Week Calendar

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

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.

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!

Join us at the library for a special storytime with everyone's favorite troublemaker, The Pigeon!  

Enjoy a fun book, give The Pigeon a hug or high five, and get your picture taken--but don't let him drive the bus!

Back-to-school fun starts with The Pigeon! Join us for a special storytime featuring Mo Willems favorites, a visit from the Pigeon costume character, and even a chance to see a real school bus up close!

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.

Learn step-by-step how to create and manage your Social Security online account in this engaging, practical session led by Rosario Manzano.

This month we will be reading and discussing 

Learn safe medication practices through the Generation Rx program designed specifically for older adults.

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.

Join us for South Side's Monthly Book Discussion! 

This month, we're reading I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong.

The Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra is once again transforming into a big band this summer to play the jazziest video game tunes out there.

Have some bear-y good fun at North Side! Venture into the jungle with Paddington and the Browns as they search for missing Aunt Lucy while enjoying snacks and interactive fun!

Wet Felting with ASAP Teaching Artist Megan Clausen

Pastel Painting with ASAP Teaching Artist Amanda Rhoads!

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 us at Forest for an Anime Workshop with ASAP Teaching Artist Shayla Williams. You'll explore the popular art of Japanese-style animation and learn to draw characters in anime style! Snack and all materials provided.

Join us at the library for a special storytime with everyone's favorite troublemaker, The Pigeon!  

Enjoy a fun book, give The Pigeon a hug or high five, and get your picture taken--but don't let him drive the bus!

When you're learning to read, practicing out loud can be daunting! Visit Central Library to practice reading with an ARL TheraPet. Engaging with animals is a great way to boost confidence and reduce anxiety around learning to read.

Come to South Side for an hour of sensory exploration!

The Art of Expression is a program for teens to learn and create different types of art in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Join the Friends of the Forest Avenue Library for the monthly meeting at Forest Avenue Library!

Join teaching artist Amanda Rhoads and work hands-on with air-dry clay to create a miniature masterpiece you'll take home each week.

Calling all poets to Freedom in Freeform. 

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.

The Pigeon is coming to North Side! Enjoy stories, crafts and a meet and greet with the Pigeon. Whatever you do, don't let him drive the bus!

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.

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

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!

August's film selection is Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), a western epic directed by Sergio Leone and starring Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson.

Learn how to cook different cuisines from around the world with CultureALL ambassadors!

The final battle to defeat Shigaraki and the League of Villains is underway, but Deku has been brought to the wrong battleground! 

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