If You’re Looking For A Good Book, These Are The 15 Iowa’s Libraries To Check Out

If you’re interested in finding a captivating read, be sure to explore these seven libraries in Iowa for a wide selection of books. From popular bestsellers to hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, each library offers an exciting range of literature options.

Ranking the 15 Best Public Libraries in Iowa

Ames Public Library

• Address: 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (172)
• Phone: +1 515-239-5646
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  The Ames library is great! The staff is amazing and very helpful. The children’s play area has so many fun things for the kids to enjoy. Train/Lego table, kitchen with food/dishes, instruments, busy boxes to play with, and a puppet show area. There’s tons for kids to do! The adult section is set up wonderfully with awesome seating spots to hang out, computers to use, and a large magazine rack! We spend a lot of our time here!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Heather Oswald (5 months ago)

  The Ames Library Staff is absolutely amazing!!! I have to say the staff at the desk in front , the upstairs adult reading area are so extremely helpful and always so friendly and able answer any questions I have. I also recently used the children’s section with my grandson it is phenomenal! We stopped at the desk after looking around a bit and asked a young lady for assistance with books for his age and level and she was so extremely helpful. There is simply no other way to put it the staff is so great I loved our experience there . The touch screen interactive pad was amazing for the kids and all the legos and toys , and learning items , wonderful library love, love, love!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By amy peterman (4 months ago)

  This Library has clean and beautiful environment, rich collection of books, friendly and kind librarians, and also held learning parties for 3 kinds of languages, reading sessions, movies, handicraft gatherings; This is a multifunctional library.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By P Princess (皮公主) (3 years ago)

  My internet was down for a couple days. The Ames Public Library was very accommodating in letting me use a study room for an online meeting. The library is such a great resource to the community in so many ways.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Joe Ferrell (7 months ago)

  I travel to Ames to visit family about once a year. This library is wonderful. I am an artist and they have a huge selection graphic novels. Always fun to stop and take a break and read something. And they have closed out on books sometimes they’re really good books if you’re a book lover like me

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By john robinson (9 months ago)

Iowa City Public Library

• Address: 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (168)
• Phone: +1 319-356-5200
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  This on a sincere pride of Iowa City and a significant staple within the larger community. The Iowa City Public Library (ICPL) has a giant media section for both children and adults full of DVDs, Audio Books, and e-resources. The ICPL has several different community activities each weekday night and several child and youth activities during the school year and during breaks. The community rooms are all free for checkout and it is located within the Pedestrian Mall with direct access to various restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. During the warmer months there is an outdoor fountain for children to play within and weekly live music concerts.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Trent (a year ago)

  This is by far the best library in the area! My kids beg me to take them there every weekend. It is wonderful for all ages- the children’s room has many toys and games to play with as well as computers to play on. They frequently have activities planned like storybook hour or a scavenger hunt. For older kids, there’s a teen room upstairs with computers and video games. There is also plenty of quiet spots to sit and relax with a great book if you’re looking for some peace and quiet. The staff there are some of the nicest, most helpful people!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Heather Dull (a month ago)

  Beautiful library!! Gigantic inventory. Very helpful staff. Thankfully, the children’s section is tucked into the corner because it can get loud in there. It’s convenient, close and open 7 days a week.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Sera Sanders (2 months ago)

  This is the best place for a family day. The are welcoming to all ages. Actives start for infants with 6 weeks (book babies) and up. They have wonderful schedule of different activities as the kids garden where kids practice planting vegetables and keep track of how they grow. Variety of books, old and new. Easy check out, and self checkout is available too. Very convenient hours during the entire week.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Haydar Aljaafari (3 years ago)

  The public library is one of the most important institutions in our society. Iowa City has a long history of doing it well.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Austin Wells (6 months ago)

Central Library

• Address: 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (139)
• Phone: +1 515-283-4152
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Clean, quiet peaceful; both floors… Friendly staff members..

