My friend and I came here the Friday morning of my Iowa trip to print out my flight infornation for…read moremy flight back to NYC that afternoon. I went to the information desk to get a guest pass to use the computers. I was given one. I was surprised it was free. I went to one of the available computers and entered in my access code. Ths time allotted was generous and definitely more than I needed. I went to my e-mail and sent the e-mail to print. The printing fee was cheaper than NYC libraries. Once I was done I just used the internet until my friend was ready to leave.

I love libraries. Never been to one I don't enjoy. One thing that makes the West Des Moines Library…read morestand out is the app. I use it to look and reserve books to check out. If you are in a hurry, you can simply run in and get your items. I always end up pursuing the stacks of books, but it's a nice option for anyone in a hurry.

Libraries are such a wonderful resource! The Franklin library is walkable from my home, but for…read moreothers it is on a bus line and next to a bike trail. It is so great they collect food donations to put in the entryway for people to take. I have seen lots of perishable items (veggies, fruits, bread, prepared meals) available because they have 2 large refrigerators, as well as the typical shelf stable items you might see other places. For library services I love that you have access to material from any of the other Des Moines libraries at no cost to have it brought here. And they have a number of classes and other activities that happen throughout the month.

So grateful for libraries .... I am 72 and I am So grateful…read moreto my father who got us library Cards and made sure we went to the library every week. at the Old West Park library branch...open since 1869..... So many places around the world I visited before I ever flew in a plane..just grateful for libraries! Check with your families and friends Make sure they all have a library card, still really easy to do!.... Your niece's nephews and grandkids let them know how cool a place a library is... I live within walking distance of the Franklin branch library and have nothing but good things to say about it. Nikki Hayter is the. Supervisor, she started As a Librarian at Franklin and moved to another branch and then came back as the Franklin supervisor. The Franklin library is everything a modern library should be, With multiple focuses- families, children with all kinds of events every month, family DVDs, people to help seniors gain access to audio books regular large print books, and get computer help. Adults helped to.get access to computers for job searches, regular reading research, and just plain reading. I am so proud that the library provides a community refrigerator that gets all kids of food for people to take if they need it. They also have a repair Cafe operated by volunteers that help members get things fixed. Check out Franklin's front desk for further details on everything or the Des Public Libraries web site.

WOW! The Law Library looks straight out of a fairytale. I swear it looks like the inspiration for…read moreBelle's library in Beauty and the Beast. The gorgeous murals and senate chambers were also impressive. We stopped here on a whim during a recent road trip and were pleasantly surprised by its grandeur and beauty. They offered a free tour, but we opted for a self guided tour instead so we could go on our own pace. We came on a Friday afternoon and someone who worked there told us it's the best day to visit since the place is so busy Mon-Thurs when legislators are in session, that it's often difficult to find a parking spot. But on this quiet Friday morning, we parked in the front row and had no line in front of us as we went through the security metal detector.

My visits to state capitols are few and far between, but after visiting the Iowa State Capitol, I…read morewant to make a point of visiting more whenever I travel to other states. My son started attending law school in Des Moines and so I was trying to see what the city has to offer. Visiting the capitol building was one of the things that kept popping up on things to do. We decided to check it out on a Saturday and luckily they do guided tours which I highly recommend. Completed in 1886, they have done a remarkable job preserving this place and showcasing it's beauty. It sits on top of a hill and offers great views of the city from every side. One of the first things you notice from the outside is the gold dome. The ornate outside facade carries inside where it is just as beautiful. You'll notice intricate wood decor as well as marble, gold and other beautiful materials. You can visit the historic supreme court chambers and see all the offices of state officials. The law library is by far my favorite part of the building. I felt like I was in some movie like Harry Potter or something. You have to see it in person to really comprehend the beauty. The wood and gold along with the spiraling staircases and law books stacked to the high ceiling was cool to see. If you aren't afraid of heights, you can take a long winding staircase at the top of the dome. We were one of the last tours so we didn't really get to really take our time and soak in all this place has to offer. I will most definitely come back next time I am in town visiting the kiddo. It was absolutely something I did not expect to see deep in the Midwest.

