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Des Moines Library
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Library History
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Children's Services
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Special Collections
Des Moines Library History
The Des Moines Library has a history of growth in the community, from the early years when it was located in a clubhouse to the building serving the public today. It is a history rich with community activity and involvement.
The first library in Des Moines was organized in 1922 as a P.T.A. civic project. The library was moved to the clubhouse of the Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club when the auxiliary took over the sponsorship and maintenance of the library.
In 1944 the library became affiliated with the King County Library System, with the System providing the books and the staff. In 1946 the library quarters were moved to the King County Field House; the 283-square-foot library held 9,594 volumes.
In March of 1960, the Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club called together representatives of all organized community groups to consider ways of providing a larger library building. As a result of this meeting, the Des Moines Library League was formed.
The City of Des Moines contracted with the King County Library System for service, beginning in 1961.
In 1964 the League took steps to secure financial backing for the construction of a library building. A location was chosen and, through the tireless efforts of the Fund Drive Committee, a total of $9,500 was raised to buy a site.
The Library League (through the King County Library System) requested federal matching funds to build a library. To meet various federal requirements, the League turned over its funds to the City of Des Moines. In 1964 the City then presented a $35,000 bond issue to the voters for approval. The measure passed, the funding was assured, and the work began on a 4,584-square-foot library located at 22815 24th Avenue South. The library was dedicated on December 12, 1965, and it featured over 23,000 books.
In January of 1981, the Des Moines Library Board issued copies of its "Library Needs Study" and outlined the need for additional space. Population was growing, and so was library use. The library that was built to serve a community of 8,000 residents was now serving 23,000 people.
In 1984 city and library system officials agreed to fund a preliminary plan for a 10,000-square-foot library to be jointly owned. A bond issue for $450,000 was passed by a 72 percent favorable vote in the city to fund its portion of the building project.
The new building was dedicated on October 15, 1988, featuring over 56,000 items and access to the services and collections of the King County Library System.
In 1994, voters in Des Moines approved annexation to the King County Library System.
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General Library Services
Check It Out!
Items available for check out include books, recorded books, music tapes and CDs, DVDs, videos, CD-ROMs, encyclopedias, magazines, pamphlets, Cliffs Notes, and even comic books.
Library Catalog.
The KCLS catalog is available for your use from your home via the Internet or at the library. You can use the catalog to search for items, place holds, renew items, and see what materials you have checked out or on hold.
KCLS Databases.
KCLS has numerous databases, all available at Des Moines Libraryand most available from home via the Internet with your KCLS library card. Find full-text magazine articles, newspapers, encyclopedias, photographs, genealogical information, auto repair manuals, company records and much more. Meeting Room.
A meeting room is available to groups and individuals for non-commercial purposes. Please read the Meeting Room Use policy. Meetings at Des Moines Library may be booked up to two months in advance by calling the library. Maximum capacity of the room is 45 people.
Computer Lab. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, and Publisher programs, as well as Internet access and a laser printer are available at no charge. If you want to save a file, bring a diskette or you purchase one at the Checkout Desk for $1.
Des Moines Library Book Group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the librarys meeting room.
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Children's Services
The Des Moines Library has a wide variety of childrens materials, including:
Beginning Readers Collection.
These books are designed for the beginning reader who is in between picture books and chapter books. The collection also includes books on the phonetic reading method.
Easy Nonfiction Collection.
When your little ones want to know how, what, why, when, or where, find a book for them here. This collection includes biographies too.
Folk and Fairy Tale Collection.
Let your imagination roam the world with our large collection of folklore and fairy tales.
Holiday Collection.
Find a book about most any holiday or season, from New Year's Day to Kwanzaa. When a specific holiday is approaching, you are limited to two books at a time for seven days; the remainder of the year, books check out for 28 days.
Music Tapes and CDs and Books on Tape
Kidspage. Explore the Web with the King County Library System's Kidspage.
Homework Help. Web sites selected by KCLS librarians. A great starting place for information!
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Young Adult Services Teen Realm. Look for the neon Teen Realm sign which marks the Young Adult area of Des Moines Library. In the Teen Realm you will find Young Adult books, books on tape, magazines, and comics.
Classics Collection. Whether for school or for pleasure, you have a selection of traditional and contemporary classics in paperback from which to choose. Cliffs Notes are available for many of the titles in this collection.
Young Adult programs at Des Moines Library.
Homework Help.
Web sites selected by KCLS librarians. A great starting place for information!
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Find out about services for those who are not able to visit the library.
Links of Interest to Seniors from the Traveling Library Center (TLC).
Des Moines Area Senior Services
Adult Programs
Find out about upcoming programs at the library.
Reference Services
Information Desk. The Information Desk is staffed by professional librarians who will help you find anything from autobiographies to ZIP Codes. Please ask us--we love to help!
Reference Collection.
A wide variety of non-circulating reference books ensure that there will be something checked in on most topics.
Subject Requests.
When your question involves more time or resources than are readily available, complete a "Subject Request" form. A librarian will get back to you with an answer.
Book and Article Requests.
Stop by the Information Desk to request books and articles, or complete the request online through InterLibrary Loan for items KCLS does not own.
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Special Collections
Automotive Repair Collection. Chilton's and Motor manuals dating from 1940 to the present are available for in-library use. Some manuals for specific makes and models are available in the Des Moines Library, and even more may be ordered from other libraries in the system.
Business Reference Center.
Research or track the progress of stocks and mutual funds with Value Line and Morningstar reports. This collection also includes a variety of miscellaneous information as well as small business start-up guides.
Career & College Center.
From choosing a college to choosing a career, you'll find a wealth of information in the Career & College Center.
Collective Biography Collection.
For school reports on a famous (or even a not-so-famous) person, or just to satisfy your own curiosity about whatever happened to . . . look in this section.
Consumer Center.
Research before you buy! The Consumer Center collects the consumer publications on automobiles, products, and services in one location.
Government Documents Collection.
Documents from local government agencies and citizen groups are available for in-library review. Public meeting notices also are posted in this area of the library.
Large Print Collection.
Fiction and nonfiction books in large print provide that little bit extra to make reading easy on the eyes.
Literacy & ESL Collection.
A wide variety of materials, at various levels of proficiency, are available for adult new readers, ESL students, and tutors.
Multilingual Collection.
Books, magazines, newspapers and videos in a variety of world languages, including Spanish, Polish, Hindi and Arabic.
Pamphlet File.
Lots of valuable and interesting information is published in the form of pamphlets rather than books.
Reader's Advisory Collection.
Looking for a good book? Perhaps you've read all the books by your favorite author and want to discover a similar author? Or do you want to read reviews of the newest books to hit the market? You'll find all this and more in the Reader's Advisory section. Middle- and high-school students also will find suggestions for book reports and recreational reading.
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Last Updated: July 20, 2007