February-March engage

February/March 2023

vol 4 • issue 1

engage

CLASSES • ACTIVITIES • EVENTS

GET CRAFTY!

Finds loads of arts, crafts, STEM, and more activities!

Take the 2023 DMPL Reading Challenge!

PAGE 3

Find info on 100+ FREE programs at the library inside!

kids

Library programs are made possible with support from the Des Moines Public Library Foundation and its generous donors. The Foundation supports at least 87 percent of Des Moines Public Library programs, and provides funding for AViD and the Summer Reading program, which supports 5,000+ children participants each year.

For more information about the Des Moines Public Library Foundation and to find out how you can support the library with a donation, go to dmpl.org/foundation.

IN THIS ISSUE 3 4 Teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Reading Challenge 2023 . . . . . . .

Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ON THE COVER February and March are packed with programs for all ages.

HOURS AND LOCATIONS Always open 24/7 at dmpl.org

Central Library

Forest Avenue Library

North Side Library

1000 Grand Avenue

1326 Forest Avenue

3516 Fifth Avenue

9 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 9 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday 1-5 PM Sunday

10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday

10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday

Pickup Window: 9 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 9 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday

Franklin Avenue Library

South Side Library

East Side Library 2559 Hubbell Avenue 10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday

5000 Franklin Avenue 10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM- 5 PM Saturday 1-5 PM Sunday Pickup Window: 10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM- 5 PM Saturday 1-5 PM Sunday

1111 Porter Avenue 10 AM - 8 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday

reference@dmpl.org | 515.283.4152

Closings: All six locations of the Des Moines Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday, February 20 for a staff development day.

Book Clubs dmpl.org/book-clubs 2 engage • February/March 2023

Register at dmpl.org/events

Read books, win prizes!

READING

Challenge 2023

Read books, win prizes all year long!

Spend 2023 expanding your reading horizons by taking part in the Des Moines Public Library’s annual Reading Challenge – with the chance to win prizes along the way as you read books!

Registration is now open at dmpl.org/reading-challenge. All participants have to do is read 12 books from 12 of our 18 selected genres and categories over the course of the year. Read books in any order, as fast or slow as you want, as long as you finish by December 31, 2023.

Readers must register online, using a free and easy Beanstack account. If you need suggestions or ideas for the categories, our expert Book Chat librarians have reading suggestions for the categories online. Finish 12 categories by the end of the year, and you’ll be eligible for our prize drawings. There are also quarterly prizes for readers.

For the super readers out there, our popular monthly bonus categories are returning in 2023. Each month, we will announce the new monthly bonus reading category. If you read a book for all 12 bonus categories, you’ll get an exclusive piece of library swag!

Our reading challenge is also a great chance to connect with other readers! We have active groups on Facebook and Goodreads, and, for the first time we’ve added our challenge to StoryGraph so you can easily track and share your reading with others.

The 18 categories are as follows: J 2023 AViD author

J Nonfiction book in a

nontraditional format

J Literary classic J Recommendation from a

Book Chat librarian

J Book set somewhere you

want to visit

J Book that is the first in a series J Book made into a movie or

TV show J Middle grade or YA novel

J Book in translation

J Book under 200 pages/novella

J Book that will make you laugh

J Memoir or autobiography by

J Reese, Jenna, Oprah, or Good

J Mystery or thriller

someone you admire J Science fiction or fantasy novel

Morning America book club pick J Book written by a transgender or

nonbinary author

J Book by a debut author J Wild card (your choice)

Get started with the DMPL Reading Challenge and learn more by going to

dmpl.org/reading-challenge.

February/March 2023 • engage 3

kids

Science Wednesdays

Perler Bead Valentines

Wednesday, February 1 and Wednesday, March 1, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Science Wednesdays is a chance for kids to explore different aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Ages 6-12.

Registration required.

Monday, February 6, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library Create your own Valentine’s Day magnets using pixel art and Perler beads.

Friendship Bracelets and Bilingual Story | Pulseras de Amistad y un Cuento Bilingüe Thursday, February 2, 4:30 PM | East Side Library Come enjoy a bilingual story all about friendship and make a friendship bracelet or two for someone special! Disfruta de un cuento bilingüe sobre la amistad y haz una pulsera de amistad para alguien especial.

