Des Moines Public Library Foundation

08/27/2026

Kick off your holiday weekend with a little reading on the Central Library lawn to show your support for OUR libraries. As the City weighs tough budget decisions, we want to ensure cuts to the library budget stay at or below $750,000 (well above its proportionate share of the overall cuts). See you there!

07/30/2026

This is your reminder that tomorrow is the last day to complete the city budget survey (open through July 315t). Tell the City Council what you value as they weigh budget cuts.

Find the survey online at dsm.city under City Departments > Finance
> Research and Budget. Or pick up a paper copy at any DMPL location.

07/20/2026

July 31st is the deadline to submit the City of Des Moines’ Budget Savings Calculator survey for the FY28 budget! If you have already filled out the survey:

1) Send it to a friend!
2) Contact your City Council member and tell them you oppose disproportionately high cuts to the library's budget.

You can find out who your city council member is and their contact info at dsm.city, and the ward map with contact info is also linked in our bio!

07/14/2026

The Des Moines City Council is currently discussing the FY28 budget and cuts across departments, including impacts on the Des Moines Public Library system. The City budget shortfall is estimated at $12 million for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2027.

You can provide input on proposed cuts by filling out the City’s budget calculator survey. Public service departments, including the library, have identified a range of potential cuts that are listed in this online budget exercise. In the tool, you choose the options you think are best, and when you reach $12 million in savings, you can submit your selections. City Council members have stated that this is how they are receiving a large amount of feedback from the public.

The budget survey is open through July 31st.

Ways you can help support the library:
1) Take the budget calculator survey to show your support for the library!
2) Send the link to a friend to also take the budget survey.
3) Call your City Council member, and tell them you strongly oppose disproportionate cuts to the library budget. The library’s budget respresents only 4% of the city budget, and cuts should align with that.

07/13/2026

Today we are spotlighting the East Side Library!

You can help support East Side and other branches by donating at dmplfoundation.org

All motion graphics designed by Drake University student volunteers.

07/07/2026

The Des Moines City Council is currently discussing the FY28 budget and potential cuts across departments, including impacts on the Des Moines Public Library system. A public budget discussion will take place on July 9th at 6 p.m. There will be time for public questions. Please attend if you can it will be held at Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309. Show your support not only by showing up, but also by wearing an "I'm a library advocate" t-shirt! A portion of the proceeds benefit DMPL. To order: dmpl.org/merch

07/06/2026

Thank you for your recent support of the library and the foundation.

Libraries are NOT extras; they are essential for literacy, learning, opportunities, and most importantly, they are essential to YOU and the communities around us.

Don’t know where to start? Consider,
1) Being an advocate, whether that is showing up to city council meetings, wearing a library advocate T-shirt purchased from Raygun, or just simply using your voice.
2) Donating to the Foundation to help fund literacy programs and other services that are essential to DSM.
3) Use your libraries; show that they are essential even when uncertainty lies ahead.

07/01/2026

Our July Highlights!

Be sure to take a look at the budget calculator that the DSM City Council put out for a survey on the upcoming 2028 Budget cuts. Make your voices heard and support libraries!

06/29/2026

Now is your opportunity to tell the City of Des Moines what matters to you. Take part in this budget exercise and inform city leaders what your priorities are for the city's future. The survey will remain open through July 31. https://www.dsm.city/budget

06/26/2026