engage June 2021
vol 2 • issue 4
CLASSES • ACTIVITIES • EVENTS
ALL SUMMER LONG! DMPL summer reading program kicks off June 7 See Elin Hilderbrand at the last 2021 AViD Page 7
Find dozens of free events, programs, and more!
kids
Library programs are made possible with support from the Des Moines Public Library Foundation and its FOUNDATION generous donors. The Foundation Opening Doors. Books. Minds. 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 For Teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 For Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Storytimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 For Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ON THE COVER The Miffy fountain outside of Central Library is on, a sign that summer is upon us.
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 - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 9 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday 1-5 PM Sunday Pickup Window: Available during open hours, except Sunday
10 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday Curbside Pickup: 10 AM - 1 PM Monday-Saturday
10 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday Curbside Pickup: 10 AM - 1 PM Monday-Saturday
Franklin Avenue Library
South Side Library
5000 Franklin Avenue
1111 Porter Avenue
10 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM- 5 PM Saturday 1-5 PM Sunday Curbside Pickup: 10 AM - 1 PM Monday-Saturday
10 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday Curbside Pickup: 10 AM - 1 PM Monday-Saturday
East Side Library 2559 Hubbell Avenue 10 AM - 7 PM Monday-Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday Curbside Pickup: 10 AM - 1 PM Monday-Saturday
reference@dmpl.org | 515.283.4152 *Hours are subject to change due to COVID-19. Please visit dmpl.org for up-to-date hours and information on available library services.
Sign up starting June 7!
June 7-August 7, 2021
DMPL.ORG/SUMMER-READING 2
engage • June 2021
Register at dmpl.org/events
kids
OUTDOOR
PROGRAMS Chalk the Walk!
Bubble Wands
June 7-12 | East Side Library Stop into the library and sign up for a sidewalk square for you and your family to decorate to celebrate the beginning of summer. You’ll even get a chalk kit. Registration required.
Monday, June 21, 6:00 PM | South Side Library lawn Families will learn the science of bubbles by assembling a large bubble wand and use our bubble solution to test out their wands.
Messy STEM: Rocket Science Wednesday, June 9, 3:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library lawn Learn all about the science behind rockets and then launch a few of your own! Ages 8 and up.
Giant Board Games Friday, June 25, 3:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library lawn Have you ever played a game so big that you were the pieces? Stop by and play Giant Candyland and more to win prizes!
Free Play Olympics
The Blank Park Zoo Presents Colorful Creatures
Thursday, June 10, 10:00 AM | Central Library lawn Join us on the lawn of the Central Library to celebrate the return of the Summer Olympic Games. There will be various activities available for free play, such as giant LEGOs, jump ropes, and more.
Saturday, June 26, 9:45 am | East Side Library lawn Join us for some special guests with the Blank Park Zoo as they present “Colorful Creatures.” Learn how animals use coloring and camouflage to help them thrive in their environment.
Epic Graphic Novel Club: Dog Man
Get Moving with Grace Fitness
Friday, June 11, 4:30 PM | East Side Library lawn If you are a fan of the graphic novel series Dog Man, join us for this book club event on the East Side Library Lawn for ages 8-12. Sign up and pick up your free copy of Dog Man before we begin. We will chat about the book, play games, and get the next book we’ll discuss in the Epic Graphic Novel Club. Registration required.
Monday, June 28, 6:15 PM | South Side Library lawn Bring your family and dance and move your body outdoors on the South Side Library with fitness educator Zakiya Jenkins of Grace! No equipment needed.
Summer Kickoff with ASAP Friday, June 11, 2:00 PM | Forest Avenue Library lawn It’s summer, so we’re headed outdoors for summer programming! Join us on Forest Avenue Library lawn and celebrate your creativity with an art activity led by the After School Arts Program. Then come into the library to sign up for the Summer Reading Program and select a free book! Registration required.
Touch a Truck Show and Tell Tuesday, June 29, 12:00 PM | South Side Library Come see and touch a dump truck and a street sweeper. Learn from the community helpers from the Public Works Department about how they use these vehicles every day in their jobs.
Police Officer Show and Tell Tuesday, June 15, 12:00 PM | South Side Library lawn Meet Des Moines Police Sergeant Yanira Scarlett as she shows us what it takes to do her job. All ages are welcome.
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kids ART
ON THE
GREEN
Summer Science Solar Oven S’Mores Thursday, June 17, 3:00 PM | Frisbie Park, 6101 Muskogee Ave. Explore science through activities and experiments. This time we will be using the sun to heat up some S’mores!
Thursday, June 10, 3:00-3:45 PM | Tower Park, 4900 Hickman Road Learn how to make a painted butterfly.
Bubbles
Monday, June 14, 3:00 PM | Colby Park, 6900 School St., Windsor Heights Learn how to make a collagraph print.
