Week Calendar

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

Between 9:00 AM-10:00 AM, the East Side Library invites families and children with special needs to borrow materials and enjoy the library’s sensory stations.

Do you need a calm place to play? Then come to the Forest Avenue Calming Room for a sensory interactive experience! This is an unsupervised, drop-in program for youth.

Monarch butterflies are especially attracted to the nectar of the native Iowa plants outside the Franklin Library.

Children ages three to five can come and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, and more, followed by a craft.

Play, Grow, Learn! is an opportunity for you to use the Imagination Station to explore early literacy tips and books, play with others, and develop early literacy skills using Forest Avenue Library's space and toys.

Join us for rhymes, bounces, a story, and a short playtime. For caregivers and babies from newborns up to eighteen months.

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

“Mother Goose on the Loose”, is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds. The class helps to strengthen babies' and toddler's foundation for literacy with rhymes, rhythm, repetition, story, and movement.

Do you need a calm place to play? Then come to the Forest Avenue Calming Room for a sensory interactive experience! This is an unsupervised, drop-in program for youth.

Join us weekly for rhymes, songs, bounces, stories, and a little playtime. For caregivers and babies ages 0 - 18 months.

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs, followed by a craft. Ages 18 months-3 years. Meeting Room

Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, movement, and more! Ages 18 months-3 years.

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs, followed by a craft. Ages 18 months-3 years. Meeting Room

Join Miss Janee for stories, rhymes, songs, movement, and occasional crafts/activities that build literacy and kindergarten-readiness skills. Ages three to five.

Aaaaargh Mateys! It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so come to the library and find all of the pirate pictures hiding around the Children's Area.

Join us for stories, songs, and movement that build literacy and school-readiness skills. Ages 3-6

Play, Grow, Learn! is an opportunity for you to use the Imagination Station to explore early literacy tips and books, play with others, and develop early literacy skills using Forest Avenue Library's space and toys.

Celebrate Latino Heritage Month during Preschool Storytime with special stories and crafts today! Ages 3-6

On Thursdays, children and their caregivers can enjoy stories, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs together, followed by a period of free play or drawing.

The LEGO bricks will be available in the Children's Area, so bring your imagination and get ready to build.

Join us for stories, songs, and movement to practice the 5 simple steps of pre-literacy!

Join us at the East Side Library for open play and more! Meet families with other young children, check out our awesome picture books, and engage in the five simple steps to success - Read, Write, Sing, Play, and Talk!

Join us for our Friends of the North Side Library meeting from 10 AM-11 AM. New members welcome.

The Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo is bringing some of their creepiest bugs to the library! Stop in from 10:00 AM to Noon to hold and see more than 100 species of creepy, crawly, LIVE insects. All ages welcome!

Today is World Gratitude Day, so come into the library and create a beautiful thank you note for someone in your life.

Build and create with Legos in the children’s area! All ages.

Come to the library and hang out with therapy dog Shanti. Shanti is a licensed therapy dog who is excited to meet some new friends. He will be in the Children's Area from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Children are encouraged to read with Caper, the therapy dog, at South! Caper is a friendly Pembroke Welsh Corgi who loves to hear stories! Walk in and choose a book to read to Caper in the Children's Area! For youth ages 3-12.

Do you want to practice your English skills? Looking to meet new people in your community? Join community members and English language learners alike at Forest Avenue Library and enjoy light refreshments and sparkling conversation!

Stop by the children's area at Central Library to explore, create, and play! This is an unstaffed program where activities are self-led. Parent/Guardian must be present with child, and supplies are limited.

Visit us at the North Side Library every Monday to learn some computer basics. Create an email account, build a simple resume, and learn about the library catalog.

We will be discussing Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Treats provided. Copies of the book may be picked up at the circulation desk.

We will be discussing Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke, by Sarah Smarsh. Copies of the book may be picked up at the library.

Visit us every Thursday afternoon to receive guidance in searching for jobs. We will use Google Tools to help you create an email account, build a simple resume, and apply for jobs.

Jan Fleming, author of Grotesques in Des Moines Iowa and Abroad will give you a firsthand look at the Grotesques in Des Moines and across the US and Europe.

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.

Love Raina Telgemeier, superheroes, manga, graphic novels, and cartoons? Ready to let your artist flag fly? Then come to Comics Creators! We'll provide the paper and pens, you provide the creativity! This is an unsupervised, drop-in program.

Eating healthy and cooking skills go hand in hand. Kids will have the opportunity to prepare and taste healthy foods while learning about healthy eating and physical activity along with food and kitchen safety.

Create a three dimensional object using 3D Pens!

Are you looking for a great place to volunteer? Become a volunteen and help out with library projects and programs. Teens ages twelve to eighteen can pick up a teen volunteer application at the Franklin Avenue Library.

Come build with us! Computers and iPads provided: just bring your imaginations. Ages 8-18.

Teens! Are you looking for a place to volunteer? Become a VolunTeen at the South Side Library! Teens ages 12-18 can volunteer at South and complete various library projects with the youth librarian from 4:0 to 5:00 p.m.

Read a story, explore and create with art and STEM activities! Bring your imagination and join us in the children's area. Ages three to eight.

Minecraft Club has just leveled up! Now in addition to Minecraft, you can use our tablets to play Roblox and other great games. Ages 8-12.

Create a work of art using bubbles. Younger siblings may attend if accompanied by an adult. Ages 5-18.Please preregister for this program.

Learn how to make detailed leaf prints using real leaves, markers, and rolling pins! Children should be accompanied by an adult. Please register in order to guarantee supplies.

Teens! Are you looking for a place to volunteer? Become a VolunTeen at the South Side Library! Teens ages 12-18 can volunteer at South and complete various library projects with the youth librarian from 4:0 to 5:00 p.m.

With Makey Makey, anything becomes a computer! Play piano with play-doh, or try to beat a level of a video game using spoons as a controller. Ages 8-12.

Join us from 4:30-5:45 PM for the monthly meeting of the Friends of the Forest Avenue Library.

Join the Science Center of Iowa for the first in a three-part camp series. In this class students will learn basic coding concepts while working together to create and test apps. Ages 10-14.

Acompañennos para celebrar el Mes de Herencia Latina con manualidades basadas en la celebración Brazileña de Carnaval, y proyección de la película Rio!

We will decorate glossy, ceramic tiles with sharpies and then drop rubbing alcohol on our designs. The effect is really cool!

Help us welcome the Des Moines Symphony Academy’s "Instrument Petting Zoo" to the South Side Library! Children will have the chance to "pet" and play a violin and cello, listen to kid-friendly tunes, and learn more about classical instruments.

Come and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and crafts in English and Spanish. Ages birth-8. Venga y disfrute cuentos, rimas, canciones, y manualidades en inglés y español.

Are you a mighty girl*? Ready to become a mighty woman, but have questions? Then come to Forest Avenue Library, meet community experts, and get your questions answered in this five-session series! Know your body, know yourself, get empowered.

The whole family can come to the library for stories, rhymes and songs. Children's Area

Monarch Butterflies are especially attracted to the nectar of the native Iowa plants.

In 2018, eight members of the Hillaker family, ranging in age from sixty-one years to eight months, as well as a family friend, traversed the famed El Camino de Santiago trail.

Families can enjoy stories, rhymes, and songs together on Wednesday nights. It's a great way for busy families to relax and listen to stories together.

Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and crafts in English and Spanish.

Join us for a discussion of Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston. Ask at the information desk for a copy of the book.