Beyond the Shelves: A Podcast from the Des Moines Public Library

On the newest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah talk with Kathleen, a Central Library Librarian that works with The Library of Things and Tech Central. She talks about developing the Library of Things, what items are most popular, how they decide what to purchase, and more! Borrow items from the Library of Things Borrow Board Games Borrow Family Board Games   What Everyone's Reading Two...

In honor of Disability Pride Month, Jes and Sarah are discussing some of their favorite books that center characters with disabilities. They also discuss the history of Disability Pride Month and the importance of audiobooks. You can also listen to the podcast on YouTube .   Disability Pride Month Picks: Get a Life, Chloe Brown , by Talia Hibbert Being Heumann , by Judith Huemann Golem Girl , by R...

Local sportscaster and debut author Scott Reister joins us on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Reister's new middle grade novel, Baseball Spy , was one of the bestselling baseball books for kids up on its debut in April. Scott says the idea for this book has been in his head since he was taking little league at-bats. Scott talks about turning the idea into the novel, including how librarian...

We're celebrating Pride Month on Beyond the Shelves! Jes and Sarah have combed through our catalog and found some of the best titles for kids this month. These books tell LGBTQ+ stories and celebrate sexuality and gender orientation. Happy Pride!   Show Notes Book Picks Kid/Picture Books The Good Hair Day, by Christian Trimmer (he/him) and illustrated by J Yang (he/him) Free to be Fabulous! , by D...

Upcoming AViD author Joyce Carol Oates joins us on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast! She talks about her latest book,  Butcher , writing about the dark side of the human psyche, and how exercise helps her writing process. Joyce Carol Oates will be at the Central Library on Thursday, May 30, at 7 PM for AViD. The event will be moderated by  Talk of Iowa  host Charity Nebbe.   Show Notes Joyce...

On the latest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah discuss Book Chat , a reader's advisory service at the Des Moines Public Library. They talk about how to use it, why it's helpful, how they assign Book Chat requests, and more. Plus, an extra long Book Bulletin where we run through some of the controversies and news in the literary world. Watch the podcast on YouTube >>> What Jes and Sarah...

AViD author Gregg Hurwitz joins the DMPL Podcast today! The bestselling author of the Orphan X series chats with host Aaron Gernes about the thriller writer community, his friendship with fellow AViD author Nick Petrie, and some of the elements behind the Orphan X series. Hurwitz and Petrie will be at the Central Library on Thursday, May 2, at 7 PM for AViD! Doors open at 6 PM. More information ca...

On the latest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah time travel through the decades, picking a plethora of books set in the past 60 years. Plus, Book Bulletin features the inaugural Libby Awards - what they like, what they don't like, and what they have an issue with!   What They're Reading Where the Lost Wander , by Amy Harmon Clean Sweep , by Ilona Andrews The Fragile Threads of Power , b...

Jes and Sarah are joined by DMPL Systems Administrator Katie on the newest epsiode of Beyond the Shelves! Katie knows all the numbers and stats about the library that you can imagine, and she gives us some fun facts about circulation, programs, technolgoy, and more. It's a great peak behind the curtain about parts of the library you probably don't know about! Also, what famous author recently said...

Secret Iowa  author Megan Bannister joins the DMPL Podcast. She discusses traveling across the state to discover the fun, unknown sites featured in this book, her favorite roads in Iowa, and what famous authors she outsold at a bookstore in Iowa last year. Show Notes Secret Iowa  at the library Iowa Supper Clubs , by Megan Bannister Megan Bannister's website

It's February, and love is in the air! Get your HEA (happily ever after) by listening to Sarah, a romance aficionado, and Jes discuss the history of the romance genre, current trends, cross-genre romance books, and what some of their favorite stories are within different romance tropes.   Currently Reading The Book the Wouldn't Burn ,  by Mark Lawrence Ruthless Vows ,  by Rebecca Ross Beautyland ,...

Welcome to the New Year! On the latest episode of 2024, Jes and Sarah review their 2023 reading goals and talk about what they want to do in 2024.   Show notes What they're reading: The Berry Pickers , by Amanda Peters Mall Goth , by Kate Leth If You'll Have Me , by Eunnie A Guest in the House , by Emily Carroll Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries , by Heather Fawcett Seven Days in June , by Ti...

