Upcoming Events

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.

Make a gingerbread house out of cardstock! Drop-in to North Side to decorate and build a paper gingerbread house.

Learn to make beautiful letters with ASAP at the North Side Library! Calligraphy is the art of lettering, like fancy writing.

Visit South Side to decorate your own sugar cookies! From colorful frosting to fun toppings, we'll provide everything you need to design delicious cookie creations as unique as you are!

If you're between the ages of 12-18 and looking for a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity, give the library a try! We would love to have your help!

Broaden your perspective, find new strategies for handling life’s challenges, or deepen your understanding of a topic when you join us for a monthly conversation around a life-changing nonfiction book. 

Join us at the Central Library for a fun storytime featuring movement, music, and rhyming! The storytime will take place in the meeting room to allow for social distancing.

Preschoolers and their caregivers can enjoy stories, rhymes, music, and learn school readiness skills. Afterwards, we will enjoy free-play together.

Learn how to use the Glowforge Plus Laser Engraver at Tech Central! This program takes the place of the 1 on 1 Glowforge tutorial, so you will be fully qualified to book and use the Glowforge on your own after this program. 

A mosaic is a picture produced by arranging small pieces of stone, tile, or other material.

Connect with others interested in environmentally friendly gardens. The focus is on native plants which foster and nourish wildlife.

Please join us for a very special event featuring Des Moines native Don Tate!  

Beat the boredom during the summer by visiting the library and using your imagination to create amazing things with our LEGOs.

Get creative at North Side and enjoy our cart of arts and crafts supplies!

Learn some of the amazing facts about our local neighborhood in space with NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Dan Hoy.

The Des Moines Public Library is partnering with area organizations to connect people with community resources. Community advocates will provide information about community resources like meal sites and shelters.

Come to the library and create a design with perler beads and we will iron it for you to take home!

Stop in the library for fun arts and crafts with our Art Cart! While supplies last. Adult supervision is required. 

Love doing puzzles during the holidays? Have some winter holiday themed puzzles at home that you've done and loved but won't do again?

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy introductory stories, songs, music, and movement! For ages 18 months to 36 months.

Join Miss Jennifer for Preschool Storytime on Monday mornings at 10:15 a.m.  There will be stories, rhymes, music, and more.

This storytime is recommended for ages three to five, but all children are welcome to attend.

If you’re a kid who likes to draw (or wants to learn or improve your skills), this class is for you! In these three weeks we will use charcoal, colored pencils, white pencils, and graphite drawing pencils to practice drawing.

At this reading group, presented and sponsored by Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity, a special guest will share a book and activity that celebrate diverse iden