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 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.

Visit the East Side Library every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm for tax preparation assistance from AARP. All help will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

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

On June 3, 2019, the Des Moines City Council passed the Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance requiring building owners of buildings 25,000 sq.

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.

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:  reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing!  Best for children aged 18 months to 3 years old.

Bring the family to the South Side Library to play and build with LEGOS and Duplos in the Elementary Area from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.! For youth ages 3-12. This is an unsupervised, drop-in program.

Come to the library and create your very own Groundhog puppet! This is a drop-in, unsupervised activity. Parent/guardian must be present with children. Craft available while supplies last. 

Come to the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of Tinker Bell.

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

Visit the East Side Library every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm for tax preparation assistance from AARP. All help will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

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!

Generation of Blues – Hal Reed and Kent Burnside, winners of the 2019 Iowa Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category will perform at the Franklin Avenue Library.

On June 3, 2019, the Des Moines City Council passed the Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance requiring building owners of buildings 25,000 sq.

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!

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.

We will be discussing The Misfortunes of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton. Coffee and treats will be served. Copies of the book are available at the Circulation desk.

We will be discussing the book Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. Copies are available to check out at the North Side Library. 

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.

Join us for an afternoon with authors Rana Hewezi and Sarah Elgatian, two of the seven authors featured in We The Interwoven: An Anthology of Bicultural Iowa. Both will share their families’ experiences as they left one home—Egypt for Hew

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!

Drop in the Rosie's Ocean to paint a watercolor surprise during our crafternoon!

Come build with us! Computers and iPads provided: just bring your imaginations. Ages 7-18.

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. 

Tweens and Teens! Learn to make something new during our Try It Out Tuesday events at South! This month, participants can use toothpicks and gumdrops to construct geometric shapes. Taste-testing allowed! No registration required.

The Library Board of Trustees will meet at 4:15 PM at the Central Library in the Administrative Board Room.

This month we will design gorgeous coasters using sharpies and rubbing alcohol. 

Art in the Library is for children ages 6-12 and requires preregistration.  Younger siblings may attend if accompanied by an adult.  

Create your very own unicorn dream catcher using yarn, sparkles, and just a little magic!   Please register to save your spot!

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

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

Join us for a glow-in-the-dark party! We’ll have neon games, snacks, and activities that glow! For the whole family.

Will your soapy creations be a sweet surprise or a stinky trick?  Learn to make bath bombs and gel with your own signature scents.

In this giant version of the classic cooperative game Forbidden Island, your team of adventurers will have to race against time and the rising floodwaters to collect treasures and escape before the island is lost to the sea.

Create a work of art on a tote bag based on African-American Expressionist painter and art educator Alma Thomas's colorful paintings and learn more about this talented artist.  No registration required!

Join us for a fun filled night of snow STEM activities during Family Storytime: Let It Snow! We'll read the story The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. After storytime, families can experiment with snow science STEM sensory stations!

Dr. Natalie J.A. Benson, who received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Modern French Art and Literature at the University of Iowa, is the presenter of a five-session series on modern art.

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

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

We the Interwoven author Hieu Pham, born in Vietnam, immigrated to Iowa with her family as a child. She is passionate about issues such as Asian American identity, community health and the immigrant diasporic experience.

Join us for a showing of Fast Color (see trailer) as part of February's Bla

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

Some animals like to be cuddled, but these ones are mostly hand-off!  Learn about a range of not-so-cuddly critters with a Blank Park Zoo educator and enjoy some animal stories.

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.

In this giant version of the classic cooperative game Forbidden Island, your team of adventurers will have to race against time and the rising floodwaters to collect treasures and escape before the island is lost to the sea.

Join us for a discussion of Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Ask at the information desk for a copy of the book.