Monday, June 28, 3:00 PM | Colby Park, 6900 School St., Windsor Heights Explore science through activities and experiments. This week we will be blowing amazing bubbles using two different methods.
Thursday, June 24, 3:00 PM | Beaverdale Park, 3333 Adams Ave. Learn how to make a sculpture out of pipe cleaners and straw.
Fabulous Food: Collage Faces with ASAP
DIY Mini Pride Parade Float
Tuesday, June 8, 2:00 PM | Facebook
June 1-15
pride
month
Join After School Arts Program (ASAP) teaching artist Amy Tingstrom for a virtual art lesson on how to make a collage portrait entirely out of pictures of food and plants. Registrants can pick up supplies at any library location beginning June 1. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Registration required.
Celebrate Pride Month by making and decorating your own mini parade float. Stop by any DMPL location and pick up a materials kit, then send us a photo of your creation. Details at dmpl.org/events.
Library Learning Bags: Community Pride June 12-18, all locations Stop by any of our six branches to pick up a Library Learning Bag. This month’s bag contains several activities including materials to make a pinwheel. Presented by RICA (Resilient Identity Community Alliance), a program of ¡Al Éxito¡, and Iowa Queer Communities of Color, an initiative of the Office of Latino Affairs. 4
engage • June 2021
Register at dmpl.org/events
teens Teen Pride Series
Teen Manga Meetup!
Monday, June 7, 14, 21, 28, 4:00 PM | Zoom Join the Des Moines Public Library and our partners at Iowa Safe Schools and UCS Healthcare to talk about LGBTQ issues, ask questions, and discover awesome resources! In this four-session series, you’ll meet other teens in the community like you who are interested in learning about LGBTQ topics, such as gender, terminology, advocacy, self-care, and health. Registrants will receive a Pride Series Kit for the series, which may be picked up at Central Library. Registration required.
Thursday, June 17, 4:00 PM | Central Library lawn
Tween and Teen Ukulele Camp June 8-10, 2:00 PM | Zoom
Share your love of manga with other fans! Each registrant will receive a manga kit that may be picked up beginning June 10. This kit will include a manga, pocky, and a craft. Registration required.
Art Camp Workshop Monday, June 21, 1:30 PM | East Side Library lawn
Get started on the ukulele and quickly learn to play familiar tunes while having fun! Natalie Steenson will facilitate this 3-day camp for ages 8-18, teaching ukulele basics, chords and strumming patterns. Use your own ukulele or check one out from the North Side Library. Registration required.
Learn to Slay: Intro to Dungeons & Dragons Wednesday, June 9, 23 and July 7, 21, 3:00 PM | Zoom Learn the basics of Dungeons & Dragons with our friends at The Rook Room. When you sign up, you’ll be registered for all four sessions. Each session will build on information presented at previous sessions, so please plan on attending as many sessions as possible. Registration required.
Creative Sparks to Jumpstart Your Writing Thursday, June 10, 4:00 PM | Zoom Novelist Carrie Seim will help tweens and teens explore creative ways to get the words flowing. Seim is the author of Horse Girl, has written for several Nickelodeon shows, and has appeared on The Today Show and Inside Amy Schumer. Participants will receive a free copy of Horse Girl. Registration required.
In this week-long workshop, we’ll hear from a local artist each day, then you can use our supply tent to create your own art while getting advice from a professional. On Friday, we’ll showcase your work to family and friends at a special art show. You must be able to attend all five days to participate. Registration required.
VolunTeens Project Afternoon Monday, June 14, and Thursday, June 17, 2:00 PM | East Side Library Are you 12-18 years old and interested in gaining some volunteer hours this summer? Stop by to help with a service project that will benefit the community! Bring a Teen Volunteer Application and Waiver if not already on file. Registration required.
Teen Resume Basics Thursday, June 24, 4:00 PM | Central Library computer lab Whether you’re looking for a job, working on school applications, or applying to experience programs, a resume will help you stand out from the crowd. Our partners at C2C will teach you how to take your skills, interests, accomplishments, and experiences and turn them into a powerful resume! Registration required. June 2021 • engage
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adults Juneteenth and Emancipation with the African American Museum of Iowa Thursday, June 10, 6:30 PM | Zoom Learn what Juneteenth is, how Juneteenth came to be, why Juneteenth was such an important moment in national history, and why and how people continue to celebrate Juneteenth to this day. The program will be presented by Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator at the African American Museum of Iowa. Registration required.
Writers’ Workshop Online Monday, June 7, 5:30 PM | Zoom Share samples of your work and receive feedback from other writers in the group. Registration required.
