In This Day and Page

In today’s episode, we sat down with the library’s two Teen Library Assistants, Hailey McKinney and Sarah Allen. Hailey and Sarah shared about their role and how they work together to engage our teen patrons. We're also celebrating the year anniversary of our podcast and are happy to share we have moved officially into season 2! Thanks for joining us on this journey. 

In today’s episode, we sat down with Courtney Bench who is an Adult Services Assistant here at the library. Courtney chatted all things crafts with us and highlighted some of the exciting upcoming adult crafting programs on the horizon!

In today’s episode, we sat down with Sara Ennis, an author who recently presented at a Friends Foundation author event here at the library. Sara chatted with us about the process of writing and self-publishing three psychological thrillers in a little under a year. She also gave some wonderful advice for writers who are thinking of making that leap into publishing.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jenna Ehler, Head of Youth Services, and Jen Ohzourk, Head of Adult Services, to get a sneak preview at Summer Reading 2022! Registration opens on May 23rd and you won’t want to miss out on all of the exciting things happening in the library from May 23 – July 30! Learn more about Summer Escape at the West Des Moines Library here: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/sum...

In today’s episode, we sat down with three library staff members to talk about some projects that might surprise patrons that they work on, or, as we like to call them “Other Duties as Assigned.” You’ll hear from Jacob Kirby, Circulation Clerk, Betsy Richter, Homebound and Outreach Assistant, and Max Schafer, Circulation Assistant.  If you want to listen to the podcast about caring for books...

In today’s episode, we sat down with the president of our Library Board of Trustees, Mary Brooks. Mary shares information on the important role that the Board of Trustees plays in the success of the library, and things to look forward to on the next five-year strategic plan. If you would like to take part in our strategic survey, you can do so at this link: https://survey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/for...

In honor of National Library Week, we sat down with four of our library patrons to pick their brains about what inspires them to keep coming back to the library. You’ll hear from Maggie Wyborny, Deb Guntly, Steven Bush and Holly Anderson in today’s episode.

In today’s episode, we sat down with two members of the West Des Moines Public Library Friends Foundation board, Jean Fajen and Kate Amdor. Jean and Kate shared information about the upcoming Wine, Beer and Cheese Fundraiser on April 7, 2022 that anyone can attend as well as a large fundraising push for a new Library Pop-Up Vehicle for the library’s youth services department. Learn more about the...

In today’s episode, we sat down with Kate Thompson, Adult Services Assistant, who is one of the presenting speakers for our Job Smarts series here at the library. Kate talked about each of the upcoming sessions in March including: Job Training with Library Resources, How to Interview and Negotiate, and Job Searching: Tips on What NOT to do. If you'd like to register to attend these sessions, pleas...

In today’s episode, we sat down with local author Aaron Putze. Aaron has authored two books—Destined for Greatness: The Story of Chuck Long & Resurgence of Iowa Hawkeyes’ Football, and YOU Are Destined for Greatness: Stories of Inspiration and Empowerment. We are delighted to have Aaron as a presenting speaker for a Friends Foundation author event this evening, February 22. 

In today’s episode, we sat down with Louise Alcorn, the library’s Technology Coordinator. Louise shared what excites her most about library technology and highlights some hidden gems that we have available FOR FREE to patrons that they might not be aware of. All of the databases mentioned by Louise can be found by visiting: https://www.wdmlibrary.org/digital-library

In today’s episode, we sat down with the Director of the West Des Moines Public Library, Darryl Eschete. As we spoke, Darryl shared about his responsibility to promote intellectual freedom within his public institution and the negative effects of censorship. Read Darryl's article about Forrest Spaulding published on the The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association's blog...

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jean Fajen, President of the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation Board. Jean talked with us about her tenure as Board President, the impact that the Friends have on the library, and how patrons can become Friends of the library. Become a Friend by visiting wdmlibrary.org/friends .

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jen Ohzourk, the Head of Adult Services here at the library. She shared how she and her team come up with fun events for adult patrons and gave us a little sneak peek into what we can look forward to in 2022. See our full and updated event calendar here: www.wdmlibrary.org/events

In today’s episode, we sat down with New York Times Bestselling Author Tracey Garvis Graves! Tracey recently celebrated the ten-year anniversary of her breakout hit debut novel, On The Island, and her latest book, Heard It in a Love Song, released from St. Martin’s press on November 9. 

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Head of Collection Services, Ann Renken, to learn more about the care and upkeep of library materials. We also sat down with Meetu Sharma, one of our Circulation Clerks who is also Yoga Alliance Certified, about the care and upkeep of YOU. She focused on some simple mindfulness and yoga techniques that we can all use in our every day lives. Meetu will be ho...

In today’s episode, we sat down with a handful of people to highlight a new program being offered here at the library: Tech Help with Teens - a program designed to pair trained teen technicians with library patrons who have specific questions about technology. This program was created by its supervisor, Jodi Tschudin, and is sponsored by the City of West Des Moines, Youth Justice Initiative, Unite...

In today’s episode, we sat down with award-winning picture book author Lydia M. Sigwarth. Lydia’s book, Dear Librarian , offers a moving true story about a child experiencing homelessness who finds a safe haven in her local library.  We are so honored that Lydia will be joining us here at the West Des Moines Public Library on Monday, October 25 for a storytime and book signing! She will be he...

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with author Jay Kasperbauer who spoke at a recent WDM Library Friends Foundation event. His debut novel, Perlie, follows Perlie, a scrutinized convict struggling with identity and reestablishment after a brief prison sentence. 

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with Kate Thompson, Adult Services Assistant, about her research around library programming for Autistic children and teens. Additionally, she will present at the Iowa Library Association conference on how to increase accessibility in the library for Neurodivergent adults. 

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with Nate Huber, Youth Services Assistant at the West Des Moines Public Library, about the library's new Kids Graphic Novel Club Read that he will be starting. The first club meeting will be on September 23 from 4:15 - 5:00 PM and the group will be reading New Kid by Jerry Craft. 

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with the new podcast host, Maggie Martin who is the Information Coordinator at the West Des Moines Public Library about her vision for the podcast moving forward. She'll also chat about her two published Young Adult novels and the writing process! 

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with Betsy Richter (Homebound and Outreach Assistant at the West Des Moines Public Library) about the library's outreach and homebound delivery program.

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with Amy Seufert (Youth Services Assistant at the West Des Moines Public Library) about the summer reading program bonus logs and the summer reading program finale event. After this week, In This Day and Page will switch to an every-other-week schedule.

This week on In This Day and Page, we are talking with Alana Hetland and Amy Scherer about the West Des Moines Public Library's Adult Club Read, touching on subjects such as the book selection process, what a typical meeting looks like, and increased accessibility in the time of Covid.