West Des Moines Library in Central Iowa

by Whitney Alaniz, MOT OTR/L

The West Des Moines Library

We are highlighting another local library. The West Des Moines Library has tons to offer. Take a look at events, storytime, and activities they have planned weekly. Enjoy playing in their large children’s area with Legos, Magnatiles, puppets, a play kitchen, a large LiteBrite board, and more!

We have been attending since my kids were babies and we love the librarians and fun programs offered year-round. My boys especially love the puppet area and these can be checked out for playing at home.

Remember, your local library provides much more than just books!

REGULAR EVENTS

Check their schedule online for class time/day changes before attending. Some classes require registration.

Lapsit Storytime

Mondays 9:30-10:00 AM and 10:30-11:00 AM

Ages: Through 18 months

Using puppets, rhymes, songs, and short stories, you will engage the baby and caregiver in language-rich activities designed for pre-walking babies. They will spotlight sensory stimulation, fine and gross motor skills, early literacy skills, and of course FUN! Includes play ideas that are easily integrated into the baby’s everyday routine. No registration is required.

Toddler Storytime

Tuesdays 9:30-10:00 AM and 10:30-11:00 AM

Ages: 6 months-2 years with adult

Simple stories, gentle tunes, flannel boards, and nursery rhymes. Each week they will incorporate activities that emphasize and reinforce body part identification, counting, rhythm, sensory stimulation, fine and gross motor skills, and animal sounds. No registration is required.

Baby Doll Storytime

Wednesdays 10:30-11:00 AM

Ages: 18 months- 4 years with adult

Bring a favorite doll/stuffed animal or use one of theirs and join them for Baby Doll Storytime. This program is inspired by Dr. Becky Bailey and Elizabeth Montero-Cefalo’s work “Baby Doll Circle Time”. Children will participate in songs, rhymes, and stories while interacting with their baby dolls. An opportunity for social, emotional, and literacy learning through play! This program will build from week to week but also works as a stand-alone opportunity whenever you are available to join. Full of repetition and loving rituals that you can incorporate at home. No registration is required.

Family Storytime

Thursdays 10:30-11:30 AM

Fridays 10:30-11:30 AM

Ages: 2-6 with adult

Join the West Des Moines Library in the Community Room for this class featuring stories, songs, and rhymes followed by gross and fine motor play all with an early literacy focus!

This is one of their favorite storytimes as the first half of the class includes music and stories and the last half of the class provides different stations for free play. They often have themed story times for holidays complete with fun decorations.

Saturday Storytime

Saturdays 9:30-10:00 AM and 10:30-11:00 AM

Ages: 0-6 with adult

Drop in and join them in the storyroom for Saturday Storytime! Build a lifetime love of books and reading as they share stories, songs, and interactive rhymes with an early literacy focus. No registration is required.

Family Night at the Library- Kindness Rocks!

Mondays 6:30-7:30 PM

Ages: Toddler through adult

Everyone knows that kindness rocks, and they are going to spread some kindness by painting kindness rocks for the library’s rock garden! Paint one (or more!) for their rock garden and one to take home. For all ages. Please register each person attending (children and adults). This program is meant to be a family event. Please plan on at least one adult attending with children.

Kids Club Read

Second Tuesday of the month: 4:15-5:00 PM

Ages: 7-10

If you like to read and talk about books, this club is for you. Join the West Des Moines Library for discussion and activities related to each month’s chosen book. If you need a copy of the book, please go to the Children’s Desk and check out a book club copy (while supplies last)! Registration required.

After School Adventures- Lego Club!

Wednesdays: 3:45-4:30 PM

Ages: 5-12

Join them in the Community Room after school to embark on an adventure! Sign up this month and participate in a building challenge using everyone’s favorite interlocking brick system. Registration required.

Tween Club Read

First Tuesday of the month: 4:15-5:00 PM

Ages: 11-14

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 them for discussion and activities related to each month’s book. If you need a copy of the book, go to the Children’s Desk and check out a book club copy! Registration required.

Tale Trail

The Tale Trail is an interactive outdoor story path for young readers. As they move along a path, they can explore the page panels at their speed and immerse themselves in the story. The story adventure starts on the pond side of the West Des Moines Library and leads you through the tunnel and up to Ashawa Park, then back again.

We enjoy attending story time and then following the Tale Trail to play at the playground. Bonus you go through a tunnel under the street which is often fun for littles.

SERVICES

Book Club Sets

Check out sets of titles, mostly fiction, previously read in the library’s book clubs. Search online for available sets and by age.

Valley Junction Library Kiosk

Check out the new library kiosk open 24-7 located in Valley Junction. Using your West Des Moines Public Library card, check out, renew, or return books/materials.

The kiosk, the first of its kind in Iowa, results from a generous gift of over $100,000 from the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money to support the library’s services and programs. View the kiosk location here.

Library of Things

Check out a wide assortment of educational activities for kids including games and toys, literacy and story kits, and STEM learning. This includes everything from puzzle cards, baby doll kits, shape sorters, and science kits to blocks. View and check out items online here.

The Adventure Pass Program

Iowa Libraries provide free passes to area attractions for a day of family fun! This includes the Des Moines Children’s Museum, Blank Park Zoo, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Reiman Gardens, Science Center of Iowa, and Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum. For more information and to reserve your pass, view their website here.

MEETING AND STUDY ROOMS

Room Booking

Book a room online by room or by day. There are also many open spaces in the library to study and wi-fi is available.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Some events are offered annually, and others are unique each year.

Summer Escape

May-July Each Summer

Register for the annual Summer Reading Club to encourage reading and win prizes! Everyone who registers (yes, adults, too!) will get an exclusive WDM Library Summer Reading sticker. Readers of any age who log more than 30 reading days will win exciting prizes at the end of the summer!

1000 Books Reading Challenge

Ongoing

Ages: 0-6 with adult

One thousand books? That seems like way too many, right? Not at all. You got this. It doesn’t matter if your child is three, or just three months old – there’s no better time to start than now!

Reading helps build social and emotional skills, sparks creativity and imagination, promotes bonding, and helps kids do well overall in school. Take that motivation, open one book, and get started. And remember, 1,000 is just a number. The goal is to work reading aloud into your routine and let the magic of stories do the rest. You can register at wdmlibrary.beanstack.org/reader365 or via the Beanstack app for iOS or Android.

Model Trains

January 17-19, 2025

Stop by the West Des Moines Library from to see the DesMoinNTrak’s N-scale working layout. This event is open to adults and children of all ages. Make sure to stop by the Children’s Department for a fun train craft before you leave! No registration is needed. This fun event is held annually.

Other Events:

Check the library schedule for current special events. Some of these may include:

Playtime and Heartland AEA: Playtime for babies and young children while receiving information on child development from Early Childhood Interventionists.
Themed story times for Halloween and other holidays
Storytime with local authors
Babies on the Move