Franklin Avenue Library

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.

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

2025 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION OPEN!

The Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the Franklin Avenue Library, has established an annual scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Apply Online: 2025 Scholarship Application 

Application Deadline: June 15, 2025

Applications that are incomplete, inaccurate, or received after the deadline will not be considered.

Scholarship Eligibility:

To qualify for the scholarship, the applicant must be a high school senior graduating during the 2024-2025 school year.

Selection Considerations:

Each applicant will be considered for the scholarship based on the following:

• Completed application form

• Reflective essay (minimum 250 words)

Reflective Essay: The applicant will submit an original, non-published, typed, double-spaced essay on this topic: How has the Franklin Avenue Library, or libraries in general, helped you achieve your academic goals and influenced or impacted your personal life?                                                                                                                                                

Scholarship Details:

• Selection of the scholarship will be at the sole discretion of the Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library Board of Directors.

• Students whose parents or grandparents are current members of the Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library Board of Directors are not eligible to apply.                                              

• The scholarship award will be deposited directly with the college/university.

Awards Ceremony: The recipient of the scholarship will be notified by July 10, 2025. The recipient will also be announced on the Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library website and Facebook page as well as various library publications. The Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library Board of Directors will award the education scholarship at a Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library membership meeting on Saturday, July 19th at 11am at the Franklin Library.