| All Day |
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
I Spy: Black History Month - Inventors
All Day
2/2–2/15
Central Library Children’s Area
Library Branch:
Central Library
Room:
Central Library Children’s Area
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Play & Learn
Event Details:
Visit the Central children's area to learn about some of the incredible Black inventors who advanced their fields and made historic discoveries that we still benefit from today. Find all the hidden pictures to win a prize!
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.
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb-Mar
2026
I Spy: Black History Month - Authors
All Day
2/17–3/1
Central Library Children’s Area
Library Branch:
Central Library
Room:
Central Library Children’s Area
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Play & Learn
Event Details:
Visit the Central children's area to learn about some amazing Black authors, then check out one of their books! Find all the hidden pictures to win a prize!
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.
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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| 10 am |
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This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Birth-Preschool,
Children
This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
Park-N-Play
10:00am–11:30am
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
South Side Library
Room:
South Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool,
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 Tuesday mornings in the South Side Library meeting room. Drop in and enjoy toys and fun activities for families at no cost.
Disclaimer(s)
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
18
2026
Wed
Park-N-Play
10:00am–12:00pm
East Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
East Side Library
Room:
East Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Event Details:
Join us for indoor Park-N-Play, hosted by the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation department on Monday afternoons in the East Side Library meeting room. Drop in and enjoy toys, games, crafts, and activities for families at no cost.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
19
2026
Thu
Park-N-Play
10:00am–12:00pm
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.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Feb
20
2026
Fri
Pokémon Party
10:30am–11:30am
North Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
North Side Library
Room:
North Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children,
Teens
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Event Details:
Celebrate all things Pokémon at North Side! We will have Pokémon crafts and games for the whole family.
Disclaimer(s)
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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| 11 am |
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| 12 pm |
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| 1 pm |
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| 2 pm |
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
Drop-In STEM Challenge : Build a Marble Run
2:00pm–5:00pm
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch:
Forest Avenue Library
Room:
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children,
Teens
Program Type:
Educational,
Play & Learn
Event Details:
Join us at Forest for a Marble Run STEM Challenge! The objective of this challenge is for children to design and build a structurally sound marble run from LEGOs and paper towel tubes.
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.
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| 3 pm |
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
ASAP Tuesdays: Painting Party
3:30pm–4:30pm
East Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
East Side Library
Room:
East Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Event Details:
Join ASAP for a group painting party, with a different finished work each week. Drop in once or every week; all supplies and snack provided.
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.
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.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Feb
18
2026
Wed
ASAP Wednesdays: Let's Make Music
3:30pm–4:30pm
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:
Let's explore rhythm and music through a variety of instruments, including keyboards and our own voices! February 4, 11, 18, 25. Snack provided for all participants.
Disclaimer(s)
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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| 4 pm |
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
Creative Readers
4:00pm–4:45pm
Franklin Avenue Children’s Area
Library Branch:
Franklin Avenue Library
Room:
Franklin Avenue Children’s Area
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts,
Storytimes
Event Details:
Join us in celebrating the joy of reading and art as we explore materials and STEM activities inspired by a picture book. Ages 3 and up.
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
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
Reading Buddies with ARL TheraPets!
4:00pm–5:00pm
Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2
Library Branch:
Central Library
Room:
Central Library Meeting Room 1, 2
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Educational,
Health & Wellness,
Play & Learn
Event Details:
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.
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.
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 "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Birth-Preschool,
Children
This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
17
2026
Tue
Sensory Play Hour
4:00pm–5:00pm
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
South Side Library
Room:
South Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Birth-Preschool,
Children
Program Type:
Play & Learn
Event Details:
Come to South Side for an hour of sensory exploration!
Disclaimer(s)
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Feb
18
2026
Wed
Nintendo Switch Party!
4:00pm–5:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch:
Franklin Avenue Library
Room:
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children,
Teens
Program Type:
Gaming
Event Details:
Join us for a Nintendo Switch Party! We will have games like Mario Kart 8 & Super Mario Bros. Ultimate. Feel free to bring your own Switch or share the library’s controllers.
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
Birth-Preschool,
Children
This event is in the "Birth-Preschool" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
18
2026
Wed
Art Cart
4:00pm–7:30pm
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.
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
Feb
19
2026
Thu
ASAP Thursdays: Sticker Factory
4:00pm–5:00pm
South Side Meeting Room
Library Branch:
South Side Library
Room:
South Side Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children,
Teens
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Event Details:
Learn how to design, build, and collect your own artistic, adorable, and/or awesome stickers. We'll even make puffy stickers and a mini-sticker album to keep our creations safe! Supplies and snacks provided.
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
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
19
2026
Thu
EPIC Graphic Novel Book Club
4:00pm–5:00pm
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch:
Franklin Avenue Library
Room:
Franklin Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Book Clubs
Event Details:
Are you a fan of graphic novels? Join us for our EPIC Graphic Novel BOOK CLUB for kids ages 7-11. We will have a brief discussion about this month's book followed by fun activities and crafts related to the book!
Disclaimer(s)
Children’s Program
Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a caregiver over 12 years old.
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| 5 pm |
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| 6 pm |
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This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Children" group
Feb
19
2026
Thu
Pajama Storytime : Polar Bears
6:30pm–7:30pm
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Library Branch:
Forest Avenue Library
Room:
Forest Avenue Meeting Room
Age Group:
Children
Program Type:
Storytimes
Event Details:
Join us at Forest for a special Pajama Storytime all about polar bears! Enjoy stories, a warm beverage, and a fun craft. Wear your coziest pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal to snuggle along.
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.
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