Library News

by Darryl Eschete, Director, WDM Public Library

As those of you who have recently visited us at 4000 Mills Civic Parkway know, the public elevator that had been previously been out of service is officially back up and running. While the elevator was out of service, we received many questions about the nature of the outage and how long it would take to repair. I'd like to share where we are in the process of upgrading both our public and staff elevators and what you can expect in the months to come. 

We rounded out the end of our Fiscal Year in June 2023. Looking back on the year, we wanted to share some of the highlights, including all of the fabulous things we were able to accomplish with the help of our dedicated patrons. 

Not only did our digital and physical circulation numbers go up this year, we were also proud of serving over 1,300 patrons through our Homebound and Elder Care Outreach programs, having 2,900 volunteer hours served in the library, and having 21,931 event attendees!

Do you have a backpack or suitcase that you haven't peeked in this summer? Maybe you have a stack of books hiding in your car somewhere that you might have forgotten about? Have no fear! You can return these overdue WDM Library items on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19 and all fines will be waived!

Please note that the amnesty weekend will only waive fines, not fees. Collection Agency fees and replacement copy fees cannot be waived during this event. 

Please join us on Tuesday, June 20 at either 8:30 AM or 4:30 PM for a brief dedication ceremony for our memorial garden. This garden, located outside of the library's main entrance, was created as a space to remember and reflect on the lives of library workers, friends, and family who have passed before us. Each of the ceremonies will also be livestreamed on the West Des Moines Public Library Facebook Page if you aren't able to attend in person.

West Des Moines Public Library is assessing its current technology offerings in an effort to improve the overall experience for our users. 

Please take a few minutes to fill out this brief survey. You will have the option to provide comments at the end. All responses will be anonymous.

Thank you for being a part of the library community!

TAKE SURVEY

National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries are celebrated for their work during this week- from school to public and academic to special, this week is a dedicated time for library staff and donors to shine. Here at WDM Library we'd like to especially thank our hardworking library staff for all they do!

This National Volunteer Week, we'd like to take a moment to thank all of the volunteers who dedicate their time and resources here at the West Des Moines Public Library. So much of what we do relies on the hours provided by these hard-working individuals and we are incredibly grateful that they choose to spend their time here with us. 

In the spirit of March Madness, the WDM Public Library is hosting our own bracket challenge: but with books! We've pulled the top titles in four "divisions": Adult, Young Adult, Picture Books, and Juvenile. Each week, we'll open a new survey to vote your favorite books onto the finals and ultimately crown the Best Book!  

by Craig Long, Secretary, WDM Library Board of Trustees

West Des Moines Public Library is proud to partner with Des Moines Public Library and Polk County Early Childhood Iowa to bring the Simple Steps early literacy program to West Des Moines. Patrons of the WDM Public Library will notice the incorporation of Simple Steps in our storytime events and see Simple Steps Early Literacy Stations popping up around the West Des Moines community.

The 95th Academy Awards presentation is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 7pm on ABC.  There's still time to watch all of the films before the presentation!  See our list below including links to our catalog for DVDs to checkout, the streaming service to watch online, or the theater where the movies are showing.  And, just for fun, here is a ballot from thegoldknight.com to vote for your favorites!  

This Valentine's, why not snuggle up with a loyal companion - a good book?

Find our Blind Date with a Book display on the second floor near the new books. Each wrapped book is a mystery - choose one based on the information we've given and take it home to unwrap and meet your date.

Inside, you'll find a bookmark asking you how you enjoyed your date! Fill it out and return it to the Valentine's boxes you'll find and Accounts and Checkout and Adult Services. Turn it in by noon on February 17 for a chance to win an amazing prize basket.

The grand prize includes:

The West Des Moines Public Library recently worked with Midwest Pano, LLC to create a virtual tour of our building. Take a virtual walk around our Library and explore everything there is to offer. Be sure to check out "hotspots" like the welcome message below located throughout the tour. Click to find key areas and learn more about the programs and services offered to the community. You can also use the menu on the side panel to direct your search to specific areas of the building.

UPDATE: ALL computers are up and running! 

The public computers at the West Des Moines Public Library will be unavailable Wednesday, November 30 – Friday, December 2 while we complete essential technology upgrades. The fax machine and copiers will still be functional during this time. Please watch this space for any updates regarding this project.

The WDM Library Friends Foundation is proud to host the library’s biggest book sale of the year! Choose from hundreds of books at extremely affordable prices!

Join us on: