Reading Recommendations

Let Us Help You Find Your Next Great Read

Need suggestions for your next great read? Tell us a little about the books you loved (or hated!) and your friendly West Des Moines librarians will get back to you soon with a list of suggestions. You can let us know if you prefer print, digital or either.

Personalized Reading Recommendations

Reader Services

Join a Library Book Club

BookLetters Book Lists

Upcoming Reader Events

Borrow Titles for Your Book Club

Challenge Yourself To Something New

Read Woke Challenge Image

Read Woke Challenge

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Image

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Winter Reading Challenge 2021 Image

Winter Reading Challenge 2021

Find Your Next Book To Read

The WDM Library has several remarkable resources to help you discover your Next Great Read or to learn more about your favorite authors.

ABCMouse

Online, interactive curriculum for children ages 2–8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art and music.

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EBSCOHost

Powerful tool for article searches in magazines, newspaper and journals. Search, print, download, cite.

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EBSCOHost Espanol

Quizás nuestra herramienta de búsqueda más poderosa para artículos de todo tipo.

Un grupo de bases de datos que cubren publicaciones periódicas (revistas, periódicos) sobre una variedad de temas.

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Flipster

Digital magazine service – via computer or mobile device.

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Gale Books & Authors

Gale Books and Authors

Access your next great read via author search, title and series search. Great for book reports and other homework.

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Great Courses Library Collection

The Great Courses Library Collection

Unlimited access to engaging professors covering a wide variety of topics.

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Hoopla

Hoopla Digital offers access to eBooks, Audiobooks, Comics, Movies, TV and Music – all streaming, all available 24/7 (no holds). For WDM Residents.

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Literary Reference Center Plus

Literary Reference Center powered by EBSCOhost

Searchable and browse-able database of literary criticism, reviews, author biographies and more.

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Novelist Plus

A reader’s advisory tool for finding a great book to read! You can search by title, author, genre (mystery, sci-fi, romance) or series.

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Great Websites for Readers

AALBC.com

The African American Literature Book Club, with author information, book reviews, and more.

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Abe books

New, used, rare, and out of print books

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Ad All

Book search and price comparison

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Alibris

Another site for used, rare, out-of-print books. Great for checking pricing of collectible books.

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Amazon Kindle eBooks

Amazon's kindle book site

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AudioFile

Audiobook reviews and recommendations

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Barnes and Noble Nook

B & N's Nook site

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Barnes and Noble Review

Barnes and Noble's online review site and source for book review podcasts.

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Bartleby.com

Full text of some of literature’s most famous works. Arranged alphabetically by author. Also great source of Quotations, Proverbs and more.

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