Upcoming Events

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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.

English With Friends

10:00am–11:00am
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Southwoods Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Join us at the West Des Moines Public Library for English with Friends, a welcoming and informal conversation program.

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.

Welcome to Medicare presented by SHIIP

5:30pm–7:00pm
Adults
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Registration Required
Event Details:

Are you going to be eligible for Medicare in the near future?  Have you been on Medicare for awhile and want to better understand what it offers?  Do you have a family member you help with Medicare issues? Please join us for a free

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!

English With Friends

10:00am–11:00am
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Southwoods Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Join us at the West Des Moines Public Library for English with Friends, a welcoming and informal conversation program.

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.

Library Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting

5:00pm–7:00pm
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Community Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Board Meeting
Event Details:

Visit the Library Board of Trustees webpage for the meeting agenda and minutes from past meetings.

Legacies - A Discussion Group About Timeless Authors

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

Would you like to read some of the great classics with others? Have you always wondered why some authors’ works seem to endure? Join us for Legacies, a program where we focus on a different timeless writer each month.

Step Back in Time: Historical Fiction book group

7:00pm–8:00pm
Adults
Upcoming
Registration Required
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Book Club
Registration Required
Event Details:

Historical fiction is a great way to learn about people and events through stories that bring history to life. Our group discusses titles from a wide variety of time/places/people.

English With Friends

10:00am–11:00am
Adults
Library Branch: Main Branch
Room: Southwoods Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Program
Event Details:

Join us at the West Des Moines Public Library for English with Friends, a welcoming and informal conversation program.

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.