Little Explorers Friday, February 3 and March 3, 10 AM | Franklin Avenue Library Bring your young ones to our Little Explorers program and discover, learn and play with different sensory activities.

Music Moment Thursday, February 9 and March 9, 3:30 PM | Central Library Are you interested in exploring classical music and instruments?

Join us to have a snack, play games, make an instrument, and listen to music.

4 engage • February/March 2023

Saturday Sensory Play Saturday, February 11 and March 11, 10:30 AM | Central Library Children and caretakers can travel through stations exploring touch and feel, taste, and most importantly, play! Please come dressed for mess.

No School Fun Day – Friendship Necklace Monday, February 13 | Franklin Avenue Library Drop in for this DIY craft activity. Make necklaces to give to your friends and family, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Rosie Dance Party!

Monday, February 13, 10:30 AM | East Side Library Let’s dance! Rosie will join us for a story and dancing. Have your picture taken with Rosie and bust a move under our disco ball.

Register at dmpl.org/events

kids Des Moines Symphony Academy’s Instrument Petting Zoo

Movie Watch Party: A Wrinkle in Time (PG)

Monday, February 13, 6:30 PM | South Side Library Children can learn about string instruments and get some hands-on experience with them, as well as hear kid-friendly music from the Honors String Quartet.

Monday, March 6, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library Go on an epic adventure through space and time!

We will eat popcorn and do a small activity while we watch.

DIY Heart Stuffies

Bug Bites

Tuesday, February 14, 4 PM | South Side Library Make and decorate your very own heart plushie! This no-sew craft is made with felt, stuffing, and your creativity! While supplies last.

Friday, March 10, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library One out of every four people in the world routinely eats insects.

We will learn which bugs are eaten the most and do a taste test to see if you can guess which foods are made with insects and which are not. Ages 8+. Note: Students with shellfish allergies should not taste the samples.

Valentine’s Day Affirmation Party Tuesday, February 14, 4 PM | Central Library We will play music, eat snacks, and create a Valentine’s Day mirror.

Epic Graphic Novel Book Club Thursday, February 16 and Thursday, March 16, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library We will chat about the book of the month (Bedhead Ted in February, TBD in March) and work on a fun activity or craft. Registration required.

ARL TheraPets Tuesday, February 14, 5:30 PM | East Side Library Tuesday, February 21 and March 21, 4 PM | Central Library Monday, March 13, 3 PM | North Side Library Engaging with animals is a great way to boost confidence and reduce anxiety around learning to read. We have several options for interacting with an ARL TheraPet at the library!

Slime Time Party Monday, March 13, 11 AM | Central Library Come make stretchy slime, fluffy slime, and sparkly slime. We’ll play with our slime and even have a slime contest. Registration required.

Touch a Truck with the Library Delivery Van Monday, March 13, 2 PM | North Side Library Learn all about how library books get from place to place with Doug, the library’s delivery driver! We will start in our meeting room to hear about how Doug uses the delivery van for his job. Afterwards, you will get to see the van up close and enjoy a craft.

Pokémon Planters

Kids Pokémon Card Swap

Monday, March 13, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library Decorate your own mini Pokémon planters and plant garden cress, a fast growing microgreen. Will you choose Togepi or Oddish to be your new windowsill buddy?

Thursday, February 23 and March 30, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade. Ages 7-18.

Awesome Amphibians with Polk County Conservation

Thursday, February 23, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library We supply everything you need to take home a one-of-a-kind mixedmedia masterpiece. Wear clothing suitable for art activities.

Wednesday, March 15, 2:30 PM | South Side Library Love frogs, toads, and other cool amphibians? Then join our friends at Polk County Conservation to learn about these smooth, wet animals that seem to magically transform from egg to adult. You’ll even see a real live amphibian up close!

Manualidades at Forest: Friendship Fiesta

Slime Crafternoon

Family Art Studio: Creative Collages

Thursday, February 23 and Thursday, March 23, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library We will play Loteria, have prizes and provide some sweet snacks.

Jugaremos Loteria, tendremos premios y proporcionaremos algunos bocadillos dulces.

