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.
Visit Us Often!
Monday - Thursday | 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Friday | 1:00 PM-6:00 PM
Saturday | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
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
Fun with Ones Rhyme Time (ages 12-24 mo.): Thursdays, 10:15 AM
Toddler Storytimes (age 2): 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 Thursday 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. Book Clubs will love the Book Discussion Sets that are also available for checkout. Many of the most popular book discussion titles are available in multiple quantities.
Book Groups Love Our Book Discussion Sets
Find everything you need for your next book discussion at the Franklin Avenue Library! Take a look at the library's large collection book discussion sets featuring approximately eight to fifteen copies (per set) of more than ninety popular titles, all for free.
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 with used book sales, signing 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 and throughout the Beaverdale neighborhood.
Renovation Features at 5000 Franklin
The renovated library will be the Des Moines Public Library's first LEED registered building. Here is a summary of the many improvements that library users will enjoy as well as a listing of some of the green features that will be included:
> A large, inviting children's area.
> A separate teen area.
> Quiet study rooms and group study spaces.
> More public-use computers for databases, word processing, internet use,
and children's Early Learning.
> Abundant electrical access for laptops.
> Large multipurpose meeting room.
> Two conference rooms for smaller groups.
> Comfortable lounge type seating.
> Drive up return window.
> Volunteer work space and more staff workspace.
> Reconfigured check-out area that allows for increased usage of self-check stations.
Green features
> 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.
> Native landscaping.
> Plug-ins for electric cars.
> Recycling plan for staff and public
> Easy access to bike trail, bike racks, and bus routes.
> Use of "green" building methods and materials to minimize waste, maintain air quality, and maximize use of renewable and recycled resources.
Wondering how the renovated Franklin Avenue Library will look? Check out our new photos!
Photos Updated 3.18.2011
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.