The Ankeny Brief

The local's guide · City services

The Ankeny library: hours, card rules, holds, rooms and where to park.

The short answer
Hours and phones

What are the Ankeny library's hours?

Monday through Thursday it is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday it closes at 5. Sunday is 1 to 5. The phone tree is worth knowing, because each desk has its own option.

Address
1250 SW District Dr
Ankeny, IA 50023
Main phone
515-965-6460
Mon to Thu
9 to 8
Fri, Sat 9 to 5; Sun 1 to 5
Circulation · cards, holds, curbside, renewalsopt. 3
Children's Deskopt. 4
Reference Desk · room rentals, notary, study roomsopt. 5
Closures

When is the Ankeny library closed?

These are the remaining dates on the library's 2026 list. Study and conference rooms are only available during open hours, so plan around these.

Day before Thanksgiving · Wed, Nov 25closes 5 p.m.
Thanksgiving · Thu and Fri, Nov 26 and 27closed
Christmas · Thu and Fri, Dec 24 and 25closed
New Year's Eve · Thu, Dec 31closes 5 p.m.
New Year's Day · Fri, Jan 1, 2027closed
Getting there

Where do I park at the Ankeny library, and which door do I use?

Use the north side, the parking lot side. That entrance has the ramp, and accessible parking sits in front of the outside book drop. The south entrance faces District Drive and the fountain, and it has stairs. A walker and a wheelchair are available inside; call opt. 3 if you need help getting in.

The 24-hour outdoor book return is on the same parking lot side, and there is an indoor return in the north vestibule. We like that setup: you can drop books without going in.

Signing up

How do I get an Ankeny library card?

Apply online or in person. It costs nothing if you live in Ankeny, unincorporated Polk County or a town in Iowa's Open Access program. What you bring depends on age.

Ages 0 to 11 · parent or guardian must be thereparent signs
Ages 12 to 17 · school ID works; list a parentphoto ID
Ages 18 and up · updated license, or ID plus mail or a leaseID + address
No ID on you? · 3 items at a time; upgrades once you show ID3-month card

A basic card lasts 3 years, renews free by phone or email, and lets you check out up to 100 items. A lost card is $1 to replace. Your username is the number on the back of the card starting with 2306, and your default PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number on the account.

Live outside city limits? Read this

Rural residents of Crocker, Elkhart or Washington townships get everything, including Libby, Hoopla and Adventure Pass. Other townships get physical materials only. Inside Elkhart city limits, the city contracts with Cambridge Memorial Library, so Libby comes from there.

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Borrowing

How do holds, renewals and fines work?

Most items go out for 3 weeks and renew automatically up to 2 times, unless someone else is waiting. Place holds in the online catalog or by calling. You get a text or email when a hold is ready, and it waits near the circulation desk for 5 days, shelved by the first three letters of your last name.

Overdue books, DVDs, CDs · $5 cap per item20 cents a day
Projectors · ages 18 and up, no renewals7 days
STEAM kits · no renewals14 days
Overdue projectors, kits · $15 cap$3 a day
Account blocked · or an expired card$4.99 in fines

Curbside runs during open hours and stops 30 minutes before closing. Park by the signs on the north side near the flagpoles, then call opt. 3. It shuts down below 0 F or in ice, blizzards and high wind. Going away? Suspend your holds from the Requests page in your account. E-book holds go through Libby or OverDrive, not the catalog.

Rooms

Can I reserve a room at the Ankeny library?

Yes, and you do not need a library card. Study and conference rooms have no listed fee; the big meeting rooms rent by the hour. Book on the library calendar.

Study rooms · glass rooms on both floors, up to 4 peoplefirst come
Conference rooms · second floor, 4 to 10 people, TV with HDMIreserve
Lounge B · open-air space over the lobby, 8 to 10 peoplereserve
Meeting Room B or C · 20 at tables, 40 in chairs$25 an hour
Meeting Room A or BC · 50 at tables, 75 in chairs$50 an hour
Council Chambers · 50 at tables, 75 in chairs$50 an hour
Meeting Room ABC · 75 at tables, 150 in chairs$75 an hour

Those are standard rates. Nonprofits with proof pay half, and government groups pay nothing. Request meeting rooms at least 2 business days ahead and up to 6 months out; payment is due 24 hours before. Catering is fine if it stays in the kitchenette and your room. Conference rooms are capped at 2 hours a day, and you lose the reservation if you are 15 minutes late.

Beyond books

What else can I do at the Ankeny library?

More than most people use. The library's home page counts 373,475 visits and 31,178 program attendees, and its calendar sorts programs by age: early learners, school age, tween and teen, adults.

Dropping off a kid

Library policy: age 5 and under stays with a caregiver at all times. Ages 6 and 7 need a caregiver age 14 or older somewhere in the building. Age 8 and up can stay alone unless behavior becomes a problem.

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Quick answers

Common questions

What are the Ankeny library's hours?

The Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For the rest of 2026 it closes early Nov. 25 and Dec. 31 and is closed Nov. 26 and 27 and Dec. 24 and 25.

Where is the Ankeny public library?

The Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library is at 1250 SW District Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023, in the District at Prairie Trail area. The phone number is 515-965-6460. Park on the north side, where the ramp entrance and accessible parking are.

How do I get an Ankeny library card?

A card is free for any resident of Ankeny, unincorporated Polk County, or a community in Iowa's Open Access program. Apply online or in person. Adults need photo ID with a current address, teens need photo ID, and children under 12 need a parent or guardian present. Cards last three years and renew free.

How long does the library hold a book for me?

Five days. You get a text or email when the hold is ready, and it waits near the circulation desk. Someone else can pick it up with your card or your permission. Curbside pickup is available until 30 minutes before closing.

What are the late fees at the Ankeny library?

Books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays are 20 cents a day per item, up to $5 per item. Digital projectors and STEAM kits are $3 a day, up to $15. You cannot check out if your fines reach $4.99.

How much does it cost to rent a meeting room at the Ankeny library?

Standard rates run $25 to $75 an hour depending on the room. Nonprofits with proof of exemption pay half and government groups pay nothing. A library card is not required. The library lists no fee for study and conference rooms.

What programs does the Ankeny library offer?

The library calendar lists storytimes, school-age and teen programs, book clubs, crafts, games, genealogy, writing, bilingual and virtual author events. It sorts them by age group: early learners, school age, tween and teen, and adults.

Can my kids go to the library alone?

Children 8 and older may stay unaccompanied unless behavior becomes a problem. Ages 6 and 7 need a caregiver age 14 or older in the building. Ages 5 and under must stay with a caregiver at all times.

Sources: Library hours and location, Get a library card, Holds, How to borrow, Fines and fees policy, Circulation policy, Meeting room rental, Study and conference rooms, room policy, Adventure Pass, Makerspace, Computers, printing and fax, Notary, Exam proctoring, Tech appointments, Unattended child policy, Library home, program calendar. All read November 1, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the library before a special trip.
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