The Hundred Dresses Sneak Preview Saturday, February 25, 10:30 AM | Franklin Avenue Library Visit the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of The Hundred Dresses, based on the classic story by Eleanor Estes. Enjoy the performance and enter to win free tickets to the play!

Thursday, March 16, 1:30 PM | North Side Library Make your own slime to take home!

Kites and Paper Airplanes and Bilingual Story | Cometas y Aviones de Paper con un Cuento Bilingüe Thursday, March 16, 4:30 PM | East Side Library Enjoy making and decorating kites and paper airplanes this spring break. We will also have a bilingual story all about the things we do on a windy spring day.

Disfruta de crear una cometa y avión de papel y de decorarlos este descanso de primavera. También, tendremos un cuento bilingüe sobre las cosas que hacemos en el viento.

February/March 2023 • engage 5

kids Family STEM Challenge

Weird But True with the Blank Park Zoo

Thursday, March 16, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library This month’s program involves building a bridge that is strong enough to hold 100 pennies.

Friday, March 17, 11 AM | Forest Avenue Library Did you know that emus can’t walk backwards and polar bears don’t have white fur? Ask an expert from the Blank Park Zoo and take home an armful of animal books. We will meet mystery animal ambassadors and learn some of the wackiest tidbits and trivia about how weird animals can be!

Kid Canvas Painting Thursday, March 16, 6:30 PM, and Friday, March 17, 2:30 PM | East Side Library Get creative on canvas with watercolors and tempura paints! All supplies provided. Children should wear clothing that may get stained. Registration is required.

Kids’ Book Club Monday, March 20, 3:30 PM | East Side Library Joins us to discuss The Smartest Kid in the Universe by Chris Grabenstein. We’ll also make a craft and have some fun with jelly beans! Registration required. Copies to borrow are available at the East Side Information Desk.

Find even more free programs, from scavenger hunts to drop-in crafts and more, at dmpl.org/events!

Simple Steps to early literacy

read write sing play talk

STORYTIMEs Our DMPL Storytimes incorporate the five Simple Steps:

read write sing play talk These easy steps help prepare your child for learning success.

Find a List of Storytimes at:

dmpl.org/storytimes 6 engage • February/March 2023

Register at dmpl.org/events

teens VolunTeens

Open Slay Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday, February 1 and 15, and March 1, 15, and 29, 4 PM | South Side Library Wednesday, February 8 and March 8, 4 PM | Central Library Monday, February 13 and March 6, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Thursday, March 30, 4 PM | East Side Library VolunTeens is a great way to earn volunteer hours! All students must submit a VolunTeens application and waiver and have it signed by a parent/guardian before attending. Applications can be picked up at the Information Desk.

Sunday, February 19 and March 19, 2 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Prepare for adventure! Open Slay Dungeons & Dragons is for teens and tweens who know how to play D&D and are ready to take on a campaign! All gaming supplies and characters will be provided by The Rook Room. Registration required.

Level Up Tuesdays, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library Level up your gaming skills! Use our tablets and Nintendo Switch to play Among Us, Minecraft, Roblox, and more.

Tween and Teen Game Day Wednesday, February 22, 4 PM | South Side Library Join us for board games, video games with the Nintendo Switch, and snacks!

The Art of Expression

Tuesdays, 4 PM | North Side Library Stop by after school for fun games and challenges with fellow teens.

Wednesday, February 22, 5 PM | Franklin Avenue Library: Printmaking Wednesday, March 22, 5 PM | Franklin Avenue Library: Shrinky Dink Jewelry The Art of Expression is a monthly program for teens to learn and create different types of art in a relaxed atmosphere. Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Traveling Artist Camp

School of Beats

Afterschool Club

Wednesday, February 15, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library: Peruvian Blankets Wednesday, March 15, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library: Australian Boomerangs Join us every month at the Forest Avenue Library as we learn about art from around the world and complete a craft related to what we’ve learned.

Willy Wonka’s Escape Room Friday, February 17, 4 PM and 5 PM | Forest Avenue Library Step inside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory to see where your favorite candies are created and be the first to see new candies. Can you follow all the hidden clues to make it through this partially edible escape room? Registration required.

Friday, February 24 and March 17, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library All your friends will want you spinning at their parties! At this handson class we will learn the skills needed to become a DJ. We provide the equipment; you bring the creativity.

