Welcome to the Franklin Avenue Library
If you're looking for a book just for you, there's no better place to find it than the newly remodeled 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.

Franklin Awarded LEED Platinum Certification! 
The Franklin Avenue Library received word that it has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the first building owned by the City of Des Moines to achieve LEED Platinum status as well as the first public library in Iowa to be awarded LEED Platinum status.   LEED is the USGBC's rating system for designing and constructing the greenest, most energy-efficient and high-performing buildings. Platinum is the highest rating given.   

Located at 5000 Franklin Avenue, the Franklin Avenue Library is the busiest branch location of the Des Moines Public Library system.    "We are delighted to have the Franklin Avenue Library receive this highest designation of LEED certification and I would like to recognize the Library Board, Foundation, and staff of the city and library who all formed the team to make this project a success," announced Mayor Frank Cownie. "This is truly an achievement for the City of Des Moines. LEED Platinum is the most difficult certification to obtain,” he continued.

As the busiest branch of the Des Moines Public Library, its renovation was the last project in the DMPL’s ten year system-wide facilities improvement plan which included the new Central Library and the renovation of the other four branch libraries. “We believe the community agrees that this outstanding building project has proven to be well worth the wait,” added Library Board President Kevin Techau. The renovation nearly doubled the size of the library, adding approximately 14,000 square feet to the existing site.  The redesign included a large, inviting children’s area, a separate teen area, abundant electrical access for laptop users, as well as expanded seating areas for wi-fi users.

The renovated Franklin Avenue Library was designed by the firms of Benjamin Design Collaborative and David Milling Architects.  Rochon Corporation was the general contractor. The original Franklin Avenue Library was built in 1965 and underwent some remodeling in 1988 and 1999.  It was moved to a temporary location at Merle Hay Mall in the summer of 2009 and its extensive renovation was completed last fall.  “More than 225,000 library users have visited the Franklin Avenue Library since we held its grand reopening on August 8, 2011,” reported Library Director Greg Heid. 

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System offers four certification levels - Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum - that correspond to the number of credits accrued in six green design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor air quality, and innovation in design. 

How Franklin Avenue Library scored

A total of 80 points is required to achieve the Platinum category and the library earned 85 points. 

Great Community Support

Prior to the renovation, families and individuals living in the Franklin Avenue neighborhood participated in several informational meetings to discuss renovation plans for the Franklin Avenue Library. A total of five workshops, guided by the firms of Benjamin Design Collaborative and David Milling Architects, were held to share ideas and get input from the library customers, neighborhood leaders, and community members. The Library Board of Trustees, library administrators, and city and community leaders used the information that was gathered to shape the library’s plans for the future.

Winning Features

• The LEED Platinum certification was based on a number of other green design and construction features that positively affect the project itself and the broader community. These features include:
• Roof-based photo-voltaic system capable of producing nearly fifty KW on an average day bringing the grid power usage down to a minimum.
• Solar thermal collector and thermal storage with the ability to supply 85% of the heating load so the boilers operate very sparingly.
• Low density lighting.
• Double-paned windows.
• “Green” interface computer to provide visual feedback on energy and sustainable methods in use on site.
• Native landscaping.
• Use of “green” building methods and materials to minimize waste, maintain air quality, and maximize use of renewable and recycled resources.
• Recycling plan for staff and public to dispose of paper and plastic.
• Green and environmental programming for the public during the first year.

Enjoy our Weekly Storytimes
Want to get your children interested in reading before they begin to walk and talk? Bring them to our lap-sit story time for ages up to twelve months called Baby Rhyme Time. Now that we're back in our renovated library, we have added a new storytime session for one-year-olds, in addition to our weekly storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers.

Baby Rhyme Time (ages 0-12 mo): Tuesdays, 10:15 AM
Toddler Storytimes (age 18 months - 3): Wednesdays, 10:15 AM & 10:50 AM
Preschool Storytime (ages 3-6): Mondays, 10:15 AM

Check Out Our Great Teen Programs
Looking for a great place for afterschool activities? Franklin Avenue Library offers all kinds of cool programs for teens, too! Bring your friends to play on the library's Wii or enjoy a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) craft! Discuss the latest teen books and become a member of TAB, our Teen Advisory Board. Of course, the Franklin Avenue Library has great space to study, including quiet study rooms. Free homework help is also available, too!

Join Our Monthly Book Discussions
The Franklin Avenue Library offers two monthly book discussions, typically on the first Monday of the month at 1:00 PM and the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. New members are always welcome to join and multiple copies of the books to be discussed are generally offered for checkout at the Information Desk.

Become a Friend of the Franklin Avenue Library
If you are looking for a warm and friendly place to volunteer, consider the Franklin Avenue Library. Members of our Friends group enjoy helping sign up summer readers, assisting with programs and more. Quarterly meetings are held to brainstorm new fund-raising opportunities and to catch up with all kinds of things that are going on at the library.

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.