Field House / Library 1960s
Field House / Library 1960s
Women's Society picnic at Field House / Library 1960s
Women's Society picnic at Field House / Library 1960s
Des Moines Library from 1965-1988
Des Moines Library from 1965-1988
Des Moines Library 2003 Des Moines Library 2003
Des Moines Library
21620 11th. Avenue S.

The Enterprise Club (Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club) in 1921 moved to give the books stored in Grit's General Store to the school for a library. In 1924 the Ladies Auxiliary and the PTA began to work together in an effort to establish a library in the school. The library was relocated to the Enterprise Club's Club House at the foot of S. 226th St. and 6th Avenue S. after the school fire in 1925. The Enterprise Club managed the library until the formation of the Library League. In 1944 the local library became part of the mobile County Library System. By 1946 the library now a full fledged branch of the King County Library System was relocated to a small room (26.3 meters square holding 9,594 books) on the East side of the Des Moines Field House. The Des Moines Library League was formed March 23, 1960 by the efforts of the Des Moines - Zenith Improvement Club and others. In 1964 Des Moines voters passed a $35,000 bond for construction and maintenance of a larger library. With a matching contribution from The Federal Library Services and Construction Act the new facility on 24th Avenue S. was designed and built by Jack Kniskern. It was dedicated Dec. 12, 1965. Again the community of over 23,000 people outgrew it's library designed to serve 8,000. A 1982 survey conducted by the Library Board recommended a new building. With a bond of $450,000 in 1986, profits from the sale of the library building to Grace Lutheran Church, and County matching funds the $1,2000,000 project began. The new building was opened on Sept. 19, 1988 and boasted a 50 seat community room and a children's story area. In 2003 the library also has several computer terminals that offer free access to internet and computer research for the public.

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