Teen Privacy Meme Project March 1-31 | Forest Avenue Library Forest Avenue Library will be hosting the Teen Meme Project, a collection of memes about privacy created by teens. The project was produced by Library Freedom Project (LFP) and staff at Boston Public Library.

Anime & Manga Meetup Wednesday, February 8 and March 8, 4 PM | South Side Library Join us for the Teen Anime/Manga Meetup!

We’ll get together and discuss all things Anime and Manga.

Thursday, February 23 and March 30, 4 PM | Central Library Love anime and manga? Want to nerd out about it with other people who love it, too? Join us and discuss all things anime and manga, do crafts, play games, watch anime, and more!

Registration required.

Manga Design with Procreate Monday, February 13 and March 13, 6 PM | Forest Avenue Library Are you interested in drawing your favorite manga characters or creating your own?

We will use Procreate on iPads to design professional looking manga.

February/March 2023 • engage 7

teens Nintendo Switch Party

Luck of the Leprechaun Escape Room

Monday, March 13, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Join us for a Nintendo Switch Party over spring break! Feel free to bring your own Switch or share the library’s controllers.

Friday, March 17, 4 PM | Central Library In this St. Patrick’s Day themed escape room, participants will solve riddles from Lucky the Leprechaun to find his hidden pot of gold.

Registration required.

Giant Board Games Tuesday, March 14, 4 PM | South Side Library Come play some fun giant games, including Giant Jenga, Giant Tic Tac Toe, and more!

Tween & Teen DIY Journals Wednesday, March 22, 4 PM | South Side Library We’ll provide the journals and the supplies for you to make them as unique as you.

Tools and Memes for Privacy-Oriented Teens Wednesday, March 15, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library If you’d like to learn some practical tools for being a little more secret online – from your school, advertisers, or the FBI agent behind your screen – without flinging your phone into the sea, come to this program! We’ll talk about ad blockers, encryption, and more.

adults Explore Visual Black History February 1-28 | Forest Avenue Library Drop by Forest Avenue Library to look at photo books, graphic novels, and other visual records of Black history. These books are available to check out year-round! For now, we’re pulling them out with tables, chairs, and supplies.

Job Seekers Help with the Financial Empowerment Center and the Evelyn K. Davis Center Wednesdays, 10 AM–1 PM | North Side Library Wednesdays, 10 AM–2 PM | South Side Library Thursdays, 10 AM–2 PM | South Side Library (Bilingual assistance, Spanish and English) Staff from the Financial Empowerment Center and Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families will provide one-on-one job search and resume assistance to job seekers. Learn about resume building, applying for jobs, mock interviews, and other resources. Walk-ins welcome.

AARP Tax Assistance Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10:30 AM-3 PM, East Side Library* AARP will be at onsite every Wednesday and Saturday from February through April 12 to assist the public with their taxes. *NOTE: Tax assistance will end at 12:30 on Saturday, February 18.

8 engage • February/March 2023

Computación Básica para Adultos | Computer Basics for Adults Wednesday, February 1, 4 PM | Central Library Aprenda a usar la computadora, navegar la red, y usar varios servicios y programas digitales. Para gente edades 18+. No necesita apartar lugar.

Esta clase es parte de el PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive, que promueve talleres de computación y esta apoyado por parte de AT&T.

Glowforge Training Thursdays, 10 AM | Central Library Learn how to use the Glowforge Plus Laser Engraver at Tech Central! This program takes the place of the 1 on 1 Glowforge tutorial, so you will be fully qualified to book and use the Glowforge on your own after this program.

Registration required.

English Practice Thursdays, 3:30 PM | North Side Library Meet up at the North Side Library for free help with English. We will practice together.

Register at dmpl.org/events

adults Manualidades para adultos/Crafting for Adults Thursday, February 2, 3:30 PM | Central Library: Pelotas de lana para la ropa | Wool Dryer Balls ¡Reemplaza suavizante con una pelota de lana! Haz una y aprende como las pelotas pueden ayudarle a tu ropa, lavadora, y secadora. Espacio limitado por materiales proporcionados.

