Upcoming Events

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

Kids in the Kitchen will focus each week on healthy eating and prepare and cook snacks each week.

Join us for South Side's Monthly Book Discussion!

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. 

Are you a graphic novel fan? Join us for our EPIC Graphic Novel BOOK CLUB for ages 7-11. We will chat about this month's book and work on a fun activity or craft related to the book! Registration Required.

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

Let's go on a LEGO quest!! Do you love to build? Do you love adventure stories? Do you love problem-solving?

The DSM LGBTQ+ Grief circle meets in person every third Thursday of the month from 6pm-7:30pm in Study Room 1 at the Central Library located in downtown Des Moines.

Do you miss the fun you had doing arts and crafts at summer camp? If so, join us at the South Side Library for an fun evening of summer camp crafts geared toward grown-ups. We'll have music, snacks and plenty of glue and glitter!

Kids and families! Are you excited about amphibians? Find out about these smooth, wet animals that seem to magically transform from egg to adult. Join us as we learn about amphibians - and meet some live ones - with a Polk County naturalist!

Snippets: A Writers' Workshop for Shorter Works Please email your submissions to Julia at jmdunt@dmpl.org if you would like them printed out. This group will read and discuss works out loud.

Join Ms. Alicia at the Heritage Carousel for a special storytime for the whole family!

Kids in the Kitchen is 6-7 week program based around the Department of Agriculture "MyPlate". Each session, students learn about a food group, why it is good for us, physical activity, and then we make a snack together at the end of the class.

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 whole family can visit the library and take on our Family STEM Challenge.  This month we will have supplies available to make a paper cup jumping rabbit.  Materials will be available between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

Drop by our children's area to build with LEGOs. Show a staff member your creation for a prize!

Please join the Friends of the Franklin Avenue Library for our quarterly membership meeting.

Have fun making greeting cards using layers of patterned paper.  All supplies provided – cards, envelopes, lots and lots of pretty paper!  The inside of the card will be blank so you can later write your own perso

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

Toddlers and their caregivers can enjoy introductory stories, songs, music, and movement! For ages 18 months to 36 months.

Get creative at North Side! Drop-in to the library on Mondays during June and July to enjoy a variety of arts and crafts supplies.

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.

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.