DMPL Closed This Sunday

All DMPL locations will be closed this Sunday, April 5. Regular hours and services will resume on Monday, April 6.

Franklin Avenue Library

Franklin Avenue exterior shot

Location Details

Address:
5000 Franklin Avenue
Des Moines, IA, 50310

Directions:
Google Maps

Nikki Hayter headshot

Nikki Hayter
Supervisor 
NMHayter@dmpl.org

Phone:
(515) 283-4152

Book a Franklin Avenue Library meeting room

In-Person Services
  • 9:00 AM-8:00 PM Monday-Thursday
  • 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Friday
  • 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday
  • 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Sunday
Pickup Window
  • 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday-Friday
  • 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday
  • CLOSED Sunday

The Franklin Avenue Library on Des Moines’ west side, serves the needs, wants, and tastes of its community of patrons with a collection of over 100,000 items. The many available media formats include books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, magazines, and electronic resources, as well as over 40 public internet computers for easy online access.

Franklin Avenue Library - engage April/May 2026


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The Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library

The Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library is a 501(c) (3) organization that supports programs and activities at the Franklin Avenue Library branch through direct financial contributions and volunteerism. If you are looking for a wonderful way to support the Franklin Avenue Library, consider becoming a Friend!  The purpose of the Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library is to maintain an association of persons interested in the Franklin Avenue Library; to focus public attention on the library; to stimulate the use of the library’s resources and services; to receive and encourage gifts, endowments and bequests to the library, to support and cooperate with the library in developing library services and facilities for the community. 

Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library website

For Volunteer Opportunities: Adult volunteers, please contact Wynton Karanja, WNKaranja@dmpl.org. Teen volunteers, please contact Athena Riesenberg, AMRiesenberg@dmpl.org


 

Upcoming Events

Easter Sunday

All Day
Closing
Branches:
Central Library, East Side Library, Forest Avenue Library, Franklin Avenue Library, North Side Library, South Side Library, Off Site, DMPL Systemwide
Description:

All locations will be closed for Easter Sunday.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Little Explorers

10:00am–11:00am
Birth-Preschool
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different sensory activities. No Registration is Required. Please wear play clothes as some activities may be messy.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "All Ages" group

Maddie Bassman

04/06/2026 @ 1:00pm–04/07/2026 @ 4:00pm
All Ages
DMPL Car
Library Branch: DMPL Systemwide
Room: DMPL Car
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Library Meeting
Event Details:

Marketing needs the van for AVID transport

This event is in the "Teens" group

Franklin VolunTeens

4:00pm–5:00pm
Teens
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Educational, Library Meeting
Event Details:

We are no longer accepting teen volunteer applications for the 2025-2026 school year.

 

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Baby Rhyme Time

10:15am–11:00am
Birth-Preschool
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

10:15am–10:45am
Birth-Preschool
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.