Library News

In December, we celebrated 175 years of Iowan statehood. Our remarkable history has been captured by many Iowans who've written works about their state. If you want to learn more about Iowa history and tradition, the Library's collection is a great place to start. Our collection features many unique works on Iowa history, in both print and ebook.

Some of you might not know that our newest Teen Services Assistant, Sarah Allen, is also an author! We're super excited that the cover for her third book, The Nightmare House, has just been released. Learn more about Sarah and the book below. 

Tell us about your role here at the library and how long you’ve been here for!

Reviewed by Claire, a Teen Advisory Board Member

Reviewed by Claire, a Teen Advisory Board Member

Reviewed by Claire, a Teen Advisory Board Member

"Can you recommend a good book?" This is a question we hear often at the Adult Services desk. Sometimes it's a tough one to answer, as everyone's tastes vary. So we decided to answer this question in the form of a display. Following up on the success of the Blind Date with a Book display we did in February, the Good Books program asks you to take a chance on a wrapped book. The twist this time is that each of the books on these shelves was considered "good" by a well-known source. 

Congratulations to the Lambda finalists of 2022! The Annual Lambda Literary Awards celebrate and recognize exceptional LGBTQ+ literature. Over 60 literary professionals selected finalists for each of the 24 total categories. Winning books will be announced June 11, 2022.

In the meantime, here are the YA finalists!

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

This February, take a chance on love! 

In the new book section on the second floor, you'll find shelves of books wrapped in paper. Take a book home without knowing its title, and see if you find a good match. Here's how it works:

1. Read the opening line of the book, or explore the read-a-likes, genre and hand drawn pictures to select your date. No peeking!

2. Check out the book by placing it on the self check scanner or checking out at the Circulation desk - no need to unwrap the book now! 

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who have been recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) as Youth Media Award winners! Each year the ALA honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. These prestigious awards include the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards "encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media." 

As much as staff enjoy a good novel, we also like to learn and laugh with some of the great nonfiction in our collection.

Do you ever find yourself wondering, “have I read this before?” Or, “what was that book my friend mentioned?”

A book journal is a fun way to track what you’re reading and remember what you want to read next. If your New Year’s resolution is to read more, a book journal is a great way to stay motivated!

Some people keep a simple list of titles, while others like to illustrate their journals or include their favorite quotes to reflect on later.

As we reflect on 2021, we would like to take time to remember the authors and public figures who left us this year. Our list below just scratches the surface. View more notable deaths on comprehensive lists from The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly to look back at more iconic individuals who passed this year. 

Each year, we like to ask the staff what their favorite reads have been. This year, we asked about movies and television as well - look for that in a future post! 

Many of our fiction lovers were passionate about the favorite books they read this year:

Ever wonder what the most popular books in the library are during the year? Here's the breakdown of the top 10 most circulated items in adult fiction, young adult fiction and children's fiction! 

Adult Fiction: 

1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune 

What do the novels Water for Elephants, The Night Circus, Fangirl and