For Adults
Regular discussions hosted at and by the Library. Books are available at the Main Desk. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 3:00.
Your Next Great Read
Are you unsure of what to read next? Our staff is here to help! We’re ready to put our professional book-matching skills to work.
Complete this form online or call 515.295.5476
Find books based on themes or favorite authors. You also can browse expertly curated book lists.
opens in a new windowFantastic Fiction
An online catalog of authors and books for fiction readers. Track your favorite authors and discover new ones. Check out the page for an author you like to see if they’ve recommended any other reads. If you’re hooked on a particular series you’ll find the books listed in order on the author’s page.
opens in a new windowGoodreads
Track the books you're reading, have read, and want to read. Follow your favorite authors and get notified when they have a new release. Check out your personalized book recommendations and share what you’ve enjoyed with friends.
Up your reading game by choosing your next read from these lists of well-known awards.
opens in a new windowThe Booker Prizes
opens in a new windowNational Book Award
opens in a new windowNational Book Critics Circle Award
opens in a new windowPulitzer Prize - Fiction
opens in a new windowPulitzer Prize – General Nonfiction
opens in a new windowIowa Voter Ready
A guide to voting in Iowa elections.
opens in a new windowProject Vote Smart
This Side by Side Tool allows you to compare and contrast candidates in areas like backgrounds, biographical data, voting records, campaign contributions and special interest group ratings, and public statements.
opens in a new windowFactCheck.org
Award-winning, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves as an advocate for voters by monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.
opens in a new windowPolitiFact.com
PolitiFact’s goal is to help you find the truth in politics. Check out the Truth-o-meter to examine politicians and lobbyists statements.
opens in a new windowNPR FactCheck
Independent, nonprofit media organization founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human.
opens in a new windowFactCheck.org
Award-winning, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves as an advocate for voters by monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.
- opens in a new windowSciCheck provides information regarding false and misleading scientific claims that are made by partisans to influence public policy.
- opens in a new windowFlackCheck provides resources designed to help viewers recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads.
A site providing balanced news coverage, media bias ratings, civil dialogue opportunities, and a technology platform available for everyone and can be integrated by schools, nonprofits, media companies, and more.
One of the oldest and largest fact-checking sites online, Snopes is widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion. Sources are always documented so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds.
opens in a new windowIowa Dept of Human Services
Helps Iowans achieve healthy, safe, stable, and self-sufficient lives through the programs and services provided.
opens in a new windowIowa Legal Aid
Nonprofit organization providing critical legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable Iowans who have nowhere else to turn.
opens in a new windowNorth Iowa Community Action Organization and opens in a new windowMy Community Ride
Organization working to better focus available resources to assist low-income individuals and families acquire useful skills and knowledge, gain access to new opportunities and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Locations in nine North Central Iowa counties: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth. My Community Ride is the transportation assistance program.
opens in a new windowProject Recovery Iowa
Offers free virtual counseling and assistance for all Iowans needing support.
opens in a new windowIowa State University - Extension and Outreach
Engages all Iowans in research, education, and extension experiences to address current and emerging real-life challenges. opens in a new windowLearn about efforts in your county.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
World’s largest biomedical library, maintaining and making available a vast print collection and electronic information resources on a wide range of topics that are searched billions of times each year by millions of people around the globe.
opens in a new windowMedlinePlus
Mission is to present high-quality, relevant health and wellness information that is trusted, easy to understand, and free of advertising, in both English and Spanish. Anywhere, anytime, on any device—for free.
opens in a new windowThe Institute for Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is a healthcare approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, rather than merely treating symptoms.
Find a practitioner here: opens in a new windowFind a Functional Medicine Practitioner
opens in a new windowIowa Department of Public Health
Partnership of local public health, non-profit organizations, health care providers, policymakers, businesses and many others working together to protect and improve the health of Iowans.
Your resource for filing federal taxes.
Find Online: opens in a new windowForms and instruction booklets: irs.gov/forms-instructions
Order By Mail: opens in a new windowOrder tax materials: irs.gov/forms-pubs/order-products
Order By Phone: 1-800-829-3676
opens in a new windowState of Iowa Taxes | Iowa Department of Revenue
Your resource for filing taxes in Iowa. Find forms, publications, and guides; track your return and refund, file for permits, watch educational webinars, and much more.
opens in a new windowIowa Legal Aid - Taxes
Iowa Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization providing critical legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable Iowans who have nowhere else to turn.
opens in a new windowIowaWORKS
Career, job seeker, and unemployment services plus assessments, labor market information, and other tools.