Tuesday, March 7, 3:30 PM | Central Library: Tie-Dye ¡Ven a pintar una bolsa de mano con tie-dye! Aprende como hacer diseños comúnes o experimenta con tus propias ideas. Espacio limitado por materiales proporcionados.

Advocating Against Race and Gender Discrimination in Housing Thursday, February 2, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Under current Iowa law, just the filing of an eviction notice becomes public record and stays on a person’s record permanently even if an eviction filing is thrown out. This training will prepare you to advocate for housing access for all in the Iowa legislature.

Sit n’ Stitch Saturday, February 4 and March 4, 1:30 PM | North Side Library Spend a few hours with other crafters and work on your knit, crochet, or needle craft projects. Please bring your own supplies and projects with you.

Game Day @ Central Sunday, February 5 and March 5, 1:30-4:30 PM | Central Library A selection of tabletop games will be provided for use in the library.

Feel free to bring beverages, snacks, and your own games from home if you would like to share them with others. This event is cosponsored by The Rook Room.

Writers’ Workshop Monday, February 6 and March 6, 5:30 PM | Central Library Bring samples of work and receive feedback from other writers in the group. Email your submission to Julia at jmdunt@dmpl.org by 12 PM the Tuesday before the program. Please include your name on the file and at the top of the submitted document.

Paris: History of a Modern Capital – Part III Monday, February 6, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Join Natalie Benson, PhD in Modern French Art and Literature and adjunct professor of French at Drake University, for the last session of this three-part series to discover how Paris brought us the dining room, sidewalks, public gardens, trash cans, the postal system, streetlights, and much more.

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Tuesday, February 7, 2 PM | South Side Library Become familiar with the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the differences between normal aging, hear from people who have the disease, and find out how to recognize the signs in yourself and others.

Acupressure to Improve Health and Wellness Wednesday, February 8, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library Acupressure has its roots in East Asian medicine and is related to acupuncture. Both are based on the idea of natural energy pathways flowing through the human body. Learn how acupressure and selfacupressure can be used to help relieve commons symptoms in colds, flu, and allergies.

Iowa Author Spotlight: Nick Holmberg Thursday, February 9, 5:30 PM | Central Library Nick Holmberg earned his Master’s in creative writing at The City College of New York, where his studies of Latinx magic realist and African American literatures began.

His first novel, The Emergent, won a National Indie Excellence Award for the Best New (Debut) Fiction in 2021-22.

Nancy Drew with Hunt a Killer: Mystery at Magnolia Gardens Saturday, February 11, 2-4 PM | South Side Library Players channel their inner detective to investigate the mystery of a murder. Uncover the motives of each suspect through ciphers, clues, and puzzles that progress the story to its thrilling conclusion.

Registration required.

Palentines Celebration: Movie & DIY Cards Saturday, February 11, 1:30 PM | Central Library Create a Valentine’s Day card for someone you are thankful for today!

Doors open at 1:30 PM for card making, then join us to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel at 2 PM. Popcorn will be provided, or you may bring your own snack and covered drink.

Practica de conversación en inglés | English Conversation Practice Monday, February 13, 27 and March 13, 27, 10 AM | Central Library ¡Ven a la biblioteca Central a practicar tu inglés conversacional!

Tendremos actividades para empezar y seguir la conversación y actividades para niños acompañantes. Hablantes de todos niveles estan invitados a venir.

Art 101 Join artist and DMPL staff member Fueche Vang as he introduces participants to a different art concept each month at Central Library.

Materials will be provided, and you can bring your own supplies as well. No experience necessary!

Monday, February 13, 6-7:30 PM: Leonardo da Vinci Study and draw from Leonardo da Vinci’s most popular works.

Monday, March 20, 6-7:30 PM: Anime Learn how to draw anime, with lessons on common designs, tropes, themes, and more.

Introduction to Weaving with the Des Moines Weavers Guild Monday, February 13, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Members of the Des Moines Weavers Guild will demonstrate weaving on different types of looms as well as spinning on a wheel and a drop spindle. Then you can try it yourself.

Online Dating for Older Adults Tuesday, February 14, 2 PM | South Side Library Friday, March 17, 10 AM | North Side Library Are you looking for companionship for the golden yearsLearn about the different online dating sites, what makes a good profile, and how to avoid internet dating pitfalls.

