Upcoming Events

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West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation Meeting

5:30pm–6:30pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Board Meeting
Event Details:

Visit the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation webpage for more information.  

After School Adventures - May Baskets!

3:45pm–4:30pm
School-Age Children
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: School-Age Children
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us in the Community Room after school to embark on an adventure! Celebrate spring as we make our own paper May baskets! We’ll have supplies and directions to make several baskets that you can leave for people on May Day.

Tech One-on-One

10:00am–10:30am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Tech One-on-One

10:30am–11:00am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Tech One-on-One

11:00am–11:30am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Sensory Spaces w/ ARL TheraPets

2:00pm–3:00pm
Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Sensory Spaces are Metro area libraries offering special activities and spaces for members of the public who appreciate a sensory friendly environment.

Outreach: Nature Storytime in the Park

10:30am–11:15am
Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

Spend some time with the Naturalist at Raccoon River Park's Biddle Shelter! We'll enjoy nature stories and a kid-friendly craft of activity. Bring a blanket and dress for the weather.

Tween Club Read - The Secret Letters

4:15pm–5:00pm
School-Age Children, Teens
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: School-Age Children, Teens
Program Type: Book Club
Registration Required
Event Details:

If you like to read and talk about books (but you’re getting too old for our other book clubs), this club is for you. Join us for discussion and activities related to this month’s book The Secret Letters by Margaret Peterson Haddix!

Inner Child: From Rabbits to Rare Species: The Life and Legacy of Beatrix Potter

6:30pm–8:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Club, Program
Event Details:

Please join us this month as we learn about and discuss the life and works of Beatrix Potter.

Otherworlds: Alien, Android, Icon: The World of Alan Tudyk

6:30pm–8:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Club, Program
Event Details:

From spaceship pilots to sarcastic robots, Alan Tudyk has brought unforgettable characters to life across film, television, animation, and beyond.

WDM Writer's Group

10:00am–2:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Southwoods Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

This in-person group is open to aspiring authors of all experience levels. Each participant brings an approximately 1500-word excerpt of their work-in-progress to read aloud.

Library Closed - Mother's Day

All Day
Closing
Branches:
Main Branch
Description:

We will be closed on Sunday for Mother's Day. We reopen at 9am on Monday.  

2026 Summer Reading Display

All Day 5/11–6/30
All Ages
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Lobby Display Case
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Exhibit
Event Details:

In the theme of our 2026 Summer Escape 

Find out more information about Summer Escape at the West Des Moines Public Library here. 

Outreach: Nature Storytime in the Park

10:30am–11:15am
Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

Spend some time with the Naturalist at Raccoon River Park's Biddle Shelter! We'll enjoy nature stories and a kid-friendly craft of activity. Bring a blanket and dress for the weather.

Kids Club Read - Disaster Squad: Wildfire Rescue

4:15pm–5:00pm
School-Age Children
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: School-Age Children
Program Type: Book Club
Registration Required
Event Details:

If you like to read and talk about books, this club is for you. Join us for discussion and activities related to this month's book Disaster Squad: Wildfire Rescue by Rekha Rajan.

Connections & Cognition

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adults
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

“Connections & Cognition” is an engaging presentation led by Zach Schneider of Seniors Helping Seniors® Des Moines and Emily Anker of Brain Bridge Therapy.

YA Not Club Read

6:30pm–8:00pm
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Club
Registration Required
Event Details:

Are you a "Grown Up" but you like to read Young Adult books?  Are you looking for a book club that doesn’t take itself too seriously?  Then YA Not join us for YA Not Club Read!

Tech One-on-One

10:00am–10:30am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Tech One-on-One

10:30am–11:00am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Tech One-on-One

11:00am–11:30am
Adults
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Millie Knee Classroom
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tech One-on-One 

Iowa Files: Villisca; Living With a Mystery

3:00pm–4:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

On the morning of June 10, 1912, the peaceful town of Villisca, Iowa awoke to horror.

First day of Summer Escape @ West Des Moines Library!

All Day
All Ages, Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Age Group: All Ages, Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Registration begins May 18 for our 2026 Summer Escape at the library!

Welcome back, Spotty!

All Day
Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children
Library Branch: Main Branch
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Spotty is back and hiding at the library once again! You can find him in the Children's area on the first floor.

Outreach: Nature Storytime in the Park

10:30am–11:15am
Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age Children, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

Spend some time with the Naturalist at Raccoon River Park's Biddle Shelter! We'll enjoy nature stories and a kid-friendly craft of activity. Bring a blanket and dress for the weather.