Singing the Blues at the Newly Expanded Forest Avenue Library

Built in 1992, the Forest Avenue branch library was the smallest one in the Des Moines Public Library system. The addition of 2,300 square feet at Forest Avenue means the North Side library now has the smallest space. Although regular branch hours do not include Sundays, the Forest Avenue branch opened on Sunday, November 18, 2007, for a celebration of the renovation. With a table full of delicious appetizers arranged by Something Good Restaurant & Catering and a history of the Blues given by Fruteland Jackson, about 100 people of all ages enjoyed the special day.

After the posting of the colors by the Des Moines Police Honor Guard and the singing of the national anthem, a few short speeches were given. Don Mayberry, president of the King-Irving Neighborhood Association expressed the sentiment of the community when he said, “I wanted everybody to know how enthused we are about this beautiful building.” In the welcome speech, Forest Avenue Branch Manager Sally Wisdom told how Kesho Scott, an associate professor at Grinnell College, shared a command from her mother when Scott spoke at the 1992 opening of the building. In her introduction of Jackson, Scott repeated that phrase: “Get your butt to the library.” Scott added, “it is a statement we’re going to be saying forever.”

Wisdom has been branch manager for about four-and-a-half years. She has been an employee of the public library for two decades, previously working at the downtown central library and at other branches. In an interview with AroundDesMoines.com, she said, “our library is very well supported by the community.” She added, “we have a very dedicated, hard working staff.” There are ten people who work at the library either full time or part time. The Friends of the Forest Avenue Library hold a soul food festival in March. There is a foreign language section with an emphasis on books and other materials primarily in Spanish and in Vietnamese.

A display case in a meeting room told the story of the expansion in numbers. My favorite one was that 50,000 books were moved, twice. Other numbers were: 3,700 carpet tiles used; 3,650 feet of data/phone wire laid; 600 fluorescent light fixtures installed; and 150 gallons of paint applied. In addition, the library was closed for 5 weeks.

The design of the library is long and narrow. There is a tall window that offers a view of Evelyn Davis Park to the west, which is a nice touch. A new teen area offers a place for older students to gather. Over the check-out desk is a large neon sign giving the library’s web site address. The sign is very visible but its message about the future of libraries is very subtle. The ceiling should not be ignored by visitors to the branch. The bright red struts and the location of windows on the front side of the building make me want to dig out information on the building’s original architectural designs.

Jackson’s talk on the Blues ranged from the 1500’s when the blues was first observed in print, referring to turmoil, to the global reach of the musical style in the 21st century. For a person born in Mississippi, he talked fast, as though he had so much to say and too little time. Sadly, he noted that in Chicago, where he now lives, there is no radio station playing the Blues. If not for the Internet, his three CD’s would not be heard in the city. This was an example he shared of how the Blues are now just coasting along and starting to fade away.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

admin is
Email this author | All posts by admin