On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, hosts Jess and Sarah talk about their favorite books of 2023, as well as some of the most common books on the best of 2023 lists across the book media sphere.   Show Notes   What They're Reading Bookshops & Bonedust , by Travis Baldree Calamity , by Constance Fay Assistant to the Villain , by Hannah Nicole Maehrer The Quiet Tenant , by Clemence Michallon...

Andrew Sean Greer, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel  Less , its sequel Less is Lost , and four other novels, is the keynote speaker at this year's 23rd annual Iowa Author Awards Dinner. He speaks with host Aaron Gernes about the surprise that is winning the Pulitzer Prize, what it's like to sit as a judge for a major literary award, and what he's going to talk about this Friday in Des Mo...

On the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast, host Aaron Gernes speaks with one of the headliners at this year's Community Table Festival, Toni Simmons. Simmons is a longtime professional storyteller who has traveled across the country, telling stories and hosting workshops on storytelling. During the podcast, Toni discusses what storytelling is and how it differs from something like a one-person sho...

On this month's Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah are talking all things spooky season. They discuss some of their favorite horror movies and TV shows and the book adaptations that go along with them.   Show Notes Spooky Season Books The Haunting of Hill House , by Shirly Jackson Netflix The Turn of the Screw , by Henry James Netflix (as  The Haunting of Bly Manor ) The Fall of the House of Usher...

Jes and Sarah are taking us back to middle school this month! They're talking about some of their favorite books from when they were in middle school and giving you some readalikes for those books today!   Show Notes   Middle School Books and Readalikes   Weetzie Bat , by Francesca Lia Block One Last Stop , by Casey McQuiston Stray City , by Chelsey Johnson   Shadow Children series, by Margaret Pe...

We're talking Vacation Reads on the newest episode of Beyond the Shelves! Jes and Sarah are talking about what makes a great vacation read, as well as some great "escapism" books if you can't get out on vacation for awhile. Plus, what they're reading, best bets, and first dibs!   Show Notes Vacation Read Recs Dial A for Aunties , by Jesse Q. Sutanto The Dead Romantics , by Ashley Poston Escapism B...

Jes and Sarah are joined by special guest Paige on the latest episode of Beyond the Shelves! This month they're talking all about being a librarian - why they became one, what their day-to-day is like, and they share some fun stories about working on the floor. Don't forget - Summer Reading is underway! Adults can take part in the Summer Checkout Challenge, and kids can take part in the Summer Rea...

Jes and Sarah are back and celebrating Pride with a super-sized episode! They'll share some of their favorite joyful LGBTQIA+ related titles in a variety of genres. Plus, here what they're reading right now, and stick around for a couple new segments - First Dibs and Best Bets. Don't forget - Summer Reading is underway! Adults can take part in the Summer Checkout Challenge, and kids can take part...

AViD Author Emily St. John Mandel joins host Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Mandel will be in Des Moines at the Central Library on Wednesday, May 10, at 7 PM. Doors open at 6 PM. During the podcast, she discusses the simulation hypothesis, revisiting characters, and the ways in which being born Canadian impacts how she views America, the country she calls home now. Show No...

On the newest episode of Beyond the Shelves, Jes and Sarah talk about reading logs, why you might want to track your reading, and all the different ways you can track and apps you can use to do so. Show Notes   Ways to Track Your Reading: Book Riot's Spreadsheet  (Google Doc) Goodreads The StoryGraph LibraryThing Beanstack   What Sarah and Jes are reading: Rust , by Eliese Colette Goldbach Soul Ta...

AViD Author J. Ryan Stradal joins host Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Stradal will be at the Central Library on Monday, May 1, at 7 PM for the program. During the podcast, Stradal talks about what he misses about the midwest, the  Succession- esque struggles of family business, and how the first chapter in  Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club was inspired by emotion...

Innocence Project attorney and criminal justice advocate M. Chris Fabricant takes part in the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Fabricant is the author of  Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System , a book that highlights the flaws and outright fabrications inherent in forensic sciences and how they put innocent people not only behind bars, but on death row. Fabricant talks with hos...

Jes and Sarah are back for another episdoe of Beyond the Shelves! This month, they're talking about cross-genre book picks and discussing how you can use the free database Novelist to find books you'll enjoy. Show Notes Novelist Books mentioned Gideon the Ninth  by Tamsyn Muir The Golden Spoon  by Jessa Maxwell Don't Fear the Reaper  by Stephen Graham Jones Upgrade  by Blake Crouch Bloodmarked by...