Baron Von Raven II

The Baron The Baron Von Raven II, or ‘The Baron’ as his friends call him, is a 10 year old red-eared slider turtle donated by the Rosenstiel family of Windsor Heights.  He came to the Forest Avenue library just in time to ‘Make a Splash’ during this summer’s reading program.  He enjoys sunning himself on his rock ledge and people watching as families come in to use library services.  The Baron especially enjoys watching the kids who read near his tank and loves to listen to any children reading aloud.

Pick up a new book and a new language at the Forest Avenue Library!
With a large collection of books, magazines, and newspapers available in Spanish, Vietnamese, and several other languages in our foreign language area, patrons are free to explore a new or familiar language and culture. Translation lines are also available for our visitors.

Rosetta Stone Language Learning software is available for use at the Forest Avenue Library in Spanish, French, and English for language learners of all backgrounds. Each language has various levels of learning and may be used up to two hours daily! 

Children, Teens, and College Students
The library is also a great place for children, teens, and college students to complete their other studies as well. Check out our quiet study space and Internet-capable computers, with printers
that allow students five free pages of homework per day.

Outside of school work, children and teens can also take part in our various teen or children's
activities and events, hang out in the separate teen and children's areas.

Renovation
The Forest Avenue Library was extensively renovated and expanded in 2007. The $1.3 million cost of the project was funded by a public/private partnership between the City of Des Moines and the Des Moines Public Library Foundation.

Friends of the Forest Avenue Library
Looking for a chance to volunteer? Join our Friends of the Forest Avenue Library to meet and help out those in your local community.