My experience with the library has been strictly using the public meeting rooms as an attendee…read more Overall the facility is beautiful and very modern. The technology in the meeting rooms is high end and easy to use. The staff that support it are eager to help and quickly respond if there have been any issues.(which there have been very few). The rooms are very well lit with huge windows providing natural light and the furniture is very easily adapted to large or small groups.

Lovely new library with cool features!!…read more Clean and spacious. Awesome modern looking design and interior. We asked for a band aid for a food accident and the customer service was sweet. Cool looking playground outside with unique features as well. Can't wait to come back!

This library is a sweet gem! I brought my granddaughter for story time and crafts one evening. And…read morethen we played in the main area. Lots of kids and families were here as well, so it seems they are used to and designed for kids because books are easy to access and there are a lot of toys. They even have multiple computers set up for kids to use.

This is a great little library very geared towards children. There is a big play area in the middle…read morewith some toys and very accessible childrens books all arranged by interest which makes picking a book out easier for little ones I think. There is a nice little park next to it to so it's great so spend some time browsing and then playing for a bit after or vice versa. The staff are pretty friendly, and there are sometimes small community events like arts and crafts or movies etc.

If you are working on a temporary seasonal job in Iowa and you are staying in a nearby…read morelodging/campground because of this temporary seasonal job, they will let you have a library card for the duration of your stay. You just need to show proof of who you are working for (some type of signed agreement), some proof of where you are staying, and show a driver's license. They don't copy or write down your driver's license. They just need to see it. (I have discovered that Iowa seems to be "alert" on privacy issues.....) I signed up for my temporary stay. This library has a great selection of DVD's and BOOKS ON CD! Those are the two things I was interested in. I didn't check the actual BOOKS, but I'm sure they have what you might want. You can also download E-Books and audio books.

From the owner: When the library opened July 19, 1971 most of the books were donated by individuals and surrounding…read morelibraries. Thirteen hundred library cards were issued the first year. The library was open 24 hours per week. By 1982, the library was loaning 1,200 books per month, excluding paperbacks. The desire for a new library reached fruition in December of 1982 when a $175,000 bond issue was approved. The library opened July 1, 1984. It was constructed around the original bungalow. The bungalow was moved to 300 Sixth Street S.W. and again became a private residence. A bond issue for $3.4 million, to build a new library and remodel the present building for the police department, was passed in May of 1996.

Here Nice and cool…read more Quiet Easy to focus on work. Hood helpers and staff. Will be back

I went to the Johnston Public Library for the first time for a free quarterly cooking class. The…read morelibrary is newish and well maintained. They have a conference room equipped with full kitchen and a display mirror. It was the perfect location to host this class. We learned how to make 10 quick and easy holiday appetizers in less that an hour plus we were lucky enough to taste them all too. We were lucky enough to also go home with all of the recipes. The instructor was a good editor for Greydog Media. The library offers a lot of free classes for adults and children. Each class is very professional and a great use of your time. The bathrooms were exceptionally clean too.

This is a day care center. It's very noisy and the computers are too close together so it's a…read moredepressing experience for adults. They say it's a new kind of library.

This is a cute, unassuming, little library sharing a space with city hall. I lived in Clive most…read moreof my life and this is the first time I found myself there. I attended a free succulent class last night in the community room... it was well attended plus we walked out with two succulents we were able to replant and take home. The instructor Ryan was very passionate about his succulents and he was extremely encouraging. He made me think I just might be able to keep these alive. Fingers are crossed... Tomorrow I am attending a class on how to declutter there as well. I can only hope I can bring the instructor home to help me... (haha) actually I am hoping to pick up some practical tips. It is so hard to throw away your possessions... If you are looking for a quaint library and you live in the area this library is definitely worth a try.

Clean/well organized, quiet, friendly staff…read more There is a cute infant playing area. Good place to study. I did have a difficult time figuring out which building was the library the first time I came. There was multiple large buildings in the area, none is which are clearly marked and the parking lot situation is a bit confusing. I think a secondary sigh to mark the building itself or at least it's parking lot would be very helpful.

Librarians and clerks are always helpful; facility clean and maintained…read more Collection smallish but well organized and the Library of Things can save you a lot.