Week Calendar

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

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.

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

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.

Join Des Moines Public Library for a special Storytime with DART! This week's storytime will have a special guest reader from the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority.

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.!

Due to Air Quality - today's Sunshine Story time will be held indoors.

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.

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.

Join us at the Central Library for a fun storytime featuring movement, music, and rhyming! The storytime will take place in the meeting room to allow for social distancing.

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

Join Des Moines Public Library for a special Storytime with DART! This week's storytime will have a special guest reader from the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority.

Writers Workshop: Poetry, Short Stories, & Essays. Email Julia at jmdunt@dmpl.org your submissions and questions. This group will read and discuss works out loud. Seating is limited. Registration is required.

Tippi Toes Dance Company is coming to the library!

Discover what mammals call Iowa home and learn more about them from pelts, footprints and maybe a bone or two.

It's time to kick off the DMPL summer reading program and the Varsity Cinema kids' movie series! Join us at the Varsity Cinema to sign up for the summer reading program, receive a free book, and watch a movie based on a children's book! 

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.

This program will include a brief overview of where Mindfulness Meditation comes from and why we do it, followed by a 20 minute sitting practice with time for Q&A afterwards. Chair seating will be available.

Spend a few hours with other crafters and work on your knit, crochet, or needle craft projects. Please bring your own supplies and projects with you. Pleasant company is provided to share ideas and inspiration!

Prepare for adventure! Open Slay Dungeons & Dragons is for teens and tweens who know how to play D&D and are ready to take on a campaign!

All gaming supplies and characters will be provided by The Rook Room.

Please join us for our monthly book group. This month we will be discussing Once there were wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. Books will be available for pick up at the East Side circulation desk.

Visit South Side Library and our friends at Blank Park Zoo to explore the impact that humans have on nature and learn about the hard work that goes into conservation. Be prepared for fun zoo artifacts and even a live animal ambassador! 

Kids and caregivers! Come to the Forest Avenue Library's parking lot to see and touch the library delivery van! Visitors can learn from Doug, the library's delivery driver about how he uses the delivery van daily for his job!

Join us for a Nintendo Switch Party! We will have games like Mario Kart 8 & Super Mario Bros. Ultimate. Feel free to bring your own Switch or share the library’s controllers.

For ages 8-18.

Today we are celebrating some of our favorite Mo Willems characters!  Join us for crafts, games, and activities all about the Pigeon, Gerald & Piggie, Nanette, and more!

Find your roar with the Blank Park Zoo! We will explore the impact that humans have on nature and learn about the hard work that goes into conservation.

Come to South Side Library to learn how to weave a beautiful Pride flag tapestry. You'll choose your colors, and then learn the basics of weaving on a small, beginner's notch loom! Best for youth and teens ages 7+.

Watch the new Sonic the Hedgehog Movie and enjoy blue cupcakes and blue lemonade while you decorate your own sonic shadowbox.  3-d printed sonic figurines will be given out as supplies last. Best for ages 8+. Rated PG. 

Do you love animals? Then visit Central Library to practice reading with and learn about an ARL TheraPet! Engaging with animals is a great way to boost confidence and reduce anxiety around learning to read!

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

Visit North Side and read to a furry friend from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa's Therapets program!

Are you up for a challenge? Build a secret getaway island with Legos but watch out - you never know when a disaster might happen.  All ages are welcome! 

Are you looking for a place to trade your Pokémon cards? 

Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade.  This event is open to children ages 7-18. 

Join Rosario Manzano as she does a presentation on Medicare. After the presentation, she will host a game of BINGO! 

Join us for a discussion of Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González . Ask at the information desk for a copy of the book.

Join us for our evening Family Storytime at 6:30 p.m.! Kids and caregivers can join us for fun songs, stories and crafts. You can even wear your jammies!  All Ages Welcome!

This month's film selection is Roger Corman's 1960 ultra-low-budget cult classic The Little Shop of Horrors.

Love books and hate talking to people? Join like-minded readers as we sit quietly and read. Discussion optional and icebreakers forbidden. Bring your own book. 

Join librarians Dennis and Elizabeth for a monthly conversation around a life-changing nonfiction book.  Each month we’ll select a book that will change your perspective, give you new strategies for handling life’s challenges, or deepen your

Join the library and members of the Central Iowa chapter of the American Guild of Organist to learn about a unique musical instrument. 

Make your own minuta and learn 13 ways to say Snow cone in Spanish. Minutas salvadoreñas are like snow cones! Different toppings and a variety of fruit syrups will be provided.

This program shares information on urban wildlife in Central Iowa and provides tips on coexisting with urban wildlife.