February/March 2023 • engage 9

adults DMPL & Dragons

Discovering Des Moines History

Thursday, February 16 and March 16, 5:30 PM | Central Library This adventuring group meets on the third Thursday of each month to play through an ongoing campaign. Please contact Dennis at djcooper@dmpl.org or 515-283-4152 to learn more. Registration required.

Tuesday, February 21 and March 21, 5:30 PM | Central Library Learn about the resources the library offers on the history of your city, neighborhood, or house.

Cooking Class: Vegan Empanadas Thursday, February 16, 6 PM | North Side Library Join us in the kitchen as we prepare delicious Latin empanadas. In this class, you’ll learn how to make empanada dough from scratch, the versatility of empanadas with both sweet and savory plant-based fillings, and how to bake the perfect empanada. Every participant will go home with three empanadas!

The James Webb Space Telescope Wednesday, February 22, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library Grand View physics professor Grant Knotts will tell us about the history of the James Webb Space Telescope and the rationale for putting telescopes in space, the study of cosmology, and what questions the James Webb telescope seeks to answer.

Keeping Connected with an Incarcerated Loved One

Thursday, February 16, 6:30 PM | South Side Library Looking to break out of the same old movie-and-dinner date night routine? Come discover the more romantic side of the South Side Library with a couples-themed scavenger hunt, board games, music, hot drinks, snacks and more!

Thursday, February 23, 5 PM | South Side Library Tuesday, February 28, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library Learn some practical tips for supporting and staying in touch with loved ones in prison. We’ll talk about the legal process of a criminal case, accessing information from the Department of Corrections, and making visits, as well as how to navigate the restrictions on books and mail.

Inner Light Sanctuary Farm Animal Rescue

Move It Monday

Thursday, February 16, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Learn more about the Inner Light Sanctuary, a nonprofit home for rescued farmed animals, located just outside of Carlisle. While sharing the mission of the sanctuary, the founder will also discuss their family’s journey to a vegan lifestyle. Family-friendly vegan recipes will be shared.

Monday, February 27 and March 27, 6:30 PM | Central Library Move It Monday is a time and a place to release your stress and thoughts and just move.

Library Date Night

Painting Poorly Saturday, February 18, 2 PM | North Side Library Whether you’re a practiced painter or a beginner, come express yourself with a no-pressure painting project led by a librarian who is NOT an artist but IS enthusiastic.

Watercolor Art Saturday, February 18, 2 PM | East Side Library: Winter Series 3 This program will focus on landscape and still-life studies and address the technical and creative challenges of expressive winter painting. Beginning and intermediate artists are invited to learn the basics or refresh their skills.

Franklin Cinema Club Monday, February 27, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library: Breathless (1960) Monday, March 20, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library: Ball of Fire (1941) Discuss noteworthy films at the Franklin Cinema Club, a discussion series held the third Monday each month. Participants view the selected film prior to attending the discussion. Titles are available through Kanopy (the library’s free streaming service) and our DVD collection.

Iowa History 101 Join the Forest Avenue Library for a film presentation from the State Historical Society of Iowa.

We’ll be watching one Iowa History 101 film each third Tuesday of the month.

Tuesday, February 21, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library: Iowa’s Black Migration: Into, Around, Out Of, and Back Again Genealogist Ricki King, owner of Roots to Branches Genealogy, presents a journey of Iowa’s Black history, starting with Iowa’s statehood, that illustrates some of the reasons why families and individuals moved to Iowa, moved around Iowa, left Iowa, returned to Iowa, and then left again.

10 engage • February/March 2023

Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library: We Came Home Together: Black Civil War Veterans and Community Building in Iowa Dwain Coleman, co-director of the Iowa Colored Conventions Digital Project, discusses how Black Civil War Veterans of the 1st Iowa Regiment of African Descent and their families used the goodwill obtained through their service to fight for equal rights and social space in Iowa’s communities.

Register at dmpl.org/events

adults AmeriCorps Seniors

Programa de empoderamiento financiero

Tuesday, February 28, 2 PM | East Side Library (includes BINGO!) Tuesday, March 2, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Tuesday, March 21, 2 PM | South Side Library (includes BINGO!) AmeriCorps Seniors is a new program launching statewide for seniors ages 55+ to volunteer and provide services for youth in schools, childcare centers, and other organizations. Volunteers receive a nontaxable ©AmeriCorps stipend, secondary insurance, and more.

