The torch has landed at the Belmond Public Library and we have hit the ground running! The last few days have been busy with everyone signing up for our reading program. Registration is still going on, so stop in.  While your here check out our displays. We are ready to cheer on our readers!

We have programs for age 3 years old to adult. That's right, adults are able to join in the fun this year!

Stop by the library this week to register and receive your program materials. 

Library kick off event is Tuesday, June 11 from 3 to 4pm. This event is open to all ages. 

Come join the fun and read for the gold!

myLIBRO is available at Belmond Public Library!

With myLIBRO you can:

Search the catalog
You can search the catalogs for both Belmond Public Library and BRIDGES.

Access your account
Use the app's voice-enabled "virtual assistant" text chat interface to see your checkouts and holds for both physical and digital items, due dates, and items ready for pickup.

Manage multiple cards
Add multiple cards to your profile to manage the accounts of your children, spouse, or other loved ones.

Getting started is easy.
Download the app on Apple or Android.

After downloading, open the app and press 'get started':
1. Under library, select "Belmond Public Library"
2. Enter your full library card number. Don't know your number, give us a call (641-444-4160)
3. Enter your library PIN (the last 4 digits of your card number)
4. Tap "Sign In"

Once signed in:
• Tap the three vertical lines in the top left-hand corner to see menu options such as Settings and Quick Tour
• From the menu select Profile to display your library card as a scannable barcode
• Search the catalog using Search or My Account (see your checkouts and holds in My Account only)

Need more help? Check out the myLIBRO User Guide

If you have questions about myLIBRO or want assistance adding it to your phone or tablet, feel free to stop by or contact us at 641-444-4160.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Is myLIBRO the same as Libby?
A: No. myLIBRO is a separate app all together. Libby connects you to the BRIDGES library for all digital media and downloads. myLIBRO is a one stop all things your library. With myLIBRO you can manage your library account, view and renew all physical and digital checkouts, search our card catalog, put physical books on hold, view our calendar of events, receive library notifications, and more! 

Q: Will I still need Libby if I can read ebooks and listen to audiobooks on myLIBRO?
A. This is up to you. myLibro does give you access to the BRIDGES collection. You are able to listen to audiobooks and read your ebooks through the app. If you prefer the look and feel of Libby, continue to use Libby. 

Q: I can't log in. I don't know my library card number.
A: Contact the library and we can help you get set up with the app. Need some hands on help? Our staff can walk you through the app in person. Simply stop by the library and ask for assistance.

Do you have a child age under the age of 5 years old?
If so you can register them to receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered monthly to your home.

The program is completely free and available to all residents with a Belmond, Iowa address [50421 zip code].
If you don't live in our affiliate area, check to see if it's available where you live!

To register your child, visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/
On the home page, select "Can I register my child?" or "Check Availability". Once you enter your zip code and location information, you will have access to register online or print a from to fill out and return. We highly encourage you to use the online form to ensure that all information is correct. It's easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

If you choose to print and fill out a registration form, you can either scan and email your application to the library, mail it or drop it off at our library at your earliest convenience. 

For parent resources CLICK HERE.

Have questions? Contact the library at 641-444-4160

Friends of the Belmond Public Library is proud to provide Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through sponsorship from area businesses and organizations.

Get homework help and much more by visiting the link below!

https://landing.brainfuse.com/index.asp?u=main.Belmond.p.iowastatehn.ia.brainfuse.com

HelpNow offers a lot of great tools for all ages to help you in and out of the school year.
All these are available FREE OF CHARGE to all library patrons.

Live Tutoring: HelpNow offers live tutor access for homework help, skills building and test preparation where after taking a quiz, the user can connect directly to a live tutor from the test center without having to return to the main page. Because HelpNow is personalized, both the student and the tutor can access quiz questions to do an intensive test prep which may include loading lessons on the whiteboard. All live sessions are saved and can be replayed as well as shared with friends and teachers by email.  Using the CloudPack feature, students can store and upload MS Word, Excel, JPG, and other accepted file types directly onto the whiteboard.
 

Asynchronous Services: The Writing Lab and the 24/7 Center options give users the freedom to receive assistance at any time of the day without connecting with a live tutor.  Users can submit papers through the Writing Lab for a detailed feedback.  24/7 Center is for non-writing assignments such as math or science.  All reviews and comments from our tutors are found and stored in the Message Center which is found on the student homepage.

Study Tools: LEAP helps patrons build academic skills through targeted lessons, quizzes, and live, online tutoring. LEAP creates a learning plan based on a skills assessment that is taken at the beginning of the course. Flashbulb is a robust, learning resource where you can find flashcards or create your own. There are many ways this can be used.  Brainfuse students have created sets to use with their friends and teachers have created sets for their students to use.
 

Collaboration tools: For students who prefer to work independently and   form their own online study group, HelpNow offers a set of collaborative tools – MEET and Brainwave. MEET allows students to schedule their own online sessions using the Brainfuse MEET whiteboard which is specifically designed for a group setting.  Brainwave is a recordable whiteboard where students can draw, write on the whiteboard and chat then save and email it to others for feedback.   

