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 December 2025/January 2026

Click the full screen button in the lower right corner to expand the size of the document.

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

This event is in the "Children" group

Winter Scavenger Hunt

All Day 1/26–1/31
Children
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Educational, Gaming
Event Details:

Visit the library and find all of the pictures hiding in the Children's Area.

This event is in the "Children" group

Park-N-Play

10:00am–12:00pm
Children
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

Join us for indoor Park-N-Play, hosted by the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation department on Thursday mornings in the Franklin Avenue Library meeting room.

This event is in the "All Ages" group

Pokémon Scavenger Hunt

All Day 2/1–2/15
All Ages
Library Branch: DMPL Systemwide
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

Celebrate 30 years of our favorite Pokémon characters with a DMPL Scavenger Hunt! 

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
This event is in the "All Ages" group
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Exhibits
Event Details:

Join us at the Franklin Avenue Library for Ella Sings the Songbook, a traveling display from The Great American Songbook Foundation.

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 "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.