Iowa Book Award Winners

Chosen By Young Readers

From the Iowa Association of School Libraries (IASL) comes the latest Iowa book award winners for 2022-2023.  IASL, a subdivision of the Iowa Library Association, advocates for strong school library programs in all Iowa schools and provides leadership, education, and support for its members.

An annual project of IASL is to promote literacy and learning by involving students in voting for their favorite books across various age groups.  Iowa students read a number of books within a category and then vote for their overall favorite. Reading lists and deadline information are found on IASL’s website, along with criteria for each book category.  

So thanks to IASL and some very ambitious young readers, here are the Iowa Book Award Winners for 2022-2023

Iowa Goldfinch Award = Unicorns Are the Worst by Alex Willan

Iowa Children’s Choice Award = Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Iowa Teen Award = Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Iowa High School Book Award = The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

More About The Iowa Book Awards 

Iowa Public Library Statistics For FY22 

Published on State Library Website

State Library consultant Scott Dermont shares this news: Scott and his team have completed the compilation of the Iowa Public Library Statistics FY2022.  Each year in October, Iowa libraries are asked to complete the Public Library Annual Survey.  The data from all of the verified surveys are then compiled for a statewide look at the vitality of library service in Iowa; the compilation is used for comparison purposes as well.

Scott writes “This annual publication incorporates data from the 508 verified Annual Surveys that public libraries submitted in October.  It includes selected information on income, expenditures, collections, circulation, programming, staffing and other measures. Each section is arranged by library size code, then alphabetically by city.”

In addition to data elements Scott notes, this publication also lists all of the public libraries in Iowa, the population of the cities that the libraries were established to serve, and the number of libraries in each population grouping.  For example, Iowa has 127 Size A libraries in towns with less than 500 population.  There are 126 Size B libraries in populations between 500-999 and 118 Size C libraries in populations between 1,000-2,499.  Iowa has 7 Size G libraries in populations between 25,000-49,999 and 11 Size H libraries serving populations of 50,000 or greater.  There are 3 county library systems in Iowa, established by Dubuque, Scott, and Woodbury Counties.

The Iowa Public Library Statistics is an important and very useful resource when researching the activity of Iowa's 544 public libraries.  The PDF version of the FY22 document and older statistics going back through FY18 can be found by clicking the button below.  

Iowa Public Library Statistics

New Kernels Ready To Watch 

This news from Samantha Bouwers is all about new Kernels that are posted and ready to watch on our Continuing Education YouTube Channel.  Sam describes four of the most current ones from the last three months. 

- Kernels!  Solar Eclipse Programming For Libraries: Join Misty Gray (State Library of Iowa) and Brian Mitchell (Space Science Institute) to hear how libraries can offer STEM instruction surrounding space-themed programming and STEM kits.

- Kernels! Programming for Adults:  Join Sam Bouwers (State Library of Iowa) and Chris Baumgarn, Sally Morris, & David Hargrove (Winterset Public Library) as they chat about how Winterset manages a VERY full slate of adult programming in their library.

- Kernels! Using Canva in Your Library: Join Bonnie McKewon (State Library of Iowa) and Angie Scales (Ida Grove Public Library) as they chat about how Angie uses Canva to create marketing materials, annual reports, and much more.

- Kernels!  Smash Journals: Join Janeé Jackson-Doering and Samantha Bouwers (both from the State Library of Iowa) as they chat about "Smash Journals" and how they help library users "Find Their Voice"--the 2023 iREAD Summer Library Program theme.

About Kernels

This is an ongoing series of prerecorded videos from the State Library. Each installment in the series offers an overview of a program, service, or library methodology applied in a public library setting. They feature in practice librarians talking about what they're up to, so others can benefit & apply that idea in their library.  View on YouTube for informational purposes or in IA Learns for CE credit.

Watch Our Collection of Kernels 

This Week ...

Director Roundtables
continue across the state this week and throughout the month. Click the button to see all dates and locations, then register in IALearns.

Director Roundtable Info

Big Ideas Book Discussion.  May 19.  9:30-11:00AM

The next Big Ideas Book Discussion is scheduled for May 19 (9:30-11:00AM)  And the book up for discussion is Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect (c2022) by Will Guidara.  Since customer service is always top-of-mind in public libraries, this book about transforming customer experiences is sure to connect with library service in ways large and small. 

Register In IALearns

Digital Services Town Hall Meetings This Week.  Click below for specific street addresses, 6:00PM at each location 

NOTE: These meetings are not eligible for continuing education credit from the State Library of Iowa.

May 15 @ Drake Community Library in Grinnell  

May 16 @ Iowa Falls Public Library

May 17 @ Cresco Public Library

May 18 @ Decorah Public Library

Town Hall Meetings on Digital Services