Adult Learning Center
Adult Learning Center is the adult learners’ version of HelpNow™ where patrons can access High School Equivalency prep, US Citizenship test prep, resume assistance, Microsoft Office support, and Career Resources. The Writing Lab, Send Question, and Skills Building are also included in the Adult Learning Center suite. 

About Brainfuse™
Brainfuse is one of the nation’s leading online tutoring providers, serving a diversified client base of libraries, school districts and colleges/universities for over 18 years. With Brainfuse, users receive real-time tutoring from instructors via our proprietary online classroom.

Join us for a night of trivia on Thursday, June 20 starting at 6:30pm. Come alone and play as a single team or join another, or bring your group of up to 5 to test your knowledge on 6 rounds of general knowledge questions. The game lasts approximately 1 hour. Refreshments served. Open to players 16 and up. 

            
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Friends of the Belmond Public Library was formed in 1995.  They are an auxiliary group of the Library Foundation.  Their mission is to maintain an
association of persons interested in the library, to focus public attention on the library, to lend financial support, to coordinate volunteer efforts,
and help promote the programs and services of the Talbot Belmond Public Library. 

The Friends do so much to support the library. This includes a yearly allocation for the purchase of books, maintaining 4 little free libraries in Belmond, hosting bilingual story time during the Cinco de Mayo festival, their Books for Kindergarteners initiative, and more! They are able to provide these things through fundraising and volunteering. Perhaps you have visited the Friends annual book sale during the Fall Festival, or the table at the summer market, or maybe even an omelet breakfast thanks to the Knights ot Columbus. 

As a Friend, you will have the satisfaction of supporting one of our most important educational institutions, playing an important role in making books and other materials available to the community. 
You will also have the opportunity to volunteer for various events and programs.

  You can join for as little as $10.00 per year as an individual, or $25.00 as a family.
If you are already a Friend of the library, please stop by today to renew your membership. 

Please contact the library with any questions. 
The library would love to have you as a Friend!

Funny Story by Emily Henry
Genre: Contemporary Romance

My favorite part of every Emily Henry book I've read is the dialog. Henry has a wonderful way of creating natural flowing dialog with plenty of wit, heart and depth. In this story, the main character, Daphne, is going through heartbreak after her fiancé, Peter, calls of the wedding to pursue his life long best friend Petra. Without a place to live and a closet packed full with wedding supplies, Daphne moves in with Miles, Petra's ex-boyfriend. Both are working through grief and heartbreak. When they receive an invite to Peter and Petra's wedding only a short few weeks later, the two decide to attend the wedding. Daphne even tells Peter that she and Miles are dating. Daphne is working to run away from Waning Bay, Michigan where everything reminders her of and is connected to Peter. Miles has a different idea, proving to Daphne she shouldn't run and she should make Waning Bay her home. When things begin to develop, the two learn about themselves, find acceptance in their pasts, and grow together.

I really enjoyed the book; however, I'm pretty sure a part of that is because Daphne is a children's librarian. I loved the moments where Daphne talked about her patrons, and that Henry made the library a part of the story. Miles is a great leading man. He is kind, generous, flawed, and provides a wonderful balance to Daphne. I loved the heart felt moments where both Miles and Daphne talk about their childhoods and the trauma that it brought to their adult lives. And again, that dialog. I adore how the characters interact with each other. Henry even gets a bit spicy in Funny Story. Those moments are well written as well, filled with heart. Along with Daphne and Milo, Funny Story has a good amount of unique side characters that bring plenty of flavor to the story.

As a whole, it's a solid rom com. Henry adds a lot of extras to the story. There is plenty of romance, but also themes of hope, healing, and growth. It was a quick read and one I will put on my 'to read again some day' shelf.

_________________________________

The Book That Broke the World (The Library Trilogy #2) by Mark Lawrence
Genre: Fantasy

The themes and questions in book one of the Library Trilogy carry over into this next installment. Lawrence continues the action, intrigue and character development as readers will once again question knowledge and it's place in the hands of individuals. There is a lot that happens in this book.

Lawrence introduces a new character Celcha, a ganar and slave. She and her people are forced to mine the desert for books. When her brother, Hellet, opens one of those books and faces strict punishment from their master, the two find their way to the library. The book as a whole rotates through the points of view of Celcha, Evar, Livira, and the librarian and Livira's mentor, Arpix. each is located in a different time and facing various events and aftermaths of the library. Lawrence continues to strongly weave themes of knowledge, humanity and power through the book. This is very similar to the first book in the series.

While I enjoyed reading book two, at times the pacing can be a bit slow and with all the different time lines, it can get a bit confusing. There is plenty of action and connections along the way to keep the reader engaged and interested in the story. At times the plot action can be a bit vague. There isn't much explanation to some of the elements, but I'm hoping that is cleared up in the third installment of the trilogy. If that isn't enough to make me want to read the next book, book 2 ends on a cliffhanger. Once again readers and characters are left questioning power and the danger of knowledge and what it can do when emotionally charged by things live vengeance, love, and hate.

