Week Calendar

This summer, we'll have two times for Wiggles & Giggles! Join us at the Central Library, at the most convenient time for you, and enjoy a fun storytime featuring movement, music, and rhyming!

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

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

Get creative this Summer at North Side! Every Monday, drop-in to use our cart of art supplies!

Stay cool at the library! We’ve got fun activities in the children's area, including crafts, scavenger hunts, and games related to the outdoors and camping. Join us from 10 AM to 5 PM for a day of creativity and adventure!

Babies, toddlers, and their caregivers can join us on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, lap bounces, and a story.

This program is recommended for children from birth to 24 months of age.

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

Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers can engage in open play, come and go activities at South. 

Babies and their caregivers can join Miss Jennifer on Tuesdays for rhymes, songs, bounces, and a story followed by a short playtime.

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 Miss Emily for Family Storytime every Wednesday morning at 10:15 AM. Designed for children ages 0–5, this storytime welcomes all ages to join in the fun.

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.

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 summer, we'll have two times for Wiggles & Giggles! Join us at the Central Library, at the most convenient time for you, and enjoy a fun storytime featuring movement, music, and rhyming!

Visit the library to meet the animal ambassadors from Spock's Sanctuary – Des Moines' own reptile and amphibian pet rescue. Families can learn about fascinating animals and see them up close.

Join us in the Forest Meeting Room where building blocks will be available for open play! Use your imagination to build your ideas or use the STEM-challenge prompts and building guides to bring ideas to life. Drop-in anytime between 12-5pm.

Day Camp Adventures visit to the East Side Library 

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.

This conversation club is both for native speakers and those wanting to learn Russian. Topics of conversation are meant to be light. Get to know other members of your community, or assist those wanting to learn Russian.

Spend a couple hours with other crafters and work on your knit, crochet, or needle craft projects. Please bring your own supplies and projects with you. This program happens the first Saturday of the month.

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.

✨ Silent(ish) Book Club for Tweens/Teens ✨

Love puzzles? Have puzzles at home that you've done and loved but won't do again?

Come to the South Side Library Meeting Room and exchange your beloved puzzles for new to you ones! We're having a good old fashioned puzzle swap!

In this workshop, explore the Major Arcana cards in depth and learn how to work with these 22 important cards. Practice using easy-to-learn spreads to build your Tarot skills and deepen your practice.

Eat some PEACHES and love PEDRO PASCAL with us at the DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY!

We will watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (starring Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal) and create Pedro Pascal-themed arts and crafts.

Whether you're an anime fan or curious to explore, everyone is invited to join the Anime Watch Party. Enjoy popcorn while watching a few episodes from a different popular anime series each month.

Drama Games, with ASAP Teaching Artist Kyle Chizek

Young artists, here's your chance to learn watercolor painting from a professional ASAP teaching artist! Each week focuses on a new skill or technique: blending, texture, color theory, brushstroke technique, and more. 

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. 

Join ASAP teaching artist Amanda Rhoads and have fun sculpting a different project each week using polymer clay, a soft, non-toxic moldable clay that hardens as it air dries and eliminates the need for a kiln.

Have you ever thought about food as art? ASAP Teaching Artist Amy Joens will help us explore the colors, shapes, textures, and tastes of fresh, in-season fruits, vegetables, and herbs straight from the garden.

Are you looking for a place to trade your Pokémon cards? 

Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade.  This event is open to children ages 6-18. 

We’re gearing up for the state fair with a very special guest!

Do you like all things K-pop? Come to the Central Library every month and bring your photocards to trade, invite your friends or meet and hang out with other fans! Enjoy snacks, other activities, and listening to music.

Better Choices, Better Health, also known as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), helps adults and caregivers manage symptoms of chronic diseases like heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression, asthma, and more.

Stop by the Forest Avenue Library to pick up a copy of this month's title, The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

Join us for our evening Family Storytime at 6:30 p.m.! Kids and caregivers can join us for fun songs, stories, and acivities. You can even wear your jammies!  

Best for ages 6 and under, but all are welcome!

We’re gearing up for the state fair with a very special guest!

Join us at Forest Avenue Library for an informational session with Neighborhood Finance Corporation. You'll learn about NFC's homeowner programs, energy advantages, forgivable loans, and resources for homeowners or potential buyers.

Join us for an after-hours summer party featuring laser tag, Nerf guns, Nintendo Switch gaming, food, and prizes!

Registration required to reserve your spot. Grades 6-12.