Library News
FY2022 In Review
We rounded out the end of our Fiscal Year in June 2022. 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 1,750 volunteer hours served in the library, and having 21,931 event attendees!
West Des Moines Public Library Receives Accreditation from the State Library of Iowa
The State Library of Iowa has announced that the West Des Moines Public Library has met the conditions for state accreditation as outlined in “In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards Sixth Edition.”
WDM Public Library Raises Unattended Minor Age from Eight to 10 Years Old
At the April 19 meeting of the West Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees, the Board voted to raise the age at which children may be alone at the library from eight years of age to 10 years of age. The Board also decided that those acting as caregivers for younger patrons must be 14 years or older.
According to the library’s policies, parents, guardians, and caregivers must:
Parking Lot Repairs Start Monday, April 25
Repairs will be made to the West Des Moines Public Library's parking lot starting on Monday, April 25. These repairs will be made in a four-phased approach to allow patrons and staff to access the library throughout the renovation. Our book drop and entrance will always be accessible throughout this 6-8 week renovation process.
Please refer to the image below to understand which areas of the lot will be closed at different times. We will update this article as we hear firm dates for the other phases moving forward.
What's Important To You? Take Our Planning Survey Now!
We're asking for five minutes of your time to complete this survey and help guide the future of our public library.
None of questions require a response but it would help the library if you would answer each question.
Your responses to this survey are confidential.
New Literacy at the Library Series Kicks Off!
While we might think of “literacy” as simply knowing how to read, literacy also means knowledge on a particular subject or field. Would you like to become literate in certain music genres? Learn how to “read” a prairie? Become a craft beer expert?
OverDrive Transitioning Users Completely to Libby App
Some of our patrons who utilize our eContent services may have noticed some changes to OverDrive. This is because, as of February 23, OverDrive has started to transition all users to the Libby app.
YA Lambda Finalists 2022
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
Library Board Reflection: Making a Difference in West Des Moines
by Bryan Myers, WDM Library Board of Trustees
Franklin D Roosevelt said, “I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them.” This still rings true today; the quality of our community in total is directly correlated to the quality of our public library and I, though not a librarian, take a direct part in maintaining that quality as a library Trustee.
Where to Watch Oscar Nominated Films
The 94th Academy Awards presentation is scheduled for Sunday, March 27 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.
Book Madness! 2022 Book Bracket Challenge
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!
Thank you all for your participation! We're excited to announce that the winner is...
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig!
Ride DART for FREE with your WDM Library Card! February 27 - March 5, 2022
The West Des Moines Public Library is partnering with DART to celebrate Read Across America Week! Use your library card to ride FREE on DART’s Local and Express routes, On Call service and DART On Demand February 27 – March 5.
Des Moines Register Moving to a Digital-Only Saturday Edition on March 12
Beginning March 12, 2022, The Des Moines Register will transition from delivering the Saturday print edition to providing subscribers with a full Saturday electronic edition (e-Edition).
Patrons will still be able to access the Saturday paper online via our website. The digital archives of The Des Moines Register are available from 2005 - present.
How to Watch the 2022 Oscar Nominated Films
Wanting to watch the 2022 Academy Award Nominated films before the Oscars air on Sunday, March 27? See which films you can check out from the West Des Moines Public Library and where you can stream others.
BEST PICTURE NOMINATIONS
WDM Library Patron Needs Survey
The library wants to know what you need and how they can help! Please complete this quick, anonymous survey to let your voice count.