We Are Closed Today for New Year's

Happy New Year!  All six buildings of the Des Moines Public Library system are closed today.  But you knew that.  Plus, today kicks off 'California Dried Plum Digestive Health Month'.  I hate to quibble with Californians, but isn't a dried plum a prune?  Perhaps a plum by any another name doesn't sound as sweet.  Not only does the mighty dried plum contain lots of fiber, it is chockfull of polyphenols, which are antioxidants!  Make your New Year's resolution all about the dried plum. I'm sure they taste much better than prunes. 

Source:  Chase's Calendar of Events, 2010

Sherlock Holmes. Really.

There may be people attending the new Sherlock Holmes movie under the impression that the film hews, for the most part, to Arthur Conan Doyle's work. Har. (By the way, 'hews' is today's vocabulary word. Use it in a sentence.) Lots of aspects from the stories are included in the movie but not the plot, Irene Adler running around wearing trousers, the whole nun chuck thing, you see where I'm going here. These elements have been made fresh, just for you! Wouldn't it be interesting to read the originals and find out what the heck was really going on? I think so. Here are a few suggestions:

The new annotated Sherlock Holmes 2 volumes!

The adventures and memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

The adventures of Sherlock Holmes

We're Back!

All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library resume normal operation today.  Same old hours, same old services, same old staff.  But it's good that way.  Welcome back!

Closed December 21-27

All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library are closed from Monday, December 21 through Sunday December 27. This closure reflects three days of unpaid furlough for all library employees and is part of the citywide budget reduction. This means that all Library Services are suspended. No staff members are working to maintain and troubleshoot problems on the website, or to provide assistance from the many phone numbers, e-mails, and other informational points listed on the website.

The following services will not be available December 21 - December 27:
:: Online Calendar
:: 24 Hour Automated Telephone Notification System
:: Online Databases
:: Digital Downloads
:: Book returns will be CLOSED

Please do not leave books and materials outside the library locations during the closure as there are no staff to collect them. You will be responsible for theft, loss or damage to materials left outside the library. No Items Are Due While We Are Closed, and No Fines Will Accrue.
:: No access to the online catalog. You will not be able to search the catalog, place holds on materials, or check your library account. No staff members are working to maintain the systems, or to process the thousands of books and materials that our customers normally place on hold each day.

We'll be back December 28th!

Holiday Games

Would you like to play some Wreath/Menorha/Mishumaa Saba games? We found some!
Which Christmas Character Are You?

Hanukkah Quiz 

Kwanzaa Quiz 

FYI, in a 'Nightmare before Christmas' character quiz, I am Sally the Ragdoll.  Sigh.  Niceness is my curse.

Remember, we're completely closed December 21-27.

Closing, Closing, Closed! December 21-27

Okay, here it is:
All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library will be closed from Monday, December 21 through Sunday December 27. This closure reflects three days of unpaid furlough for all library employees and is part of the citywide budget reduction. This means that all Library Services will be suspended. No staff members will be working to maintain and troubleshoot problems on the website, or to provide assistance from the many phone numbers, e-mails, and other informational points listed on the website.
The following services will not be available December 21 - December 27:
:: Online Calendar
:: 24 Hour Automated Telephone Notification System
:: Online Databases
:: Digital Downloads
:: Book returns will be CLOSED
Please do not leave books and materials outside the library locations during the closure as there will be no staff to collect them. You will be responsible for theft, loss or damage to materials left outside the library. No Items Will Be Due While We Are Closed, and No Fines Will Accrue.
:: No access to the online catalog.  You will not be able to search the catalog, place holds on materials, or check your library account. No staff members will be working to maintain the systems, or to process the thousands of books and materials that our customers normally place on hold each day.
We'll be back December 28th!

Do it Cheap

Have you noticed money's been a little tight lately?  In the spirit of 'doing our part', we offer books that can assist you in getting through the holidays on the cheap.  Actually, I'm in favor of cheap all the time.  But it's hard at the holidays when you want to make your loved ones happy and your pockets are not stuffed with dough.  There are books with advice, tips, instructions, books that are chockfull of helpfulness!  We have lots, but here's a start:

Party central : a month-by-month guide to entertaining on the cheap

365 ways to live cheap : by Hamm, Trent.

Money saving meals / by Lee, Sandra.

Heart-Warming

The temperature is plummeting, we're buried in snow, how to stave off the cold?  Other than adding more layers.  We can't do much for your frozen fingers, but the cockles of your heart are all ours.  Have you read the Chicken Soup books?  And were you aware that they are a major industry all by their lonesome?  Oh my yes.  We have Chicken Soup for:  the African American Woman's Soul; for the Baseball Lover's Soul.  I had no idea how much they suffer.  Even though some of my friends are Cubs fans.  Chicken Soup for the fisherman's soul, for the gardener's soul, for the horse lover's soul!  Maybe these are more about appreciation than comfort.  There are also volumes for very serious subjects, like Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul.  If anyone could use a little support, it would be a caregiver.  But where's the one for me, the Chocolate-Loving Couch Potato?  I'll just have to be patient.
Chicken Soup Books

Almost Gold - what your library card is worth

This is so fun!  In order to find out the monetary value your library card provides, you input your library usage - like times you've used online resources, programs you've attended, and so much more!   I read a lot, so my value was $565 for one month!     Pretty darn impressive!  But for books and DVD's , I did enter the number of items I check out in a month instead of how often I check out in a month.  Is that cheating?  See what you think, try out the Library Value Calculator.  If you count the whole family you could really rack it up!