In This Day and Page

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with four library staff members in honor of National Library Week. First, we’ll speak with Susan Greenwood, the Library’s Administrative Secretary. Next we’ll chat with Megan Hartman, a Youth Services Assistant. Third on the list is Rachel Bussan, our Collection Services Specialist. And last but certainly not least we’ll talk with Chris Mortimore, one of our hardworking Circulation Clerks. National Library Week is a yearly, week-long celebration that highlights our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions and promotes library use and support.

In today’s episode, we sat down with author Kali White VanBaale. Kali will be the guest author at our upcoming Friends Foundation Author Event on Tuesday, February 28 from 6:45 – 8:00 PM. Not only is Kali local to Des Moines, but she is the recipient of the American Book Award and the Iowa Arts Council major artist grant. She has published three books and her latest is titled The Monsters We Make. 

In today’s episode, we sat down with author Kay Fenton Smith. Kay co-wrote the book “Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Food Competitions” with Carol McGarvey. The book highlights the history, stories, and recipes from the very first Iowa State Fair up through present day. Kay will be at the library on Sunday, December 11 speaking about her book and giving guests a taste of the book’s blue-ribbon donuts! 

In today’s episode, we sat down with two members of the WDM Library Friend Foundation Board, Kate Amdor and Heather Martin, to learn more about the upcoming Friends of the Library Book Sale! The largest book sale of the year will be taking place in the library’s community room on Thursday, December 1 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, Friday, December 2 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, and Saturday, December 3 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

In today’s episode, we sat down with Kate Thompson, one of our Adult Services Assistants, to learn more about the upcoming Great Books Showcase: Holiday Edition on November 7 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM! Listen on to get a sneak preview of the event and learn some tips and tricks to find your next great read.

In today’s episode, we sat down with our Youth Services Summer Intern Elizabeth Lovell in honor of National Intern Day! She spoke with us about her experience working at the West Des Monies Public Library for the summer as well as plans for her future.

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 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 featuring Ann Renken, it is Episode 11 found here: https://anchor.fm/wdmlibrary/episodes/Episode-11-The-Care-and-Keeping-of-Library-Materials-and-YOU--November-15--2021-e1a6mlp 

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 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 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 hosting a Beginners Yoga and Mindfulness four-week program starting on Saturday, November 27th. 

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, United Way, Microsoft and Google Fiber. I was able to chat with Jodi, five of the teens who are currently participating in the program, and Jennifer Hahn, the Director of Youth Justice Initiative. 

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 here from 10:30 – 11:30 AM that morning.

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.

Welcome to In This Day and Page! For our kickoff episode, we are speaking with Jenna Ehler (West Des Moines Public Library's Head of Youth Services) and local teen Cece to talk about all things books, the West Des Moines Public Library, and the Summer Reading Program.