Albert Einstein once said: “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” At Roosevelt High School, the location of the library is also something you WANT to know.
A celebration of the school’s newly renovated library was held on Wednesday evening, opening the space just in time for the start of a new school year. But this space is more than books on rows upon rows of shelves. It is an innovation and learning center for the school, turning what was an underutilized area into a hub for students, faculty, parents and alumni.
“After the more than one-million-dollar renovation of our library, we’re excited to unveil the remarkable space to our community,” said Steve Schappaugh, principal of Roosevelt High School. “Thanks to the district and Roosevelt Foundation we have this upgrade to enhance the learning opportunities for our students and bring our community together.”
A big point of pride at the event was the engagement with Roosevelt students in the project, in particular selecting books and materials that they found to be of interest as well as authentic to their high school studies. Students also wished for a space that was more open and brighter, and so the library – originally built as an addition to the high school in 1962 – now features large windows facing out in three directions.
One of the first things a person might notice when walking into the space is that it has an art gallery vibe. And for good reason. Each of the nooks lining the east and west walls along with several other areas throughout the library feature dynamic installations by artists with ties not only to Des Moines but deep connections to Roosevelt High School as alums, family or faculty. Among the artists represented in the space include Liz Lidgett, Nicole James, James Navarro, Anna Frederick, Asphate, Mary Pat Lamair, Katie Jensen, and Reuben Cheatem. As several people noted throughout the evening: “This is not something you’re going to find in the suburbs.”
The new library became a reality thanks to a partnership between the school district, the high school, and the Theodore Roosevelt High School Foundation, which raised $1.1 million in support of the project. This was the result of a multi-year capital campaign that included leading gifts from MidAmerican Energy, Prairie Meadows, Polk County, and the W.T. and Edna M. Dahl Trust along with support from more than 400 individual donors. This is the second major project at Roosevelt that the TRHS Foundation has supported in as many years, dedicating the Randy Duncan Track and Field on the east edge of campus in 2022.
At Wednesday’s dedication, some specially-designed cookies for the event were available for guests to nibble on, including some that read “Learning and Innovation at the Velt” … an apt description of a space that will support and benefit students for many years to come.
