Week Calendar

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

¡Ven a la biblioteca Central a practicar tu inglés conversacional! Tendremos actividades para empezar y seguir la conversación y actividades para niños acompañantes. Hablantes de todos niveles estan invitados a venir.

Drop-in to North Side and try a STEM challenge. Build a tower or create a Lego marble run!

 Drop in for this do-it-yourself craft activity and make necklaces to give to your friends and family, just in time for Valentine's Day. 

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.

Let's dance! Rosie will join us for a story and dancing. Have your picture taken with Rosie and bust a move under our disco ball! Geared for ages 2-6.

Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers can engage in open play, come and go activities at South. 

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

Babies, toddlers, and their caregivers can join us on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, lap bounces, and a story.

This program is recommended for children from birth to 24 months of age.

Listen to silly stories, meet adorable puppet friends and move to fun songs!  Join us at Forest Avenue Library for Family Storytime at 10:00 A.M.!

Staff from the Evelyn K Davis Center for Working Families are ready to provide one-on-one job search and resume assistance to job seekers.

Staff from the Evelyn K Davis Center for Working Families are ready to provide one-on-one job search and resume assistance to job seekers.

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.

AARP will be at the library every Wednesday and Saturday from February through April 12 to assist the public with their taxes. 

Children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers can join us Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for a 30-minute storytime with stories, musical activities and take-home activities that prepare your child for school.

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.

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

Visit the children's area to scratch art into a bookmark. 

This is an unstaffed activity. Materials and instructions are provided but children may need assistance from an accompanying adult. Offered while supplies last.

AARP will be at the library every Wednesday and Saturday from February through April 12 to assist the public with their taxes. 

February's selection is All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles.

Stop by for snacks on this no school day and enjoy a showing of the movie Bad Guys, based on the popular graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey.  As supplies last!

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.

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.

Are you looking for companionship for the golden years? Trying to meet new people and thinking about online dating? Have you had an online profile for a bit but not getting anywhere with it?

Join us for our monthly South Side Book Discussion!

Our February book is Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Azar Nafisi.

Let's get creative! Whether you're a practiced painter or a complete beginner, come express yourself with a no-pressure painting project led by a librarian who is NOT an artist but IS enthusiastic.

Please join us for this three-part series combining beginning watercolor lessons and hands-on workshops. This program will focus on landscape and still-life studies and address the technical and creative challenges of expressive winter painting.

Are you looking for a great place to volunteer? Become a volunteen and help with library projects and programs.

Children will listen to a story and then create a masterpiece while exploring with art and STEM activities. Ages 3 to 8 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. 

Tweens and teens ages 10-18 can join us after school to enjoy video games on our Nintendo Switch!

Make and decorate your very own heart plushie! This no-sew craft is made with felt, stuffing, and your creativity!

While supplies last

Level up your gaming skills! Use our tablets and Nintendo Switch to play Among Us, Minecraft, Roblox, and more. Ages 8+.

Come to central Library and celebrate the best valentines day love: Self love!! We will play music, eat snacks, and create a Valentines day Mirror! 

Discover the art of Alma Woodsey Thomas, an abstract painter during the 20th century.  We will be creating a project inspired by some of her most famous paintings.

Aprenda a usar la computadora, navegar la red, y usar varios servicios y programas digitales. Para gente edades 18+. No necesita apartar lugar.

Teens! Do you need volunteer hours? Students ages 12-18 may volunteer at the South Side Library for 1 hour performing various tasks during our South VolunTeens program! This is a great way to earn volunteer hours!

Join us every month at the Forest Avenue Library as we learn about art from around the world and complete a craft related to what we've learned. This month's activity is Peruvian blanket weaving. Ages 10+. 

Join the Friends of the Forest Avenue Library for the monthly meeting at Forest Avenue Library!

Are you a graphic novel fan? Join us for our EPIC Graphic Novel BOOK CLUB for ages 7-11.

Welcome to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory.  Step inside to see where your favorite candies are invented and even some that have not yet been released.  Can you follow all the hidden clues to make it through this partially edible escape

Dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, and a pigeon -- oh my! Come hang out with the Animal Rescue Leagues TheraPets at the East Side Library. 

We will also have a few tables set up for coloring and card making!

Children and their caregivers can enjoy a story and a hands-on activity every Wednesday evening at North Side!

Welcome to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory.  Step inside to see where your favorite candies are invented and even some that have not yet been released.  Can you follow all the hidden clues to make it through this partially edible escape

Are you interested in drawing your favorite manga characters or creating your own? We will use Procreate on iPads to design professional looking manga. For ages 12 and up. 

Join artist and library staff member Fueche Vang as we study and draw from some of Leonardo da Vinci's most popular works. Basic materials such as paper, pencils, charcoal, and erasers will be provided.

The Des Moines Symphony Academy’s "Instrument Petting Zoo" is visiting the South Side Library!

Established in 1947, the Des Moines Weavers and Spinners Guild has been teaching and demonstrating weaving, spinning and dyeing for over 75 years.

This month's book is The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott.

Join us in the kitchen as we prepare delicious Latin Empanadas.

This program has been cancelled due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled for a later date!

Looking to break out of the same old movie-and-dinner date night routine? Think the library is just for your kids?