March 2023 Activities at VMPL

Return to Regular Hours Beginning March 6

Monday 10:00am- 5:00pm

Tuesday Noon - 7:00pm

Wednesday 10:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday Noon - 7:00pm

Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm

Saturday 10:00am - 3:00pm

Library Board Opening

We will have an opening on the Board this Spring. If you have a couple hours each month and a drive to give back to your community you might be our next Library Board member. The best way to get familiar with what the Library Board does is to come to a meeting - they're always open to the public. In March we will meet at the library on the 22nd at 6pm, but we usually meet on the third Wednesday of each month. (Moved because of Spring Break) If you are interested in getting involved, you can start by filling out an application and returning it to City Hall, or bring it with you on the 22nd.

Van Meter Book Exchange

Join the Van Meter Book Exchange sponsored by VMPL. It's a FaceBook page where you can lend, borrow and gift books owned by other community members. You must either live in Van Meter or have a Van Meter Public Library card.

Post the books you are finished reading so others can see what you have available. You can post a group of books or a single title; children's books and adult. This site is only for books being loaned, borrowed or gifted. It not for selling books.

If you see an item that you're interested in, make arrangements for the hand-off. You can plan a meet-up or VMPL is happy to act as a go-between. Just drop off your book and tell us who will be picking it up (and if you want it back or not). We are fortunate to live in a small town where folks know one another. Still, it is best to be cautious when meeting up with a stranger.

Go to Van Meter Book Exchange on Facebook

Reading Challenges On Beanstack

Click on image to register today!

Beanstack is a web and mobile app used to track independent reading time, and help build a culture of reading in your home. Beanstack makes it easier for you to help kids track reading, keep kids motivated to read.

March 1 - 31, 2023

For First to Ninth Graders

Take a tour of the different animals and habitats across America in this reading challenge! The four short articles will transport you to the wilds of the West, the diverse prairies and forests of the Midwest, the rocky coasts of the Northeast, and the sunny swamps of the South, and introduce you to the animals that call those habitats home. Log all your time spent reading the stories to earn badges showing some of the animals you meet along the way!

March 1 - April 30, 2023

All Ages!

One thousand books? That seems like way too many, right? Not at all. You got this. It doesn't matter if your child is three, or just three months - there's no better time to start than now!

Reading helps build social and emotional skills, sparks creativity and imagination, promotes bonding, and helps kids do well overall in school. Take that motivation, open one book, and get started. And remember, 1000 is just a number. The goal is to work reading aloud into your regular routine, and let the magic of stories do the rest.

Log each time you read a book to earn awesome badges. Happy reading!

Although this challenged is aimed at children, it is open to anyone who wants to challenge themselves to read 1000 books. There is no time frame for finishing the challenge.

Free Online Tutoring

Now is a great time to explore HelpNow!

HelpNow is provided by the State of Iowa Library and aligned with Iowa's curriculum for grades K-12. Plus students of all ages who are pursuing college credits, advanced degrees, professional licenses, and trade certifications.

By creating an account, you will have access to every subject's study guides, flash cards, one-on-one tutoring, and writing labs.

We are proud to provide HelpNow Online Tutoring with your Van Meter library card account. Simply follow the blue links, here and on our website, to access this valuable resource.

Click Here for HelpNow