Skip to main content
Home
Des Moines Public Library
Skip navigation

Top Bar

  • Get a Card
  • How Do I?
  • Locations & Hours
    Open Menu
    • Central Library
    • East Side Library
    • Forest Avenue Library
    • Franklin Avenue Library
    • North Side Library
    • South Side Library
  • My Account
  • Popular Books

Main navigation

  • Read & Watch
    • Stream & Download
      • eAudiobooks
      • eBooks
      • Film & TV
      • eMagazines & eNews
    • Browse & Borrow
      • Catalog
      • Find Your Next Read
      • Book Club Sets
      • DMPL Reading Challenge
      • Suggest a Title
      • What's Popular
  • Attend
    • By Location
      • Central
      • East Side
      • Forest Ave.
      • Franklin Ave.
      • North Side
      • South Side
      • Virtual
    • By Age
      • > All Events
      • Birth-Preschool
      • Children
      • Teens
      • Adults
      • All Ages
    • Featured Programs
      • AViD
      • Central Art Gallery
      • Storytimes
      • Summer Reading
      • This Week at DMPL
      • Book Clubs
      • The Outreach Project (community resources)
  • Explore
    • Library Publications
      • engage Magazine
      • DMPL Blog
      • DMPL Podcast
      • Annual Report
      • Informed And Inspired - A Newsletter for Kids
    • Featured Services
      • Adventure Pass
      • Library by Mail
      • Meeting Rooms
      • Notary Services
      • Test Proctoring
      • Wireless Printing
      • DMPL Community Fridges
      • Tech Central Innovation/Maker Lab
    • Outreach
      • Five Simple Steps
      • Pasos Sencillos
      • Outreach Request
      • Rosie Reader early literacy
  • Research
    • Featured Databases
      • Consumer Reports
      • New York Times
      • Mango
      • Washington Post
      • Wall Street Journal
    • By Topic
      • > All Databases
      • Community Resources
      • En Español!
      • Grants
      • Homework Help
    • Local History & Genealogy
      • High School Yearbooks
      • Historic City Directories
      • Histories & Images
      • Premium Research Services
      • Project Des Moines
      • Newspaper, Magazine, Other Indexes
  • Connect
    • Support the Library
      • DMPL Foundation
      • Iowa Author Awards
      • Volunteer
    • Who We Are
      • Locations & Hours
      • Library Administration
      • Board of Trustees
      • Jobs
      • Contact Us
      • Program Proposal Application
    • What We Do
      • Mission, Vision & Core Values
      • Library History
      • Services & Policies
      • Checkout Limits
      • DMPL Strategic Plan
Select search target
  • Central Library Birthday Bash

    Central Library Birthday Bash
  • 2026 AViD Lineup

    The 2026 AVid Lineup: Julia Quinn, Maria Semple, Taylor Wolfe, Shannon Chakraborty, Tayari Jones, Patrick Bringley
  • Most Anticipated

    Most Anticipated Spring Releases
  • engage December 2025/January 2026

    engage web graphic
  • Find Your Next Read

    Find Your Next Read
  • Julia Quinn

    Julia Quinn
Previous
Next
What's Popular
What's Popular

Browse the Catalog

New Releases
New Releases Hover

This Month's New Books

Library of things Icon
Library of things Icon hover

Library of Things

Stream and Download quick link icon showing cloud and arrows signifying downloading
Stream and Download quick link icon hover state

Stream & Download

Meeting Rooms Quick Link
Meeting Rooms Hover

Book a Meeting or Study Room

Tech Central Icon Black
Tech Central Icon Teal Hover

Tech Central

New And Upcoming

Image for "Last Night in Brooklyn"
Image for "Against Breaking"
Image for "Leave Your Mess at Home"
Image for "In Trees"
Image for "The Ending Writes Itself"
Image for "My Dear You"
Image for "The Counting Game"
Image for "The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances"
Image for "Molka"
Image for "Love by the Book"
View More - New And Upcoming

Upcoming Events

This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Drop-In Tech Help

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
Central Library Success Center
This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Drop-In Tech Help

2:00pm–3:00pm
Central Library Success Center
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Success Center
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Computers & Technology
Event Details:

Need help with a phone, laptop, or tablet, or another electronic device? Come by the Central Library at 2PM on Thursdays and our staff will work with you to figure things out. This is a drop-in, first-come first-served service.

