Event List

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Library Branch
Library Branch
Ongoing Events
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This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Baby Rhyme Time

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 10:15am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime. This program is recommended for caregiv...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Children" group.

Creative Readers Special -Juneteenth Storytime

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts, Storytimes
Age Group:
Children
Event Details:

Join us for a special Juneteenth Storytime with a representative from Iowa Juneteenth! Enjoy a captivating read-aloud, learn about upcoming celebrations, and take part in a hands-o...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Storytimes
Event Details:

Join us for a special Juneteenth Storytime with a representative from Iowa Juneteenth! Enjoy a captivating read-aloud, learn about upcoming celebrations, and take part in a hands-on craft.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 10:15am - 10:45am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.  ...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Adults" group.

AARP Fraud Watch

Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Educational
Age Group:
Adults
Event Details:

Ever been a victim of a scam? Do you know anyone who has? Would you like to learn about the latest scams in Iowa and ways to protect yourself and others?AARP Iowa invites you to a ...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Educational
Event Details:

Ever been a victim of a scam? Do you know anyone who has? Would you like to learn about the latest scams in Iowa and ways to protect yourself and others?

This event is in the "Children" group.
This event is in the "All Ages" group.

Alice in Wonderland Sneak Preview

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:30am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Performances
Age Group:
Children, All Ages
Event Details:

Visit the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of Alice in Wonderland based on the book by Lewis Carroll.Enjoy the performance ...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, All Ages
Program Type: Performances
Event Details:

Visit the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of Alice in Wonderland based on the book by Lewis Carroll.

Enjoy the performance and enter to win free tickets to the play!

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Little Explorers

Monday, May 5, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Play & Learn
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

PLEASE NOTE: NOW ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH! Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

PLEASE NOTE: NOW ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH! Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different sensory activities. No Registration is Required.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Teens" group.

Franklin VolunTeens

Monday, May 5, 2025 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Educational, Library Meeting
Age Group:
Teens
Event Details:

We are no longer accepting teen volunteer applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Summer volunteering: We are no longer accepting teen volunteer applications for Summer 20...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Educational, Library Meeting
Event Details:

We are no longer accepting teen volunteer applications for the 2024-2025 school year.

 

Summer volunteering: We are no longer accepting teen volunteer applications for Summer 2025.

 

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Baby Rhyme Time

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 10:15am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime. This program is recommended for caregiv...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 10:15am - 10:45am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old. 

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Sewing Basics: Pockets!

Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Educational
Age Group:
Teens, Adults
Event Details:

Pockets! Learn how to add pockets to a dress or skirt. Bring your own, or learn the concept on scrap fabric provided by instructor. Kaitlyn is a costumer and sewing hobby...

Required
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Educational
Required
Seats Remaining: 23
Event Details:

Pockets! Learn how to add pockets to a dress or skirt. Bring your own, or learn the concept on scrap fabric provided by instructor. 

This event is in the "Adults" group.

Franklin Afternoon Book Discussion

Monday, May 12, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Book Clubs
Age Group:
Adults
Event Details:

May's selection is The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam. The Franklin Afternoon Book Discussion is a regularly scheduled book club meeting on the second Monda...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Clubs
Event Details:

May's selection is The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Baby Rhyme Time

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 10:15am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime. This program is recommended for caregiv...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:15am - 10:45am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old. 

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Teens" group.

The Art of Expression: Thumbprint Collage

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts, Educational
Age Group:
Teens
Event Details:

The Art of Expression is a program for teens to learn and create different types of art in a relaxed atmosphere. On May 14, create a collage of embellished thumbprint characte...

Required
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Educational
Required
Seats Remaining: 19
Event Details:

The Art of Expression is a program for teens to learn and create different types of art in a relaxed atmosphere. 

This event is in the "Children" group.

Kids Pokémon Card Swap

Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
Children
Event Details:

Are you looking for a place to trade your Pokémon cards? Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade.  This event is open to chil...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

Are you looking for a place to trade your Pokémon cards? 

Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade.  This event is open to children ages 7-18. 

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Adults" group.

Reading on the Margins Book Discussion

Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Book Clubs
Age Group:
Adults
Event Details:

Join us once a month to discuss books by underrepresented authors. Our goal is to amplify these voices and experiences while discussing social issues in the context of fiction and ...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Clubs
Event Details:

Join us once a month to discuss books by underrepresented authors. Our goal is to amplify these voices and experiences while discussing social issues in the context of fiction and non-fiction books.

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Sourdough Basics

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Educational
Age Group:
Teens, Adults
Event Details:

Join us for Beginning Sourdough, a class where we explore the fundamentals of sourdough - what it is, how it works, and the many delicious things you can make with it.Steve Bryce i...

Required
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Educational
Required
Seats Remaining: 25
Event Details:

Join us for Beginning Sourdough, a class where we explore the fundamentals of sourdough - what it is, how it works, and the many delicious things you can make with it.

This event is in the "Adults" group.

Franklin Cinema Club – Pride

Monday, May 19, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Movies
Age Group:
Adults
Event Details:

May's film selection is 2014 comedy drama Pride, starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton.Discuss noteworthy films at the Franklin Cinema Club, a discussion series held the third Mo...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Movies
Event Details:

May's film selection is 2014 comedy drama Pride, starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton.

Memorial Day

All Day 5/25 - 5/26
Central Library, East Side Library, Forest Avenue Library, Franklin Avenue Library, North Side Library, South Side Library, Off Site, DMPL Systemwide

All locations will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

Closing
Branches:
Central Library, East Side Library, Forest Avenue Library, Franklin Avenue Library, North Side Library, South Side Library, Off Site, DMPL Systemwide
Description:

All locations will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

This event is in the "All Ages" group.

African American Museum of Iowa's Mapping Exclusion: Redlining in Iowa Exhibit

All Day 5/27 - 5/30
Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Exhibits
Age Group:
All Ages
Event Details:

Join us at the Franklin Avenue Library for Mapping Exclusion: Redlining in Iowa. This exhibit from the African American Museum of Iowa explores the impact of housing discrimination...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Exhibits
Event Details:

Join us at the Franklin Avenue Library for Mapping Exclusion: Redlining in Iowa. This exhibit from the African American Museum of Iowa explores the impact of housing discrimination and segregation in the state of Iowa.

This event is in the "All Ages" group.

Des Moines Metro Opera Preview - The Flying Dutchman

Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Performances
Age Group:
All Ages
Event Details:

Des Moines Metro Opera opens its 2025 season with the return of Richard Wagner’s epic ghost story, The Flying Dutchman. Join DMMO Preview Lecturer, Joshua Borths, for an in-de...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Performances
Event Details:

Des Moines Metro Opera opens its 2025 season with the return of Richard Wagner’s epic ghost story, The Flying Dutchman. Join DMMO Preview Lecturer, Joshua Borths, for an in-depth look

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Little Explorers

Monday, June 2, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Play & Learn
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

PLEASE NOTE: NOW ON THE FIRST MONDY OF THE MONTH! Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different ...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

PLEASE NOTE: NOW ON THE FIRST MONDY OF THE MONTH! Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different sensory activities. No Registration is Required.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Baby Rhyme Time

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 10:15am - 11:00am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime. This program is recommended for caregiv...

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group.

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 10:15am - 10:45am
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room at Franklin Avenue Library
Program Type:
Storytimes
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old. 

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Join Miss Donna for this fun filled story time! Together we will enjoy stories, songs, and more, all selected to engage your active toddler. Ages 18 months to 3 years old.

 

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.