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Cowles Library Cowles Library, Drake University. The largest private academic library in Iowa.

Join us in the Reading Room at 6 PM tomorrow night for Banned Books Trivia Night! Bonus points if your team has faculty,...
10/07/2026

Join us in the Reading Room at 6 PM tomorrow night for Banned Books Trivia Night! Bonus points if your team has faculty, staff, and students. Prizes for the winning team! Pizza and snacks will be available!

Faculty, staff, and students! Join us in the Reading Room tonight at 6:00 pm for a screening of the documentary Banned T...
10/06/2026

Faculty, staff, and students! Join us in the Reading Room tonight at 6:00 pm for a screening of the documentary Banned Together, a film that follows three students as they fight to reinstate 97 books pulled from their school libraries. We hope to see you there!

Our annual Banned Books display is here! Come contribute your thoughts on our white boards.
10/05/2026

Our annual Banned Books display is here! Come contribute your thoughts on our white boards.

📚🚀 100 Years of Amazing Stories: Now on Display!This year marks the 100th anniversary of Amazing Stories, the first maga...
10/01/2026

📚🚀 100 Years of Amazing Stories: Now on Display!

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted entirely to science fiction, founded by Hugo Gernsback in 1926. To celebrate, we've installed a new display outside the archives, running throughout October.

From the pulp magazines that launched the genre, to the "Golden Age" of Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke, to First Fandom and the very first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939, the exhibit traces how a single magazine grew into a cultural phenomenon that inspired generations of readers, scientists, and engineers.

The display was curated by former Dean of the Library Rod Henshaw, and features books from the collection he generously donated to the archives, along with items from his own private collection.

Think you know your banned books? Grab a few friends and put it to the test. Teams can have up to six people. Bonus poin...
09/30/2026

Think you know your banned books? Grab a few friends and put it to the test. Teams can have up to six people. Bonus points if you team has faculty, staff, and students! Prizes for the winning team and snacks for everyone!

New book display in Midnight Hall for those with a busy schedule and a desire to read something fresh.
09/30/2026

New book display in Midnight Hall for those with a busy schedule and a desire to read something fresh.

Faculty, staff, and students! Join us in the Reading Room on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 pm for a screening of the docume...
09/29/2026

Faculty, staff, and students! Join us in the Reading Room on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 pm for a screening of the documentary Banned Together, a film that follows three students as they fight to reinstate 97 books pulled from their school libraries. We hope to see you there!

Banned Books Week is coming to Cowles Library, October 4–10. 📚Join us for a week celebrating the freedom to read.🎬 Docum...
09/28/2026

Banned Books Week is coming to Cowles Library, October 4–10. 📚

Join us for a week celebrating the freedom to read.

🎬 Documentary Screening: Banned Together
Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m.

🧠 Banned Books Trivia Night
Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m. · Teams of up to six. Prizes for the winners and snacks for everyone.

📖 Banned Books Display
All week on the first floor. Stop by and see what's been challenged and why.

New display in the north lobby! We're showcasing favorite books from our newest faculty members on campus.
09/24/2026

New display in the north lobby! We're showcasing favorite books from our newest faculty members on campus.

Cowles Library will be CLOSED on Friday, June 19th for the Juneteenth holiday. We will reopen for normal hours on Monday...
06/17/2026

Cowles Library will be CLOSED on Friday, June 19th for the Juneteenth holiday. We will reopen for normal hours on Monday, June 22. Stop by our featured collection display this week to check out a book!

Address

2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50311

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 12am
Tuesday 7:30am - 12am
Wednesday 7:30am - 12am
Thursday 7:30am - 12am
Friday 7:30am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 12am

Telephone

+15152712111

Website

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