A New Look at the North Side Library

A facelift at the North Side Library has brightened the library and is creating new, memorable experiences for people of all ages.

If you've been to the North Side Library in the past several months, you've probably noticed tarps, caution signs, wet walls, and other signs of a remodel in progress. The project had two separate parts. The biggest change is a revitalized children's area, which features a fresh paint job and new features meant to make the library a destination for families visiting the neighborhood.

The new features include an arch, reminiscent of the arch on 6th Avenue that welcomes people to the Oak Park and Highland Park neighborhoods, and a moving miniature carousal that was custom-fit for one of the pillars in the children's area. The carousal resembles The Heritage Carousel at Union Park, one of the North Side's (and the city's) signature landmarks. There are also new toys and activities in the children's area.

"The Highland Park business district, which is where the North Side Library is located, has been having a renaissance with new businesses coming in and new people moving in," says Kate Young, North Side Library manager. "It’s important that the library be a destination for young families to meet up for playdates, enjoy storytimes, stock up on books, and have a free 'third space' that is child-friendly."

The new features in the children's area were made possible thanks to gifts from the Mary K. Davis Estate, the KFC Foundation, and the Lane Hathaway Early Literacy Fund. The latter gift was made through the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, and all three gifts were facilitated by the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. The library thanks them for their contributions in helping make the library a more welcoming place.

The kid's area refresh was just one part of the North Side remodel project. The other major changes are helping make the library more functional. Additional public bathrooms were added, and the staff workroom was also remodeled. These funds, as well as the fresh paint job in the children's area, were provided through City of Des Moines Continuous Improvement Project funding. The city also provided the funds to expand the parking lot last year, which provided not just additional library parking, but parking for people visiting businesses in the area.

"The refresh shows the neighborhood that the city and the library are invested in supporting library service in our community," says Young. "Our neighborhood and staff are deserving of a library that is warm and inviting."

Next time you find yourself on the North Side, whether you're doing some shopping, grabbing lunch, or just want to visit on a nice day, be sure to pop in to the North Side Library as well to see the fun new features and borrow some books!