  Recommend, can do work in lots of areas. Plus parking available near building. (Unknown hours for free parking)

  Highly recommend 😌👍

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Belle Zella (5 months ago)

  Fast wifi and comfortable seats. There’s a security guard on duty at all times which is nice because its close to the downtown homeless shelter

  ✭✭✭✭ By Jonathan Howard (2 weeks ago)

  My little guy (7yr) was really excited to go back to the library today. But he was bummed out because they no longer have the big blocks nor the train set. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Boys left happy with a few books to read at home.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Karen De La Cruz (8 months ago)

  Love spending time here. The people are great and everyone in town that comes here is so respectful!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Alfred Degouine (3 weeks ago)

  This is such a great place. The grounds have benches and fountains and there are some really cool sculptures out there as well. I adore all of the displays and especially the art created by some extremely talented and imaginative librarians! The featured books in the lobby have turned me on to some wonderful authors and unforgettable stories . I had no friends or television for my first year here and books were my sole companions as well as my only source of in house entertainment so this place is very special to me. 💕

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Carrie Juska (a year ago)

West Des Moines Public Library

• Address: 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50265, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (130)
• Phone: +1 515-222-3400
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Beautiful location. Always kept very clean and the staff is very friendly. Wide selection of anything that you need. Has a beautiful lake outback that you can walk around with many sculptures.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By chris johnson (3 months ago)

  Great clean, well maintained library. Some walking trails around and overall a I’ve had pleasant experiences with the workers and the facility. As someone with young kids, this library is incredible. Amazing children’s section with activities to do with children and lots of places to sit and read with them.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Kayla Wright (4 months ago)

  Friendly and helpful staff. Great selection of books and movies. Awesome walking trail around lake.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Tom Davis (6 months ago)

  Overall, great staff, clean, well maintained, accessible, organized, modern layout. Fairly decent computer lab, reserving rooms, movie selection, and books. Flexible on checkouts and no purchase necessary for movies and fines/paper prints are reasonable.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Samuel Titus (6 months ago)

  My son is an avid reader and goes through a lot of books, I do not know where we would be without the Library. We moved into the neighborhood a few years back and discovered what a Library should be. Our previous Librarian was always helpful in finding books, but never at suggesting them. There are 2 Librarians that changed everything for us, Miss Jena and Miss Betsy, they are able to give great reading suggestions to my son week after week. Prior to meeting these 2 young ladies, we were constantly struggling to find him things to read. They will even go ahead and put new stuff on hold for him that they think he will be interested in, which is always pleasant surprise when we check our holds. My son is getting older now and has been reading the young adult stuff, but we still start at the kids desk during our weekly visits.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Thai B (4 years ago)

Coralville Public Library

• Address: 1401 5th St, Coralville, IA 52241, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (77)
• Phone: +1 319-248-1850
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

  Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

  Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

  Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

  Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Sunday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Good place to spend your time with your children, and when you’re feeling hungry you could buy any foods around.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By adra muntaha (7 months ago)

  Very large and well maintained. Make sure to check out their website for any activities they have going on.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Nicole Cullen (4 years ago)

  I am new to the Coralville Public Library and have been delighted to find
  the staff so pleasant and helpful. They are always willing to go the extra mile and I am so greatful they will still do curbside delivery.
  Keep up the great work!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Jill Kahn (12 months ago)

  I went to one of the drive-in movie nights they host- and my car died 15 minutes into the movie! I asked if any of the workers had jumper cables and could help and they were awesome! They got my car back up and running very quickly, and were super nice about it! The drive-in movie theater they do is also great, so consider taking your friends and family to it sometime! A super fun time!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Olivia Galyon (2 years ago)

  This is a great Library. Comfortable, spacious and kid friendly. Excellent internet access and limited free printing! If they don’t have the book your looking for you can (!) use the inter-Library loan system. I submitted a purchase request for a book that was not in the catalogue and the library purchased it about two weeks later!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Sarah Ross (4 years ago)

Mason City Public Library

• Address: 225 2nd St SE, Mason City, IA 50401, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (55)

Burlington Public Library

• Address: 210 Court St, Burlington, IA 52601, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (54)

Fairfield Public Library

• Address: 104 W Adams Ave, Fairfield, IA 52556, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.9 (45)

Spencer Public Library

• Address: 21 E 3rd St, Spencer, IA 51301, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (40)

Washington Public Library

• Address: 115 W Washington St, Washington, IA 52353, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (18)

Nevada Public Library

• Address: 631 K Ave, Nevada, IA 50201, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.9 (17)

Gutekunst Public Library

• Address: 309 2nd St SE, State Center, IA 50247, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 5 (16)

Polk City Community Library

• Address: 1500 W Broadway St, Polk City, IA 50226, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (11)

Hudson Public Library

• Address: 401 5th St, Hudson, IA 50643, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 5 (10)

Akron Public Library

• Address: 350 Reed St, Akron, IA 51001, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 5 (8)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best public libraries in Iowa, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!