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

ASAP Days: Cardboard Creations

4:00pm–5:00pm
Children, Teens
South Side Meeting Room
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

ASAP Days: Cardboard Creations

4:00pm–5:00pm
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: South Side Library
Room: South Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Educational
Event Details:

Get creative in this class and give plain old cardboard exciting new life! Each week will present a different challenge to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary. Snack provided for all participants.

Disclaimer(s)

Children’s Program

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.

This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

DMPL & Dragons: Thursday

5:30pm–7:30pm
Adults
Central Library Meeting Room 1
This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

DMPL & Dragons: Thursday

5:30pm–7:30pm
Central Library Meeting Room 1
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Meeting Room 1
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

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 third Thursday of each month to play, but

Disclaimer(s)

Central Parking

Free library parking is available in Central's underground parking garage for two hours per visit. Parking around the library is metered at various costs from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

 

This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Silent(ish) Book Club + Crafts

6:00pm–7:00pm
Children, Teens
East Side Meeting Room
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Silent(ish) Book Club + Crafts

6:00pm–7:00pm
East Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: East Side Library
Room: East Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Teens
Program Type: Book Clubs
Event Details:

Join our Silent(ish) Book Club! 

Bring your own or a library book, get cozy, and read for the first half. Stay and decorate a clay pot and plant grass for your own little yard to take home. 

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Floral Watercolor with Lisa Christensen

6:00pm–7:30pm
Adults
South Side Meeting Room
Registration Required
This event is in the "Adults" group
Apr 23 2026 Thu

Floral Watercolor with Lisa Christensen

6:00pm–7:30pm
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: South Side Library
Room: South Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for a calming evening of flowers and watercolor with Lisa Christensen!

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.
  • Birth-Preschool
  • Children
  • Teens
  • Adults
  • All Ages
  • View More
DMPL Foundation Square
DMPL Foundation
Find Your Next Read
Find Your Next Read
Community Resources Homepage Square
Community Resources
Rosie Reader Button 2.0
Be a Rosie Reader!

DMPL Blog

Beyond The Shelves: Brontë, the Big Screen, and the Backlash

A bright yellow podcast graphic for “Beyond the Shelves” from the Des Moines Public Library appears on the left, featuring bold red and white text and the episode title “Brontë, the Big Screen, and the Backlash.” On the right, two librarians, Sarah and Jes, stand smiling in front of a blue wall, each labeled with their name and an arrow pointing to them.

In this lively episode of Beyond the Shelves, the hosts dive deep into Wuthering Heights—the novel, the new film adaptation, and the passionate discourse surrounding both. After a quick roundup of upcoming author events and current reads, the conversation shifts to Emily Brontë’s legacy, the novel’s...

Read More - Beyond The Shelves: Brontë, the Big Screen, and the Backlash

Beyond The Shelves - Libraries As Third Spaces

This month on Beyond the Shelves, Sarah and Jes unpack the idea of “third spaces” why we crave them, why they’re disappearing, and how libraries have ... Read More - Beyond The Shelves - Libraries As Third Spaces

Beyond The Shelves: 2026 Reading Challenge Recommendations

In this episode of Beyond the Shelves, Sarah and Jes discuss the 2026 reading challenge, recommend books to complete your bingo board, and in the book... Read More - Beyond The Shelves: 2026 Reading Challenge Recommendations

View All Posts - DMPL Blog

Government

The Des Moines Public Library is a department of the City of Des Moines.

City of Des Moines logo featuring silhouette of city skyline under an archway

 

Helpful Links

Locations & Hours
Contact Us
Jobs
Meeting Notices

Social

       
Back To Top