Library Blog

Easton students, find your school-assigned summer reading at the Ames Free Library! Oliver Ames High School students can find their books on the cart in the Teen Den, Southeastern Regional students can find their books on the display shelves outside the Teen Den, and Easton Middle School students…

Looking for something new and different? This month's batch of NEW YA Fiction can be found on the shelves just off the adult fiction section. Come check one out!  Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. Then an old servant…

If you're a fantasy fan, you'll want to grab one of the newest additions to our collection - Adventures in Thousandworld: the Darkenstar by Joseph A. Davis. We have three copies currently available in Youth Services. Check one out!  This coming Saturday, October 9, at 11 AM, we'll tune in on Zoom…

Banned Books Week (September 26 - October 2, 2021) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers,…

We’ve purchased some new additions to our Graphic Novel and Manga collections! If you have any suggestions or series you’d like to see, please email teens@amesfreelibrary.org and let us know. Fence by C.S. Pacat Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing…

Once your assigned summer reading is done, check out our NEW YA BOOKS for some fun summer reading. There's something for everyone! An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi In the wake of 9/11, Shadi, a child of Muslim immigrants, tries to navigate her crumbling world of death, heartbreak, and…

Looking for something fresh? Check out one of these fun summer reads!  One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva  When Alek's high-achieving, Armenian-American parents send him to summer school, he thinks his summer is ruined. But then he meets Ethan, who opens his world in a series of truly unexpected ways…

Perfect On Paper by Sophie Gonzales Seventeen-year-old Darcy Phillips, a bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates, is hired by the "hot" guy at school to help him get his ex back.     In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens Sixteen-year-old Prince Tal is on his long-awaited coming-…

  Welcome to the Ames Free Library Summer Reading Program for Teens! We've posted a list of your summer reading requirements from OAHS for you to start with. Interested in winning some prizes too? Have a look at our Summer Reading Program details below...   CALLING ALL TEENS 13 - 18 YEARS OLD!…

Spring is in the air! New buds on the trees, new flowers in the yard... new teen books in the library!   The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris  Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus's curse of seeing the future distracts him from being and doing his best, but when he sees his little brother Isaiah's…

Becky Albertalli is an American author of young adult fiction, known for Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which was adapted into the 2018 film Love, Simon and inspired the spin-off television series Love, Victor.   We have many of her books available for checkout in the Teen Den, or you can…

Teens! Do you know... *How do you apply for financial aid?*What types of financial aid are available?*What is the FAFSA?*What is the deadline for the FAFSA?*Who qualifies for the FAFSA?   If these are some questions you or your parents have please join the FREE Zoom College Financing Program hosted…

Time MARCHes on (haha, see what we did there?), and though you still can't get into the Teen Den, you can find great new reads on our temporary YA shelf in the corner of the Fiction Room on the first floor. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Infinity Reaper by Adam Silvera sequel to Infinity…

Have you been in to the library lately? We're open, and even though the Teen Den isn't open for browsing, we're still curating a great collection for you. Check out what's new below, then place a hold or come in to the library to pick it up! Lore by Alexandra Bracken Every seven years there is a…

Take your remote schooling to a whole new level! AFL has a new database to support your academics.  Brainfuse HelpNow offers on-demand, personalized tutoring for K-12 students and adult learners. Log in with your library card* to access live tutoring, asynchronous study support, skills building…

Kiersten White is a writer of young-adult fiction covering a variety of genres (fantasy, historical fiction, paranormal); and she also wrote a middle-grade novel of funny fairy tales. She lives with her family in San Diego, CA. Find out more about all of Ms. White’s books on her blog. Check out…

Practice self-love and take care of yourself with some YOGA! Check out the links below to get started! https://yogawithadriene.com/yoga-for-teens/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kJgTouHHeE

I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson Available on Overdrive/Libby A story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal told from different points in time, and in separate voices, by artists Jude and her twin brother Noah.     When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk In New York City, follows the…

Now that school is back in session it’s time to bring back TAB! Our first meeting will be Wednesday, October 21st at 4pm. Join us on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/98314449561?pwd=S0crTUp6SlVkREZKandPYzQzS0didz09 By joining the AFL Teen Advisory Board, teens can: Help plan events and programs at the…

Andrea Nicole Livingstone (born July 10, 1985), known as Nic Stone, is an American New York Times best-selling author of young adult fiction, best known for her debut novel Dear Martin. Boston Public Library is holding a Zoom event for teens only with Ms. Stone on Monday October 19th at 12pm. If…

Banned Books Week (September 27 - October 3, 2020) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers,…

Teen (YA) nonfiction books can be found shelved in the Barrel Vault Room at the Ames Free Library along with general adult nonfiction. This collection is currently open for browsing.   Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy  Edited by Kelly Jensen  Thirty-seven contributors-including…

School starts tomorrow, even if it looks a little different that you might have been expecting even a week ago! With all these changes in the air, now’s a good time to take a few deep breaths and just relax before the school year gets started. The Brookfield Zoo near Chicago recently debuted their…

Patrick Ness is a British-American author, journalist, lecturer and screenwriter. Born in the United States, Mr. Ness moved to London and holds dual citizenship. He is best known for his books for young adults, including the Chaos Walking trilogy and A Monster Calls. Read more about Mr. Ness and…

Hey teens, have you ever wanted to compete against others in your favorite game?!  Well… on Saturday, September 5th, the Ames Free Library will host its first Fortnite Tournament! You and up to 99 other people will drop into the now flooded island and will compete for the #1 Victory Royale. There…