the West Des Moines Library here: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/summer