This program is a great way to stay engaged in your community.

Tuesdays in March, 6 PM | Forest Avenue Library Forest Avenue Library le invita a tomar las riendas de su seguridad financiera. En 5 clases con duración de una hora podrá aprender los conceptos básicos que necesita para salir adelante financieramente. Las clases son totalmente GRATIS!!!!

Papercrafts Monday, March 13, 6 PM | East Side Library Join Library Assistant Ben Hatcher for a papercraft program inspired by our East Side window displays! We’ll be folding and gluing pre-cut art paper to assemble exciting objects. All materials will be provided.

Registration required.

Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior

Wednesday, March 1, 4 PM | South Side Library Learn about: applications and finding a unit; tenant rights and responsibilities; money management and credit; taking care of your home; leases; renters insurance and deposits; and communicating with landlords and neighbors.

Tuesday, March 14, 2 PM | South Side Library This program teaches participants how to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

Book Binding

Pi(e) Day with Pie Bird Pies

Tuesday, March 7, 1 PM | Forest Avenue Library Come learn to bind a book using non-adhesive book tape and stitching! We’ll learn a common, sturdy process for producing an attractive hand-bound book. This program involves awls, needles, and craft knives.

Tuesday, March 14, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Come learn the story of local food sensation Pie Bird Pies.

Renting 101: Rights and Responsibilities

GenRx: Prescription Medications and You Tuesday, March 7, 2 PM | South Side Library This educational program will address simple ways to decrease the risk for adverse drug events and the safe storage and disposal of medications. The educational program includes engaging activities that focus on teaching older adults’ safe medication practices.

Jim Crow’s Pink Slip Book Discussion Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 PM | East Side Library Join us for a book discussion on Jim Crow’s Pink Slip: The Untold Story of Black Principal and Teacher Leadership

by Leslie T. Fenwick. This program is in relation to the Suspended exhibit in place at the East Side Library.

The exhibit is brought to us by the African American Museum of Iowa.

3-D Printing for Adults: Create a Plant Pot Wednesday, March 8, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library We’ll use TinkerCad to design a plant pot and saucer. We’ll 3D print the pots after the program, and you can pick them up when they’re done.

Crucial Conversations Saturday, March 11, 1 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Crucial Conversations helps parents and caregivers become more comfortable talking with children about sexual and reproductive health. This session will focus on answering your child’s questions about sexual and reproductive health. Another session will be held on April 29. Registration required.

Biggest and Tallest Trees in Iowa Wednesday, March 15, 6 PM | East Side Library Mark Rouw, the Science Center of Iowa’s Animal Specialist and Iowa’s Big Tree Hunter, will talk about how he tracks down the biggest trees in Iowa. See photos and hear stories only a big tree hunter can tell.

Journey to Home Ownership Wednesday, March 22, 6 PM | Forest Avenue Library Join Bridgett Robinson, Neighborhood Finance Corporation’s Diversity and Inclusion Mortgage Loan Originator and Outreach Coordinator, along with community panelists, as they help navigate what Black/African American homeownership may look like today, and what is being learned from the past.

Red Dragon Herbs and Tea Thursday, March 23, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Mary with Red Dragons Herbs and Teas will share information about herbs and teas, then we’ll have a tasting. Registration required.

Enemy in the Heartland: Japanese Prisoners of War at Camp Clarinda During World War II Monday, March 27, 6:30 PM | Franklin Avenue Library This presentation will focus on the experiences of Japanese POWs at Camp Clarinda in Iowa, highlighting the role the Japanese played in alleviating local labor shortages. Dr. Chad Timm, a historian and professor of Teacher Education at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, will be our guest speaker.

February/March 2023 • engage 11

library things of

kitchenware, tools, games, and more ∞ Radon detector ∞ Carpet washer ∞ Metal detector ∞ Light therapy lamp ∞ Telescope ∞ Pasta maker ∞ Video2Digital converter

∞ Mini video projector ∞ Digital film scanner ∞ Yogurt maker ∞ Wood burning kit ∞ Soil tester ∞ Camping tent ∞ and more!