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.

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.

This week is Fire Prevention Week, so we have a special firefighter guest coming to storytime. 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.

Join us outside the library on the lawn for a very special storytime with a Firefighter from the Des Moines Fire Department. Hear stories, learn more about fire safety, and get to see a fire truck up close!

“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.

Toddlers and caregivers can enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, occasional crafts and a little playtime with Miss Janee. For toddlers ages 18 months - 3 years.

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, songs, fingerplays and more, followed by a craft. Ages 18 months to 3 years. Meeting Room.

Join us at Forest Avenue Library for a very special storytime with a Firefighter from the Des Moines Fire Department. We'll share some stories about fire safety, learn about firefighter equipment, and then explore a fire truck up close!

Join us outside on the South Side Library's lawn for a very special storytime with a Firefighter from the Des Moines Fire Department. Hear stories, learn more about fire safety, and get to see a fire truck up close! Ages three to five.

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.

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays and movement that build literacy skills for ages three to six years old.

Join us at North Side Library for a very special storytime with a Firefighter from the Des Moines Fire Department. We'll share some stories about fire safety, learn about firefighter equipment, and then explore a fire truck up close!

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: reading, singing, talking, writing and playing!

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!

If you’re interested in starting your own business, this class is for you. Come hear from members of the Des Moines SCORE Foundation, composed of volunteers that mentor and advise those who want to start, run, or grow a small business.

Bring the family to the South Side Library to play and build with LEGOS in the Children's Area from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.! For youth ages 3-12. This is an unsupervised, drop-in program. Parent or guardian must be present with children.

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

The whole family can come to the library for stories, rhymes and songs.

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!

We will discuss The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. Copies of the book will be available at the Information Desk while supplies last. No registration required.

Kids! Stop by Rosie's Forest at Forest Avenue Library and read a book to a reading therapy dog! Reading to a dog is a great way to build reading/language skills while making a furry friend!

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.

Board and card games will be out for open play in our meeting room after school! Light snacks will be available while supplies last.

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.

In a world where people collect Pokemon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Rated PG.

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.

Today's Kids in the Kitchen will be held in our Large Study Room inside the library. Eating healthy and cooking skills go hand in hand.

Haunted camps, shrieking ghouls, and evil dummies! You never know what you might face in this creepy adventure. Sign up for one of three sessions and see if you survive our Goosebumps escape room.

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.

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.

CultureALL Ambassador Ana Rodriguez will help children explore some of the traditions and celebrations unique to life in Mexico.

This program is for children ages six to twelve and requires registration.

Come and make an exciting, ever changing, colorful kaleidoscope using paper towel tubes and a variety of materials. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Please register in order to guarantee supplies.

A Rube Goldberg machine performs a simple task in a complicated way. See if you can design a chain reaction of your own to achieve your goal!

Join the Science Center of Iowa for the second in a three-part camp series. In this class students will learn new coding skills to program robotics kits like Sphero and Hummingbird.

Haunted camps, shrieking ghouls, and evil dummies! You never know what you might face in this creepy adventure. Sign up for one of three sessions and see if you survive our Goosebumps escape room.

Drop-In to North Side and explore our Fall Sensory bins. Children can explore textures, colors, smells, and more at their own pace. This is an unsupervised, drop-in program.

TeenTober is a new, nationwide celebration hosted by libraries to celebrate teens and promote year-round teen services. Join us for our TeenTober Party and enjoy pizza, treats, games, and crafts! Ages 8-18.

Meet other like-minded teens and learn from our Youth Librarian how you can help fulfill the library's mission while gaining resume-worthy skills. Interested? Those 12-18 are encouraged to attend to find out more. Registration is required.

Join us for an informal writers' workshop on the first Monday of the month from 5-7 PM. Share samples of your work and receive feedback from other writers in the group.

Begin the process of applying for college! Receive free help from trained volunteers who will help you fill out the FAFSA form, which is required to determine eligibility for financial aid.

Haunted camps, shrieking ghouls, and evil dummies! You never know what you might face in this creepy adventure. Sign up for one of three sessions and see if you survive our Goosebumps escape room.

Does your child love spiders? Visit the South Side Library and learn about the world of spiders with Polk County Conservation!

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.

Join us for a very special storytime with a Firefighter from the Des Moines Fire Department. Hear stories and learn more about fire safety!

We Will discuss Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. Copies of the book will be available at the Information Desk while supplies last. No registration required.

Join us for a community-led event celebrating the legacy of Latinas in Iowa. Program will feature speakers and music to honor Latina legacies. Appetizers and refreshments will be served; program will be conducted in English.

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.