Upcoming Events

Kids and caregivers! Come to the South Side Library's parking lot to see and touch a garbage and recycling truck!

This program for caregivers explains the communication changes that take place throughout the course of Alzheimer’s disease, how to decode and respond to the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and strategies to conn

 Learn all about different types of trees, and the wildlife that use trees as a habitat with a Polk County Naturalist. Come learn and  see up close just how unique trees are!

Whether you are passionate about manga or just interested in seeing what it's all about, the Forest Ave Library's Manga Book Club is a place for you to make friends, read fun and exciting stories, make art, and play games.

Join us at Central Library for Game On! Tweens and Teens (10-18) are welcome to enjoy snacks and play games with friends! We'll alternate between board games, card games, and games on the Nintendo Switch.

This month's book is The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty.

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

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.

Listen to silly stories, sing songs, dance to music, and make art! Join us at Forest Avenue Library for Family Storytime every Wednesday morning at 10:15 A.M.

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.

Come to the South Side Library lawn and see how fast you can complete our outdoor obstacle course! Get ready to crawl, run, and maybe even get a little wet! 

Best for ages 6 and up.

Learn about butterflies and plants with Environmental Educator Joel Van Roekel, from the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. Participants will get to plant their own butterfly garden to take home!

Join us for Spring Lawyers in Libraries Program sponsored by the ISBA Legal Access Committee.

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.

Join us for a colorful celebration featuring crafts, activities, and games.  Special guest Esteban the Crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit will be here giving out high fives and posing for photos.

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!

Join us for a multi-week investigation! This game will have six episodes.

This is Episode 1. Perfect if you haven't started playing Moon Summit.

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.

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. 

Blast off to your next LEGO challenge. Bring the family and your sense of fun creating epic spaceships, kooky aliens, and cool vehicles! But beware, you never know when disaster may strike! Registration is required.  Age 3 and up.

Celebrate Summer Reading at South Side Library! Enjoy a train ride with our friends from Choo Choo Rides 4 U and be amazed at the balloon art stylings of Professor Von Air! 

Discuss the fears and myths about these scaly critters people love to hate. Find out how reptiles smell, see, and move. A live animal will be used if available. Supports Iowa Life Science Standards.