Authors and Actors at Your Local Library this Fall! The weather is starting to cool, which means it’s time to head inside, and down to the Central Library to check out the author and actor events happening this fall. Monday, September 22, 7:00 PM Meet author Stephen Bloom and photographer Peter Feldstein who will discuss their collaboration on The Oxford Project, a photography study of a small Iowa town that spans more than twenty years. Monday, October 6, 7:00 PM Mark your calendar for a visit by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo, on book tour for his newest novel, Bridge of Sighs. This is a free AViD Extra! event and will be held at the Hoyt Sherman Place Theater. Books will be available for sale and signing. Tuesday, October 14 Actor, writer, filmmaker, and inspirational speaker Duffy Hudson will present In the Shadow of the Raven a one-man play about the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, including dramatic interpretations of some of his most famous works: Annabel Lee, The Raven, and The Tell-Tale Heart at the Central Library at 6:30 PM. (Teens are invited to celebrate Teen Read Week with a program just for them from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.) Authors Laura Lee Guhrke and Julia Quinn will discuss their latest romance novels at the East Side Library at 7:00 PM. Gurhke is a USA Today bestselling author, and will read from her latest work, Secret Desires of a Gentleman. Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author and will read excerpts from her latest novel, Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. Thursday, October 23, at 7:00 PM Author Don Lago will discuss his book, On the Viking Trail: Travels in Scandinavian America. The book—part memoir, part travel journalism, and part socio-historical study—follows Lago’s path as he traces his ancestral roots, exploring all facets of Scandinavian America along the way. Monday, October 27, at 6:30 PM Iowa-based fantasy writer Sarah Prineas will talk about her new book, The Magic Thief, the first of a new young adult trilogy that has been compared to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series. Wednesday, October 29, at 7:00 PM Political writer and author of the novel Neither Liberal Nor Conservative Be, Larry R. Bradley, will discuss the problems with polarized politics, and how the average voter can make a difference. Books will be available for sale after the reading. Sunday, November 2, at 2:30 PM Author Kao Kalia Yang will discuss her new memoir, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, a great book for book discussion groups. Writer Yang lyrically describes her family’s struggles to hold onto each other and their Hmong culture as they escape war-torn Laos into the overcrowded refugee camps of Thailand before finally immigrating to Minnesota. Thursday, November 6, at 7:00 PM Author, editor, and professor Douglas Bauer will read from the new and expanded edition of his memoir, Prairie City, Iowa: Three Seasons at Home. Thursday, November 13, at 6:30 PM Iowa librarian Vicki Myron will be at the Franklin Avenue Library on Thursday, November 13, at 6:30 PM to talk about Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. Myron’s story follows how a stray kitten found abandoned in her library’s book drop went on to become the library’s mascot and a symbol of the small town’s recovery.

“Welcome to Medicare” Seminar Offered at Central Library Are you going to be eligible for Medicare in the near future? Have you been on Medicare for a while and want to better understand what it offers? Do you have a family member that you help with Medicare issues? "Welcome to Medicare" is for you! This free two-hour seminar presented by Wayne Adair, a SHIIP counselor, will be held Saturday September 20, 2008 from 10:00 AM-noon at the Central Library in Meeting Room One. Please register by September 19 by calling 515-283-4152 ext. 3, or sign up online at: http://events.desmoineslibrary.com/aspx/events/default.aspx?eid=968 Medicare is such an important program and understanding what it offers helps assure that anyone eligible gets the health benefits they deserve. "Welcome to Medicare" will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance. SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP counselors are trained by the state and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies, or agents. The Des Moines Public Library is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Polk county.

Hobbit Party at Franklin Avenue Library Do you like The Hobbit? If so, join us for snacks, a chat about the book, and a chance to win tickets to see The Hobbit at the Des Moines Playhouse in October. The fun happens on Thursday, September 25, at 4:00 PM at the Franklin Avenue Library. The Hobbit is the beginning of the Literature Alive program. This library and theater partnershipis specifically designed to engage children in the creative process of transforming the written word into live theater. The Playhouse will be highlighting six plays based on award-winning children’s books, and the library will feature book discussions, movies, crafts and special guest appearances by Playhouse cast members of these plays. The events will take place between September 2008 and April 2009, and children attending library events highlighting the shows will be eligible to enter a drawing to win free tickets to the Playhouse production.

Book Discussion at East Side Library Wednesday, September 17, at 2:00 PM, a discussion of the book Beneath a Marble Sky, by John Shors will take place at the East Side Library. Come discuss this novel about the epic construction of the Taj Mahal. Snacks will be provided.

Computer Help Available at the Library If you need help with computer-related questions, the Des Moines Public Library is here to help with computer classes in September. Each class discusses a different topic, which means you’ll be able to find the perfect one for you and your computer knowledge level.Preregistration is required for all classes. Central Library: Thursday, September 18, 3:00 PM – Search Engines Receive a brief introduction to browsing the Internet with a search engine. Must be familiar with the mouse and keyboard. South Side Library: Monday, September 22, 9:00 AM – Library Catalog Learn to use the library catalog. Limit two per class. East Side Library: Thursday, September 18, 11:00 AM – Car Repair and the Internet Learn how to use the Auto Repair Reference Center database, so that you can begin to repair your car at home. Thursday, September 25, 3:00 PM – Introduction to the Internet Receive basic Internet instruction. To preregister for any event call (515) 283-4152, ext. 3.

Find your Long-Lost Relatives Wondering if you should take that trip to Florence, Italy to look for your long-lost, third cousin? Now you can find out with the help of the Central Library. Wednesday, September 24, at 6:30 PM, Central Library will teach you how to use online resources and the LDS Family History Library resources to track down those hard to find family members. Then you can jump on that plane and head off for a meet and greet with your new-found family, and eat a slice of pizza, of course.

Teens! Excitement Abounds at Your Local Library School may be fully underway, but there are some great events at your local library to keep you entertained on those nights you don’t have too much homework to finish. Tuesday, September 16: Zine Club meets at 3:30 PM at the Central Library. Teens interested in writing about anime and manga may join our teen zine in Meeting Room Three. Thursday, September 18: Library staff and Des Moines Knitting Guild members will be on hand at 3:30 PM at the Central Library to help the Teen and Tween Knitting club with projects and teach new techniques, so bring your knitting needles and yarn and join in. Beginners are welcome. It all happens on the first floor, outside the children’s area. Thursday, September 18: Play Rock Band at 3:00 PM at the South Side Library Friday, September 19: Come play Wii at the Franklin Avenue Library at 1:00 PM. Enjoy Guitar Hero, bowling, golf, and other games. Thursday, September 25: Discuss the book Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli and eat some pizza at 3:00 PM at the South Side Library. Books are available at the information desk. Friday, September 26: Play Rock Band at 3:30 PM at the North Side Library.

Fantastic Fossils at Central Library Come to the Central Library on Saturday, September 20, at 10:00 AM to learn about fossils found in Iowa with Ed Peterson. This is a great program for school-aged kids interested in dinosaurs and fossils!

Become a Friend of the Library Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at 2:00 PM. New members are welcome.