RESUME TIPS:
When creating a resume online, check first to make sure you won’t be surprised by a fee charged for downloading your finished product.
Try these resources for tips on designing and polishing your resume:
opens in a new windowCanva: free online design tool
opens in a new windowIndeed: resume tips and career guide
opens in a new windowMonster: a collection of articles and advice from Monster.com experts
Get the facts about voting and the laws that protect — and restrict — your right to vote
opens in a new windowIowa Legal Aid
Iowa Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance and does not charge clients for legal services.
opens in a new windowCity of Algona
Main web site for the city of Algona, Iowa.
opens in a new windowKossuth County Economic Development Corporation
Focuses on establishing a proactive and strong organization that will enhance the growth for our area.
opens in a new windowAlgona Area Economic Development Corporation
Works in conjunction with the City of Algona, the Algona Chamber of Commerce, Algona Municipal Utilities and Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation to strengthen the Algona area economy.
opens in a new windowIASourceLink
The go-to resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners who need help starting, scaling, or accelerating their business in Iowa.
opens in a new windowState Data Center of Iowa
Your source for population, housing, business and government statistics about Iowa, including data from the opens in a new windowU.S. Census Bureau, Iowa state agencies, and other state and federal sources.
opens in a new windowIowa 511 Travel information
Your resource for Iowa travel: information on weather, traffic, road conditions, construction and more. Get the app!
opens in a new windowRogerEbert.com
Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, Roger Ebert, passed away in 2013; his wife, Chaz Ebert, continues to ensure that Roger's passion for movies, decades of essential reviews, and ability to connect with readers serve as the site's foundation. The site maintains Roger’s high standards for providing timeless insights in cinematic discourse, while exploring the latest releases with coverage penned by a diverse array of esteemed writers.
opens in a new windowRotten Tomatoes
Read critics’ reviews, and find “Certified Fresh” picks for movies, TV shows, and podcasts. See what’s coming soon, watch trailers, and look to see if your favorite show has been cancelled or renewed for the next season.
Popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content, designed to help fans explore the world of movies and shows and decide what to watch.
opens in a new windowNPR Radio / Iowa Public Radio
NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization whose mission is to create a more informed public. NPR connects daily with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human.
opens in a new windowPandora Music
An audio entertainment streaming service providing consumers a uniquely-personalized music and podcast listening experience with its proprietary Genome Project® technology. Curate your own “radio stations” by using the thumbs-up and thumbs-down features. Stream it on your phone, laptop or desktop computer.
opens in a new windowThis American Life
This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. There are several ways to listen to episodes – on the radio, on podcast apps, or on their website. Their stories have compelling people at the center of them, funny moments, big feelings, surprising plot twists, and interesting ideas. Like little movies for radio.
Serial is a podcast from the creators of This American Life and tells one story – a true story – over the course of a season. Serial has won every major award for broadcasting, including the duPont-Columbia, Scripps Howard, Edward R. Murrow, and the first-ever Peabody awarded to a podcast.
The Moth is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the commonality and diversity of human experience through the art and craft of true, personal storytelling. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes.
opens in a new windowPathways to Wellbeing - A Functional Medicine Podcast
Functional medicine is a healthcare approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, rather than merely treating symptoms.
opens in a new windowLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, films and video, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. It preserves and provides access to a rich, diverse and enduring source of knowledge to inform, inspire and engage you in your intellectual and creative endeavors.
opens in a new windowIowa Reading Research Center
Strives to improve the literacy skills of all students through research with students, professional learning for educators, and technical assistance for school districts.
opens in a new windowCohousing - A Community of Communities
Cohousing is a community design model that fosters connection. Originally started in Denmark, it has now spread worldwide and has taken on many interesting forms. Physical spaces allow neighbors to easily interact with others just outside private homes. Common areas and activities bring people together on a regular basis, and collaborative decision-making builds relationships. Read about how cohousing is developing in Iowa at Iowa City Cohousing,
