Library News

News

2024 Black Arts Festival Call for Artists and Jurors

Black Arts Festival Call for Artists

Central Iowa visual and performing artists are invited to apply to have their work featured on April 20, 2024, at the Black Arts Festival at Ames Public Library.

This family-friendly event will celebrate and promote greater awareness and appreciation of the artistic and cultural contrib...

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RAYGUN Ames Public Library Shirts

Ames Public Library + RAYGUN

RAYGUN and the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation are teaming up to bring you the greatest Ames Public Library shirts in the universe!

Now you can buy locally-printed, library-themed shirts for yourself, friends, and family with 40% of the price benefiting Ames Public Library. ...

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Library Notes

2024 Black Arts Festival

Black Arts Festival at the Ames Public Library

By Emma Bravard

Stocked on our shelves are stories from individuals and communities located all around the globe. They are stories that inspire greatness, encourage learning, bring new perspectives, amplify often unheard voices, and so much more between their pages. They gather here together i...

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First Amendment Days: Pun-damental Rights

Humor Me: First Amendment Days 2024

By Anessa Olson

Parody, satire, and comedy have always been at the forefront of the First Amendment. This year, the 22nd annual First Amendment Days will explore the freedom to laugh.  Join Ames Public Library and Iowa State University for a series of events that celebrate comedy and the ...

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Solar Eclipse 2024!

Eclipse Time!

by Ellen Wanamaker

In a few days, millions of Americans will see a total solar eclipse. The path of totality will cross 15 states on April 8th. To see the spectacle in totality, Iowans will have to travel a few hours, but if you stay in Ames, you’ll still witness about 85% of the sun ecli...

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Upcoming Events

Teen Videogames

4:00pm - 6:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Teen Space
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Meetup
Program Details:
  Need a brain break? Teens are invited to hang out and play videogames in the Teen Space! A virtual reality system will be available to try out too.   ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

The Bridge Home

4:00pm - 7:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Lisa Fawcett Nilsson Study Room - 2nd Floor
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Social Services
Program Details:
  Ames Public Library is partnering with The Bridge Home to provide easy access to critical services. Staff from The Bridge Home will be available in the Library to assist individuals and families on the verge of—or experiencing—homelessnes...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Baby Time

6:00pm - 6:30pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Meetup, Storytime
Program Details:
  Bring your pre-walker to the Library for stories, songs, and baby sign language. Join with other caregivers and older siblings for 20 minutes of fun and learning. Feel free to bring a stuffed animal or doll for the older sibling to learn ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Dale H. Ross Board Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Boards/Government

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Storybook Science

10:30am - 11:00am
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Meetup, Storytime
Program Details:
  Families are invited to get hands-on with a fun science activity for all ages!   ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

The Bridge Home

11:00am - 2:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Lisa Fawcett Nilsson Study Room - 2nd Floor
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Social Services
Program Details:
  Ames Public Library is partnering with The Bridge Home to provide easy access to critical services. Staff from The Bridge Home will be available in the Library to assist individuals and families on the verge of—or experiencing—homelessnes...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Teen Anime Club

4:00pm - 6:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Teen Space
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts/Crafts, Meetup, Movie
Program Details:
  Join our monthly meetup to watch some anime, talk about your favorite manga, or create your own art and manga. Open to 6th-12th graders. Anime watched is considered to be rated G to PG13.   ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Black Arts Festival

10:15am - 2:45pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Age Group: Family, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts/Crafts, Special Event
Program Details:
  A family-friendly event celebrating the artistic and cultural contributions of African and African American visual and performing artists in the community.   Schedule 10:15–10:55Am Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey (spoken ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Conversation Circles: Russian

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Dale H. Ross Board Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Language Learning, Meetup
Program Details:
  Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Russian. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language.   To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82374666226?pwd=OFpX...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Conversation Circles: French

4:00pm - 5:30pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Dale H. Ross Board Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Language Learning, Meetup
Program Details:
  Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in French. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language.   To join via Zoom, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82374666226?pwd=OFpXL...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Toddler Storytime

10:30am - 11:00am
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Storytime
Program Details:
  Families with toddlers are invited for a storytime filled with music, stories, and fun! Mondays and Wednesdays are the same presentation.   ...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.

Conversation Circles: English

12:30pm - 1:30pm
Library Branch: Ames Public Library
Room: Farwell T. Brown Auditorium
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Language Learning, Meetup
Program Details:
  Gather for casual conversations in English. The focus of this group is to help English Language Learners gain confidence and fluency in a comfortable and fun setting. Library staff will pair native and non-native speakers and provide them...

Ames Public Library connects you to the world of ideas through diverse and inclusive resources and programs. We welcome proposals via our website for programs at www.amespubliclibrary.org/programproposal and exhibits at https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/exhibit-proposal.