Des Moines Public Library – Central

Free Wifi and Free Two Hour Parking!
It is only $.25 to print a piece of paper out and the computers are free to use — what? you Don’t have a card? Get a Free Guest pass! They have new books and cool events coming all the time– so check them out for yourself.
They are also very active on Facebook and Twitter — so be a follower– These are you Tax Dollars — USE this Place!!!

The is one of the coolest looking buildings both inside and out that I have ever seen. It’s looks like a modern museum from the outside and it’s reflective walls makes it look like a building with no windows but once you are inside you discovered that it’s all windows! It’s crazy! Don’t judge a book by it’s cover is very fitting with the building design. It’s an absolutely genius design for a building.
The selection of the downtown location is out of this world, they have tons of books, dvds, cds, and magazines. They will also special order pretty much anything out there!
The staff is super helpful and there are lots of computers to work on. It’s a great place to kill a few hours while in downtown Des Moines.

When the Central Library moved from it’s riverside location to 1000 Grand, it was a move through time and space.
Leaving the staid traditional architecture of yesteryear, * The Central Library collection is now housed in a significantly more 21^st century structure (by David Chipperfield Architects) featuring floor-​to-​ceiling glass-​encased expanded copper windows, a minimalist aesthetic for its interior, a green roof system on top, and a subterranean parking garage beneath.
The library’s collection is decent (and maybe better, thanks to the fast and easy delivery of materials from the branch libraries) and includes a fine mix of genre and media. While it is simple to check out and run, sit near a window for a spell and enjoy the bustle in the park outside via the privacy of the near one-​way glass walls.
The Central Library is located near several dining establishments and coffee shops and is easily accessible from other parts of town (beware of the one-​way streets that surround the library — Grand is east to west, Locust is west to east…)
NOTES: Hours as of this review —
Mon-​Wed: 9 AM — 8 PM | Thu — Fri: 9 AM — 6 PM | Sat: 9 AM — 5 PM | Sun: 1 PM — 5 PM [September — May]
Pick-​Up Window Hours: Mon — Fri: 4 PM — 6 PM | Sat: 3 PM — 5 PM
Exterior photos can be found here:

Interior photos:

* Don’t get me wrong — I do still love the original structure.