The eagerly anticipated renovation and expansion of the Franklin Avenue Library has begun! Thanks to a $2.2 million I-JOBS grant, the renovation will include energy efficiency upgrades with a goal of reaching LEED Platinum status. Highlights of the
new building will include a children’s area with a windowed storytime bump out, an
expanded teen area, thirty additional public internet computers, a cozy fireplace reading
area, and a larger meeting room. This is the most heavily-used branch in the system,
which makes it a key factor for enhancing the quality of life for thousands of people in
our community.

The project is funded by a public/private partnership between the City of Des Moines and the
Des Moines Public Library Foundation. 

Donations to the building project can be made through the Des Moines Public Library Foundation.

Franklin Avenue Library Renovation Project
For more information about this project or for information about commemorative
gift opportunities, please call the Foundation Director at 248-6402.

 

Shoppers Can Drop In to the Library
Franklin Avenue Library customers will enjoy a fun and unique temporary location for their library during its planned renovation.The proposed Franklin Avenue Library renovation is projected to take 18 months to 2 years. Renovation plans will expand the current library to more than 25,000 square feet, and include:

• A larger, designated children’s area
• Family friendly storytime room
• A separate teen area
• Quiet study rooms
• Increased number of public-use computers for easier access
• Multipurpose room for community meeting use
• Additional meeting rooms for small groups
• Drive-Up Book Return
• Warm and comfortable reading areas with a fireplace and lots of natural light
• Expanded restrooms

Customers can expect to find most of the library’s collection available at its temporary location. Regular library programs are also planned, including the many summer reading activities, storytimes, and book discussions, as well as some special events and celebrations.

An exterior book return is available in the Merle Hay Mall parking lot west of the storefront location. Telephone numbers will remain the same. Other services and programs will continue as space and staffing allows.

If you're looking for a book just for you, there's no better place to find it than the Franklin Avenue Library. With a collection of more than 100,000 books, audio books and CDs, music CDs, CD-ROMS, DVDs, videos, and more than 200 magazine titles, the library remains ready to meet your daily needs. Bilingual patrons also benefit from Franklin Avenue Library's extensive collection.

Want to get your children interested in reading before they begin to walk and talk? Bring them to our lapsit story time for ages 0 to 18 months. We also offer events for older youth as well, with year-round programs, clubs and events available for children and teens. For after school activity, youth are free to search the Internet and do homework with our computers in both the teen and children's areas.

Find everything you need for your next book discussion at the Franklin Avenue Library! With the library's book discussion sets, you can check out eight to fifteen copies of a current or classic book from a selection of more than ninety different titles, all for free. go to list »