Finally got a new library card. Very friendly and attentive and knowledgeable and efficient…read morelibrarian helped me. Got a new card. Updated my info. Gave me the brochure. Free! Get one so the govt understands libraries are important. And you get access to freemovies and steaming such as Hoopla. Just overall recommend.

Came here on a weekday afternoon to get some wifi, nice library. Lots of books, and they were…read morehaving a book sale too. Chairs lined along the window which was pleasant, but not a lot of spots to sit in general. Reliable wifi, paid parking around the library.

I fly through books fast. This library has a huge variety of titles. The online system is very easy…read moreto use, I love being able to reserve books and quickly pick up. You can extend your check out also(not if the book is already reserved) Popular titles they did a great job of having multiples. When I have more time I love looking through their new section and some of their curated tables on the second floor. Lots and lots of seating area, and a great areas for kiddos.

I've always loved this library. Being the only library in Ames, where I grew up, it was always fun…read morebecause you would always run into a friend. A few years ago they remodeled and while it looks completely different, it's still lovely in every way. We've brought our toddler here many times since he was born and the play area is perfect and so kid friendly. We also did an escape room with our 6 yo niece last week during the holidays and that was also fun. I found a ton of music here, too, growing up and just have the best memories at this library.

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.

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.

I stopped in here because a friend recommended it. It's a small library that makes up for it's size…read moreand age with the enthusiastic and helpful librarians. They offer tons of classes and resources, enough to match the bigger libraries in the metro. The librarians are helpful, knowledgeable and ardent supporters of this little library.

The grimes library is not big or fancy but they have a great selection of books and the staff are…read moreextremely helpful and accomodating. This library also has a multitude of community programs for toddlers - adults. Definately check out their programs. My 9 year old signed up to read to a therapy dog and it was an amazing experience. The therapy dog and owner were sweetest as can be! My son loved reading to the dog and I loved that he was excited to read. While there the staff also helped us find some sport books for my son and were just really great about chatting and answering questions. This is going to be a go to place for us when looking for something to do.

Hands down the best library in the metro. Such a huge collection of books, movies, and many other…read moremedias. The staff is beyond amazing, I constantly cannot find things, usually sitting right in front of my face, and they always manage to help me out. The facilities are always very clean. The walker Johnson park is adjoining to the the library, so it is a great spot to play some Pokémon go, get a book, and have a great day!

As a longtime Urbandale resident, I've been going here for about 15 years. It is a nice clean,…read morespacious, and high quality library in a quiet suburban area. I've always felt safe coming here--in fact, my parents used to let the library babysit my little sister and I for hours! The staff are all super kind and helpful. The computers for catalog searching have improved substantially and it's super quick to look up an item. Self check-out is also quick and reliable. There is a plentiful amount of tables to do some work on and the public wi-fi is reliable. Aesthetically, it may not be as pretty other libraries, but it's very clean and nice regardless. They have a lot of video games to rent for free which is nice for video game lovers! For new popular books, the library does a good job of getting them in stock. As a new Nook user, the experience of checking out an ebook is very easy as well. In the past, there used to be a cafe and I hope it gets revitalized as there are times I want a quick bite to eat or a drink! That would be my top wish for the library. Overall, I would recommend this place!

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.

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.

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.

What a welcoming public library. The staff are Uber friendly and the library is organized very…read morewell. The facility is very clean and well taken care of and it seemed to be well used by the public. I was there to attend a class to learn to make hammered metal necklaces. I would definitely check out the library if you want a book or looking for activities for the whole family.

Super polite and helpful librarians. Great selection of books and events. Kids had fun dressing up…read moreas astronauts in the summer reading area.