Overall, it's a solid book two while at the same time creating a transition into book three. There are new characters and plenty of the old, each unique and complicated. I look forward to reading how Lawrence ties up everything in book three.

_________________________________

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Louder than Hunger is a heart wrenching book written in verse. Readers are taken on a journey through the first person experiences of Jake, a young man who struggles with anorexia. Readers will follow Jake as he fights his cruel inner voice. From time with his family as he struggles, to admission into an inpatient program, to healing, Jake's journey is one of self realization and hope. Schu incorperates themes of self identity, loss, depression, and pain. Louder Than Hunger is a fictionalized account of the author's own experiences told with heart wrenching honesty and emotion. 

This book was difficult to read. Jake's inner voice is cruel and unrelenting. The honesty with which the author approaches the story really breaks through. In addition, the writing is beautiful. This novel-in-verse used various writing techniques such as changes in fonts, visually extending words and to emphasize Jake's own feelings and struggles. This book broke my heart, but in the end brought such a sense of healing and hope. I think this is one of those rare books where readers will see pieces of themselves in Jake. It's one I would recommend, but be warned, the story is heavy and emotionally difficult to read at times. 

_________________________________

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Genre: Thriller

Simone St. James has mastered creepy supernatural thrillers. Murder Road is just another of her works filled with plenty of tension and mystery. Eddie and April pick up a woman whom they assume is a hitchhiker on the side of the road. When they discovered she is injured and bleeding, they rush her to the hospital, only to have her die. They discover that she is only one among several victims in Coldlake Falls and the highway. As the saying goes, no good dead goes unpunished. Eddie and April suddenly find themselves suspects in her murder. With the help of Rose, the B&B proprietor, and two teenage sisters, Beatrice and Gracie, the two work to clear their name and find the real reason behind the murders. They find that the answer is more nefarious than they realized.

I really enjoyed this book. It's full of plenty of nostalgia, intrigue, thrills, and just the right amount of creepy supernatural to excite me. I love writing and how the author navigates through a plot of turns and surprises. St. James does a wonderful of creating atmosphere. Murder Road is a chilling read and unsettling at times. It had me engaged from the very beginning. Fans of St. James will not want to miss this one!

Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum Series) by Janet Evanovich

Genre: Mystery

Fans of the Stephanie Plum series, make sure you grab and imerse yourself in this latest novel in the series. If you haven't read the series, I strongly suggest you give it a try. Each book is filled with mystery, romance and rowdy laugh out loud moments. The characters are quirky, interseting, and engaging. It's really a fun series to read and each book follows one case from beginning to end mixed in with another piece of the overarching romance and story. 

In this latest addition, Stephanie Plum is back in a new adventure. Expect a few explosions, misadventure moment, and Lulu in all her wonderfulness. I love the direction the books have taken recently. The story shifts from the ever frustrating love triangle to more mystery and mayhem. This allows some of the other characters to step forward and shine like Lulu.

For fans of the series, you will finally see some movement in the whole Ranger, Morelli, Stephanie love triangle which all cumulates in one big romantic cliff hanger. Looks like it's time for Stephanie to get her life in order and make some real choices. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's like candy for me. I fast read that I know will have me laughing, rolling my eyes, and looking forward to the next one.
 

_________________________________

Fourth Wing (Empyrean book #1) and Iron Flame (Empyrean book #2) by Rebecca Yarros

Genre: Fantasy

I read both of these books back to back, so for that reason I feel it's only fair to review them together. This series falls into what has been coined the 'romantasy' genre. The books are fantasy in nature but are very much adult romance as well. In the first book, readers are introduced to Violet. She has trained to be a scribe her entire life. Her mother, also a commander in the military, pushes her into the war college to become a dragon rider like her siblings. Once there, she is faced with the very real dangers and potential death that comes with trying to become a rider. She's also faced with people who want her dead, seeing her as competition and as an enemy thanks to her mother's position and actions against the rebellion. On top of that, she has to navigate her feelings for Xaden, someone who rightfully should hate her. 

A little disclaimer, this book is very violent and certainly an adult read. It can be triggering at times for certain readers. For those who love fantasy, there is plenty of world building, conflict, and dragons. For romance lovers, there is plenty of tension, heat and spicy scenes. Fourth Wing burst on the scene and quickly gained a strong following, including this reader. The book is very well written with plenty of intersting characters, intrigue, and rereadable moments. Iron Flame is much of the same. I will admit I did not like it as much as the first book. There is a lot of angsty conflict that overshadows a good portion of the first half of the book. For me, it bogged down my reading experience. Once you get past that, there is a ton of action and conflict. There is also a lot to cheer for. Originally, this was to be a duology. After the popularity of the first book, Yarros was approached to write more in the series. Some of Iron Flame seems to reflect that change. While the ending isn't exactly seemless, it does create a cliffhanger that will create more obstacles in the overall story and romance. Despite my dislike for the romance angst in book 2, I believe that this is a series I will continue to read and currently anticipate the publication of book 3 in 2024.