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.

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.

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.

Event Details

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

Enjoy stories, rhymes, songs, movement and more!

Adults and children can play together in an environment set up to promote all areas of development through open ended active play focused on the 5 Simple Steps to Success strategies of read, write, sing, play and talk.

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

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.

This week's storytime will have a special guest reader from DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority).  They will be reading Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña.

Adults and children play together in an environment set up to promote all areas of development through open ended active play focused on the 5 Simple Steps to Success strategies of read, write, sing, play and talk.  Join us for 60 minutes of

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!  Best for children aged 18 months to 3 years old.

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.

Kids and Families! Visit the Art Cart at South from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Elementary Area! We'll have different art projects and crafts that are self-led to choose from to make and take! For youth ages 3 and up.

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

Event Details

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

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!

Free Play Saturdays with Blank Park Zoo! Drop by the library to explore & play with Blank Park Zoo! Zoo educators who will provide fun and seasonal nature exploration opportunities geared toward children ages 2-12 years and their caregivers.

Beat the winter break boredom by searching for all of the winter pictures hiding in the children's area.  

We will discuss Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley. Copies of the book will be available at the Information Desk while supplies last.

Join us at the Franklin 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!

Kids! Stop by Rosie's Forest at Forest Avenue Library and read a book to Carver, the reading therapy dog! Reading to Carver 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. Receive one-on-one help with navigating the computer, using the mouse, and setting up an email account.

It’s never too late to feel comfortable with a computer.  Every Wednesday at the Central Library, staff will answer your questions about­­ computer basics, online Library resources, email­­­, and more. 

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.

Set your intentions for 2020 by making a vision board. A vision board is a place to display images that represent what you want to be, do, or have in life.

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!

Stressed out about going back to school after the winter break? Practice some self-care at North Side and make a bath bomb to take home! This program is for ages 10-18.

Read a story, explore and create with art and STEM activities! Bring your imagination and join us in the children's area. Ages 3 years to 8 years.

Join us every Tuesday as we play Roblox, Minecraft, and more. Grades 3-8. 

Learn to create something new with our Try It Out Tuesday events at South! This week, test your building skills and a sail car using our supplies. Participants will learn how to build a sail car and then test your car to see how fast it goes!

Come and make a zoetrope, which is a device that displays looping animation.  So practice your drawing skills and get ready to create a mini cartoon.

Come make a dragon puppet that moves and flies!  Please register to save your spot!

It's time to break it and make it! Do you wonder how things are made? Join us for a monthly deconstruction lab where we take apart common objects, see what parts they contain, and create something new from the pieces.

Join us every Wednesday as we explore different STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related activities.  Grades 3-8. 

Explore the galaxy by creating your own space-themed craft! Draw big and watch your creation shrink before your eyes.

Hack that painting with donated canvas at this children and teen-friendly event.  We will provide, pre-painted canvas with a variety of backgrounds that you can add your own special touch to, be it an alien spacecraft or a magnificent unicorn

Join us at North Side to create your own ninja figurine out of straws, pipe cleaners, and beads!

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.

Join us for a relaxing evening yoga session with Horte Gonzalez. Wear comfortable clothes and bring your own mat if you have one.  Library mats will also be provided. 

Kids! Can you make a house out of Play-Doh, pipe cleaners or LEGOS? Join us at South for Family Storytime: Engineering with the Three Little Pigs! We'll read the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Come and enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and crafts in English and Spanish.

Venga y disfrute cuentos, rimas, canciones, y manualidades en inglés y español.

The whole family can come to the library for stories, rhymes and songs. Rosie's Rocket Reading Room

Bring the entire family together early in the evening for winter stories and messy winter fun.  We will do an assortment of sensory activities.

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.