Week Calendar

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 introductory stories, songs, music, and movement! For ages 18 months to 36 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 South Side Library and Skate South for a special Roller Rink Storytime at the Skate South Roller Rink! 

Families can come to the roller rink starting at 10 a.m. to get their wheels and start skating! Strollers welcome!

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 us outside by the Miffy fountain for a family storytime!

Join us on the lawn for stories, songs and early literacy activities! Bring your own chair or blanket for seating and your energy for fun!  This event is geared for ages 3-6 but older and younger siblings are welcome.

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.

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.

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.

Come to Forest and make a watercolor book! We'll each paint a big sheet of paper, then divide it up and make a book out of it. 

The whole family can come to Colby Park at 10:15 AM for this special outdoor Family Storytime.  Bring your own blanket or chairs and join us for stories, songs, and rhymes in the great outdoors.

Join Ms. Alicia at the Heritage Carousel for a special storytime for the whole family! We will enjoy stories, songs, and movement together. After storytime, there will be a craft available and everyone will get a FREE carousel ride.

Stop in the Children's Area library and make a crafty dragonfly with pipe cleaners and beads! 

Art Cart will be out until supplies last. 

Broaden your recipe repertoire with foods that are good for you and the planet!

Dungeons & Dragons is a role-playing game set in worlds of swords and sorcery where players use their imaginations to tell a story and create an adventure together.  We usually get together on the first Sunday of each month to play. 

Come out to the Central Library, try out some new board games and make some new friends.  A selection of table top games will be provided for use in the library.  Feel free to bring beverages, snacks, and your own games from home if you

The selection for July is The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee.

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 feature tips for managing someone else's finances, how to prepare for future care costs and the benefits of early planning.

Kids and caregivers! Come to the South Side 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!

TBD

Prepare to battle it out in a series of water based challenges followed by popsicles.  You will get soaked so be sure to bring a towel and shoes if you plan to come in the library after!  As supplies last!  Best for ages 8+

Drawing leads to close, careful observation and improved memory. When we draw, we must look again and again at the least familiar parts of an object, paying careful attention to structures and shapes.

The Art of Expression is a monthly program for teens to learn and create different types of art in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Kids and caregivers! Come to the Franklin Library parking lot to get a close-up look at a garbage truck! Visitors can learn about the truck from a Public Works employee and then join us for activities in the library meeting room.

Robin and co-founder Jules created Plant-Based Point as a landing spot for anyone feeling the nudge to do something different.  Between reviews of the newest vegan products, developing their own recipes, and continuing

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

Learn about how our eyes see things in three dimensions and create a picture that jumps off the page with 3-D glasses (glasses will be provided).

Join us for the Teen Anime/Manga Meetup! We’ll get together and discuss all things Anime and Manga!

This week - teens can draw and make their own customizable stickers to take home!  Ages 12-18. 

Teens, are you a fan of bubble tea? Join us for a tea party! We will make our own bubble tea in a variety of flavors and enjoy other fun boba related activities! Ages 12+.

If you're between the ages of 12-18 and looking for a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity, give the library a try! We would love to have your help!

This meet-up is for anyone looking to connect with other people interested in biodiverse gardens.  The focus is on native plants which foster and nourish wildlife.

Teens, come to the Forest Avenue Library the second Monday of every month and check out our tech center. We will have iPads with Procreate, a green screen, 3-D pens, and more! Ages 12+. 

Join artist and library staff member Fueche Vang as we study and draw in the style classic American illustrator Norman Rockwell. Basic materials will be provided but attendees are welcome to bring their own. No experience necessary.

During this program we will focus on building watercolor skills to study and capture the exquisite landscapes of Iowa. Beginning and intermediate artists are invited to learn the basics or refresh their skills.

Join us for a special family storytime, where we'll read Harold and the Purple Crayon, and then get to color like Harold. We'll use tempera paint pens and a giant canvas, so come prepared with clothes you don't mind getting a little messy!

This month's book is The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner.

Do you already have some ukulele skills but want to learn more? Join us for three weekly sessions of intermediate ukulele classes beginning July 11th. Bring your own ukulele or check one out at the North Side Library.

This will be an opportunity to share the bounty of your garden while asking Garden Coach Steve Riggio from the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and Polk County Master Gardeners any questions you have from your gardening experi

Join Bridgett Robinson, Neighborhood Finance Corporation’s Diversity and Inclusion Mortgage Loan Originator and Outreach Coordinator, along with community panelists, as they help navigate what Black/African American homeownership may look like tod

During this program we will focus on the basics of watercolor portrait studies. East Side Library watercolor programs are hosted by Library Assistant and artist Ben Hatcher. Basic materials such paint, brushes, and paper are provided.

Join Sarah Pratt, the Iowa State Fair's butter sculptor to learn how to make your own miniature butter sculptures.  During the program she will also talk about what it's like to sculpt the iconic butter cow!

Join us once a month to discuss books by underrepresented authors. Our goal is to amplify these voices and experiences while discussing social issues in the context of fiction and non-fiction books.