Spend Spring Break at the Des Moines Public Library! Our resources will keep you and your family both engaged and entertained, and there are tons of programs and activities at all our branches.
Check out our resources and events below, and be sure to take a look at our storytimes for the younger kids. Go to our events page for more information on all our events and programs.
Spring Break is also a great time to check out books from the library. Be sure to browse the children's section and find some fun books to bring home!
Iowa Adventure Pass
Use your library card to check out an Iowa Adventure Pass to the Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Brenton Skating Plaza, and the Science Center of Iowa. When you reserve an Adventure Pass with your library card, you book yourself and your family and friends a full day of fun. Each pass allows entrance for up to two adults and two children.
Launchpads
Launchpads are durable tablets made for kids now available to check out from the Des Moines Public Library. Preloaded with educational content they will keep your kids busy and learning for hours. Each of our 30+ Launchpads has a different theme or learning objective from reading comprehension to nature, space, and more.
Board Games
The library now has 50 board games including classics like Codenames, Settlers of Catan, and 7 Wonders, as well as great 2-player games, including Hive and Japiur. This board game collection is a great for get-togethers and game nights – like other Library of Things items, when you borrow a board game, you get it for up to a week. With such a large collection, there will always be something new to try!
Library of Things
Our Library of Things has lots of fun of the whole family. Spend time in the kitchen using our cookie cutters and ice cream maker, and check out some of our outdoor games, like cornhole and ring toss. Some of those outdoor games are even safe to use in a big space inside!
Tech Central
Create personalized gifts and for friends and family using our Tech Central Innovation and Maker Lab. Check out our sublimation printer, embroidery machine ,laser engraver, and more.
Kanopy Kids
Make extra screen time extra educational with Kanopy Kids, a video streaming service that’s free with your Des Moines Public Library card. Kanopy Kids includes hundreds of movies, TV shows, and read along books you’re your kids will love. The app is appropriate for children ages 2 and up, with an emphasis on programming for ages 2-8.
Monday, March 13
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Slime Time Party*
11 AM | Kids | Central Library
Choose Your Own Adventure
11 AM - 5 PM | Ages 3+ | Franklin Avenue Library
Crafty Readers: Puffy Paint Rainbows & Shaving Cream Clouds*
2 PM | Age 5-11 | East Side Library
Touch-A-Truck with the Library Delivery Van
2 PM | Kids and Families | North Side Library
Furry Tales
3 PM | Kids | North Side Library
Pokémon Planters
4 PM | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Nintendo Switch Party
4 PM | Kids and Teens | Franklin Avenue Library
Manga Design with Procreate
6 PM | Ages 12+ | Forest Avenue Library
Tuesday, March 14
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Crafty Readers: Unicorn Slime
11 AM | Ages 4-11 | East Side Library
Creative Readers: From Book to Art
4 PM | Ages 3-8 | Franklin Avenue Library
Switch Gaming
4 PM | Ages 10-18 | North Side Library
Giant Board Games
4 PM | Ages 6-18 | South Side Library
Level Up
4 PM | Ages 8+ | Forest Avenue Library
Wednesday, March 15
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Drip-In Shrinky-Dinks®
1-7 PM | Kids and Teens | East Side Library
Awesome Amphibians with Polk County Conservation
2:30 PM | Ages 6+ | South Side Library
Art in the Library: Marbled Paper*
4 PM | Ages 6-12 | Franklin Avenue Library
South VolunTeens
4 PM | Ages 12-18 | South Side Library
Traveling Artist Camp: Australian Boomerangs
4 PM | Ages 10+ | Forest Avenue Library
Creative Readers with Rosie the Reading Monster
5:15 PM | Grades K-5 | North Side Library
Thursday, March 16
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Slime Crafternoon
1:30 PM | Kids | North Side Library
Epic Graphic Novel Book Club*
4 PM | Ages 7-11 | Franklin Avenue Library
Kites and Paper Airplanes with a Bilingual Story! Cometas y Aviones de Papel con un Cuento Bilingüe
4:30 PM | Kids | East Side Library
Family Storytime: Giant Candyland
6:30 PM | All Ages| Forest Avenue Library
Family Author Night: Kelly Crull
6:30 PM | Kids and Families | Franklin Avenue Library
Kids Canvas Painting*
6:30 PM | Ages 6-11 | East Side Library
Friday, March 17
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Catch the Leprechaun Treasure Hunt
All Ages | Franklin Avenue Library
Weird but True with the Blank Park Zoo
11 AM | All Ages | Forest Avenue Library
Kids' Canvas Painting
2:30 PM | Ages 6-11 | East Side Library
School of Beats
4 PM | Ages 12+ | Forest Avenue Library
Saturday, March 18
Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt
March 6-18 | Ages 3+ | South Side Library
Baby Animals of Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-18 | Ages 6+ | Forest Avenue Library
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
LEGOs at the Library
Kids | East Side Library
Sunday, March 19
Spring Scavenger Hunt
March 13-26 | Kids | Central Library
Open Slay Dungeons & Dragons*
2 PM | Ages 8-18 | Franklin Avenue Library