Christmas Closures

All locations of the Des Moines Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. 

Popular Services

You know the library has books - but we have so much more. We've collected some of the most popular free services and programs we offer below. Be sure to check out our database page for even more, and check out our events page for upcoming programs.


 

News You can Trust

Free Digital News

Keep up with the latest in current events, politics, the economy, science, technology, and more! You get free, unlimited digital access to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal with your library card.

Read the News


 

Library of Things

Library of Things

Check out our collection of helpful items that you can borrow and use at home. We have board games, kitchen gadgets, yard games, tools and cleaning equipment, tech equipment, and more.

View the board game collection

See the board games available now

View the full Library of Things

See what's available right now


 

tech central square

Tech Central

Create and express your imagination using our Tech Central Innovation & Maker Lab. Use our Glowforge to make unique gifts, spend time at the button maker to create party favors, use the media conversion station to digitize old family videos, and more.

Reserve Time at Tech Central


 

Mango

Mango

Use your library card to learn a language! Mango Languages is a free language learning program that offers instruction in more than 70 languages. There are even courses for people who are learning English as a second language. Mango helps you to build practical language skills wherever you are—one conversation at a time.

Start learning a language with Mango


 

Libby

Libby

Read eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines instantly, for free, using the device in your hand or your browser with Libby. You'll find books and magazines for all ages in this collection!

Libby on the App Store

Libby on the Google Play Store


 

Kanopy

Kanopy

Kanopy is the library's free video streaming service. You'll find quality, thoughtful entertainment, including movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos that inspire, enrich and entertain. Don't forget to check out Kanopy Kids, with programs specially curated to be both informational and entertaining!

Learn about Kanopy

Check out Kanopy Kids


 

Book chat Logo

Book Chat

Let us help you find your next read! Book Chat is a DMPL service designed to help you add books you want to read to your TBR list. Just answer a few questions and our Book Chat librarians will send you a personalized, curated list of books that they think you'll enjoy. They can even put books on hold for you at the library!

Fill out the Book Chat form