Senate Resolution 162 - Introduced
PAG LIN
S.R. ________ H.R. ________
1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO.
1 2 BY TINSMAN, WARD, DEARDEN, HATCH,
1 3 McCOY, ZAUN, and LAMBERTI
1 4 A Resolution to recognize the new Des Moines Public
1 5 Library.
1 6 WHEREAS, the Gateway West Park is an ambitious
1 7 effort to transform the face of downtown Des Moines
1 8 and a key component of that effort is now complete:
1 9 the new two=story, $32.3 million central library; and
1 10 WHEREAS, this imaginative 110,000=square=foot
1 11 meandering structure was officially opened on April 8,
1 12 2006, incorporating a library within a park; and
1 13 WHEREAS, the new building features a popular
1 14 library with more books, more media, and more space
1 15 for special collections, expanded access to new and
1 16 existing library services, a teen center and study
1 17 rooms, an expanded children's area, and a separate
1 18 story hour and crafts room; and
1 19 WHEREAS, London architect David Chipperfield's 21st
1 20 century design for the two=story library consists of
1 21 three wings, each offering different elements to the
1 22 public, all sheathed in a shimmering copper mesh; and
1 23 WHEREAS, architect Chipperfield is no stranger to
1 24 Iowa, having recently completed the Figge Art Museum
1 25 in Davenport; and
1 26 WHEREAS, credit for the project also goes to the
1 27 library's director, Kay Runge, the former director of
1 28 the Davenport Public Library who came to Des Moines in
1 29 2001 to oversee the construction of the city's new
1 30 central library; and
2 1 WHEREAS, Director Runge's vision for this
2 2 remarkable new library can best be summed up in her
2 3 own words: "The public library has been the center of
2 4 lifelong learning for all who live in this republic:
2 5 A place where the doors are open to persons of any
2 6 race, educational level, age, social standing,
2 7 economic status, or political persuasion."; NOW
2 8 THEREFORE,
2 9 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate
2 10 recognizes and extends its congratulations to the city
2 11 of Des Moines and Director Runge for their bold
2 12 efforts to put a new face on Iowa's capital city with
2 13 this remarkable new public library.
2 14 LSB 6718SS 81
2 15 jr:nh/cf/24