Rosie Outreach Services is part of the Des Moines Public Library System, and is a free service for those who cannot easily access the library and its services. Our staff and van are located at the Forest Avenue Library branch.
The mission of the Des Moines Public Library’s Rosie Outreach Program is to reach citizens with limited access to the library (geographical, economical, or physical) and to provide library
service to these target populations. Our focus is on children and early childhood literacy.
Early Childhood Storytime Programs & Book Delivery This program targets children ages 3-5 in preschools, Head Start programs, and daycare centers in Des Moines. We present a 30-minute storytime and deliver a collection of picture books for you to keep in your classroom until our next visit. Our goal is to help you foster a love of reading in your classroom and encourage kids to visit the library!
Who is eligible for Rosie Outreach service?
Criteria for Service
Agencies must be within the city limits of Des Moines.
Agencies serving low-income or at risk populations will be given preference.
Agencies without vans or transportation will be given preference.
Public or non-profit agencies will be given preference over for-profit agencies.
Private corporations and businesses will not receive Rosie service.
Home day care providers and classroom teachers may check out books by the box at any library agency, but will not receive van delivery deposits.(Classrooms part of the Rosie story time program schedule will receive books as part of the service)
What kinds of library materials are loaned? Books are selected from the Forest Avenue Library’s general collection. We do
not provide movies, music cd’s, computer software, or magazines.
How many books are delivered? We work with your staff to deliver an appropriate amount of books for each classroom/center.
Can I request a specific title to be delivered? Yes. You may call or e-mail your request to the Rosie staff.
Can I request a selection of books to support my curriculum? The Rosie program cannot provide collections of books to support a specific theme, nor can we provide multiple copies of the same title.
How often do you visit? The Rosie Van visits centers once or twice a month during a designated day and time.
How long can we keep the books? Until our next visit. You may renew books for an additional time period, but books cannot be kept longer than 2 months.
Are we charged fines for late books? No.
What if we lose a book? Centers take full responsibility for any lost or damaged items loaned to them through the Rosie program. Centers may be charged replacement costs for lost or severely damaged items, and any financial responsibility must be cleared within a reasonable amount of time, generally a year.
Closings Rosie Outreach Services is closed during major holidays, and anytime the library is closed.We may also cancel service due to weather, staffing or van maintenance issues.
