All DMPL locations are warming centers

All DMPL locations are serving as warming centers during open hours. DART will be providing free rides to designated warming centers through Friday, December 5. Learn more about additional warming centers.

Upcoming Events

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Library Branch
Ongoing Events
Registration Type

Primary tabs

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Toddler Stories, Songs and Movement

10:15am–10:45am
Birth-Preschool
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

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.

 

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

Women's English Language Practice

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library
Room: Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Educational
Event Details:

Join other women who are practicing their English in this casual conversation group. We will chat, share coffee, and learn together in this group moderated by a Forest Avenue Library staff member.

This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

ASAP Wednesdays: Air-Dry Clay Creations

3:30pm–4:30pm
Children, Teens
North Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: North Side Library
Room: North Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Educational
Event Details:

Get hands-on with air-dry clay and create a miniature masterpiece to take home each week. A professional ASAP teaching artist leads this fun, creative class, and a snack is provided for every participant.

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 "Children" group

Science Wednesdays: LEGO Race Cars

4:00pm–4:45pm
Children
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Registration Required
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Educational
Registration Required
Event Details:

Use your engineering skills to design and build a car out of LEGOs and test it on our racetrack.

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 "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group

Art Cart

4:00pm–7:30pm
Birth-Preschool, Children
North Side Children’s Area
Library Branch: North Side Library
Room: North Side Children’s Area
Age Group: Birth-Preschool, Children
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Details:

Get creative at North Side! Drop-in on Wednesdays to enjoy our large cart of art supplies.

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

Card Club

6:00pm–7:00pm
Adults
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library
Room: Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

Join us at Forest Avenue Library for Card Club. We will play trick-taking card games such as 500, Euchre, Hearts, Spades, Tiến lên and others.

This event is in the "Adults" group

DMPL Digital Drop-In

6:00pm–7:00pm
Adults
Franklin Avenue Family Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Family Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Computers & Technology, Educational
Event Details:

Stop by Franklin Ave Library to explore DMPL’s digital resources, including Libby, Consumer Reports, Kanopy, and newspapers.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Preschool Storytime

10:00am–10:30am
Birth-Preschool
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: South Side Library
Room: South Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

Children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers can join us Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for a 30-minute storytime with stories, music, and fun activities!

 

This event is in the "Children" group

Park-N-Play

10:00am–12:00pm
Children
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

Join us for indoor Park-N-Play, hosted by the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation department on Thursday mornings in the Franklin Avenue Library meeting room.

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Wiggles and Giggles

10:15am–10:45am
Birth-Preschool
Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2, 3
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2, 3
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Play & Learn, Storytimes
Event Details:

Enjoy a fun storytime featuring movement, music, and rhyming! 


 

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 "Adults" group

Drop-In Tech Help

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
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 "Adults" group

3D Printer Training Class

3:00pm–4:00pm
Adults
Central Library Tech Central
Registration Required
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Tech Central
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Computers & Technology
Registration Required
Event Details:

Learn how to use the Bambu X-1 Carbon filament 3D printer and the Formlabs Form 3 resin 3D printer.  Participants will learn how to use the free software to prepare their 3D files for printing at the library.

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.

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

ASAP Thursdays: Art Adventures

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

This class celebrates the process of artmaking as much as the final piece. Each week offers new techniques and mediums that create true art adventures. An ASAP teaching artist leads the class and supports every young creator.

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 "All Ages" group

Vison Board Workshop

5:30pm–7:00pm
All Ages
East Side Meeting Room
Registration Required
Library Branch: East Side Library
Room: East Side Meeting Room
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Health & Wellness, Take & Make
Registration Required
Event Details:

Start your year with creativity and intention. Whether you began your vision board with our Take-and-Make kit or you are starting fresh, we will provide all the materials you need.

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

Book Club Pizza Party

6:15pm–7:00pm
Children, Teens
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Registration Required
Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library
Room: Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Teens
Program Type: Book Clubs
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us at Forest for a book club and pizza party just for tweens! Each month features a new book exploring different genres, formats, and topics.

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Children’s Program

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

Food Allergies

We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.
This event is in the "Adults" group

Reading on the Margins Book Discussion

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adults
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Clubs
Event Details:

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.

This event is in the "Adults" group

Snippets: A Writers' Workshop for Short Works 2026

10:00am–11:00am
Adults
Central Library Study Room 1
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Study Room 1
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Details:

Snippets: A Writers' Workshop for Shorter Works. This group will read and discuss works out loud. Seating is limited. 

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Play and Learn Group

10:00am–12:00pm
Birth-Preschool
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library
Room: Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Play & Learn
Event Details:

Bring your littles to our Play and Learn Group, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn and play with different play equipment, toys, and sensory activities.

Disclaimer(s)

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

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

Career Connection Center: Job Support and Digital Skills

10:00am–3:00pm
Adults
Central Library Conference Room 1
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Conference Room 1
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Computers & Technology
Event Details:

Are you searching for a new job, having trouble navigating a website, or looking to learn a new digital skill? Goodwill is at the library to help!

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 "Adults" group

The Outreach Project

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adults
Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2
Library Branch: Central Library
Room: Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Health & Wellness
Event Details:

Connect with area organizations for resources. Community advocates will provide information about community resources like meal sites and shelters.

This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "All Ages" group

Red Riding Hood Sneak Preview

10:30am–11:00am
Children, All Ages
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library
Room: Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, All Ages
Program Type: Performances
Event Details:

Visit the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of Red Riding Hood: Both Sides of the Story based on the classic fairy tale.

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

Death Cafe

1:30pm–2:30pm
Adults
North Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: North Side Library
Room: North Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Health & Wellness
Event Details:

A Death Café is a relaxed, welcoming space where people gather to talk openly about death and dying over tea and conversation.

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 "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group

Winter Whimsy Take-and-Makes!

All Day
Birth-Preschool, Children
Library Branch: South Side Library
Age Group: Birth-Preschool, Children
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Educational, Play & Learn, Take & Make
Event Details:

Stop by South Side Library and pick up a Take-and-Make bag full of fun activities and crafts!

While Supplies Last

 

This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group

Preschool Storytime

10:00am–10:30am
Birth-Preschool
North Side Meeting Room
Library Branch: North Side Library
Room: North Side Meeting Room
Age Group: Birth-Preschool
Program Type: Storytimes
Event Details:

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