Container Gardening: You CAN Grow Your Own Food! Monday, June 7, 6:00 PM | Franklin Avenue Library Kalsa Parker Browning from Polk County Extension and Outreach will talk about growing your own food and composting. Then she will help you get your own herb or vegetable planted so you can take it home. All materials provided; choose your plant at registration. Registration required.
Conversations & Coffee Tuesday, June 8, 15, 22 and 29, 12:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library lawn Conversations and Coffee returns! Practice your English skills and meet members of the community during this casual program open to all. Snacks will be provided, and activities will help prompt and encourage conversation.
Spark Stories: Dwana Bradley Tuesday, June 8, 6:30 PM | Facebook and YouTube Learn what inspired Dwana Bradley to make Des Moines a better place to live. Bradley is the General Chairperson of Iowa Juneteenth, chair of the Des Moines School Board, executive director of the Des Moines Urban Experience, and owner of Iowa Urban Media, a community-focused publishing company.
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engage • June 2021
The Man from the Train: Solving the Villisca Axe Murders Saturday, June 12, 2:00 PM | Zoom Fans of true crime and local history will be familiar with the Villisca Axe Murders of June 10, 1912, when eight people were murdered in a single night, and the killer was never found. Rachel McCarthy James and her father, famed sports statistician Bill James, believe they uncovered one of America’s deadliest serial killers and have tied him to the Villisca killings. Hear Rachel McCarthy James talk about their findings from their new book. Registration required.
The Heartland Black Panther Party and Des Moines Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 PM | Zoom Learn about the regional formation of Black Panther Party chapters, including in Des Moines, Omaha, and Kansas City, and what lessons younger generations can learn from them. Presenters include former Black Panther Party member Andrew Rollins and professor and Africana Studies scholar Dr. Reynaldo Anderson. Registration required.
Book Chat’s Summer Vacation Picks Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 PM | Zoom Looking for some vacation-friendly books this summer? Join four of our Book Chat Librarians for an evening of top reads and audiobooks. Registration required.
NFC House Party Thursday, June 17, 6:00 PM | Zoom
Join us and Neighborhood Finance Corporation to learn about resources to help you as you plan to purchase, or repair your home. Find information about forgivable grants, selecting a contractor, mortgages, and more. Registration required.
Register at dmpl.org/events
adults kids Authors Visiting in Des Moines:
Elin Hilderbrand Wednesday, June 9, 7:00 PM | Zoom The “Queen of Beach Reads” will help kick off summer by joining us virtually for the final AViD of the year. Hilderbrand, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, has written more than 20 novels, including Summer of ’69, The Identicals, and 28 Summers. Her newest book, Golden Girl, is set to come out in June. The event will be moderated by Iowa-based author Tracey Garvis Graves. Registration required.
A Story of Fort Des Moines: Charles Hamilton Houston
Queer Zine Party
Tuesday, June 22, 6:00 PM | Zoom In 1917, Fort Des Moines became the location for the very first Officers Training Camp for Black men. Over the next six months, more than 1,200 Black men were trained to lead segregated commands in World War I, including future civil rights attorney Charles Hamilton Houston. We’ll follow his story from Fort Des Moines to the United States Supreme Court and see how men like him reshaped not just the military, but the Civil Rights movement as a whole. Registration required.
Take & Make: Rainbow Windsock Wednesday, June 23, 6:00 PM | Zoom Register for this interactive virtual program and you’ll receive everything you need to put together your own rainbow windsock. Registration required.
Saturday, June 26, 2:00 PM | Forest Avenue Library lawn Read queer zines, make one yourself or with friends, and print off some copies to share. We’ll provide the prompts, supplies, hydration, and company. While anyone may attend, this event and our sample zines are geared toward adults.
Movement for Health and Happiness Monday, June 28, 6:00 PM | Franklin Avenue Library field Learn five tips for improving overall well-being, plus take a walk with doctors from Capital Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center.
June Virtual Book Clubs DMPL Virtual Genre Voyager Book Club Wednesday, June 2, 6:30 PM | Zoom This month, we’re reading Death Note, by Tsugumi Ohba. Registration required.
DMPL Virtual YA for Adults Book Club Thursday, June 17, 6:00 PM | Zoom This month, we’re reading I Wish You All the Best, by Mason Deaver. Registration required.
DMPL Virtual Book Club Tuesday, June 22, 6:00 PM | Zoom This month, we’re reading The Unkindness of Ghosts, by Rivers Solomon. Registration required.
DSM Book Festival Book Club Wednesday, June 23, 6:00 PM | Zoom This month, we’re reading The Last House Guest, by Megan Miranda. Registration required.
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Storytimes! OUTDOOR PROGRAMS EAST SIDE LIBRARY
NORTH SIDE LIBRARY
June 1 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 7 – Swim Storytime | 6:45 PM, Teachout Aquatic Center June 8 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 8 – Swim Storytime | 12:15 PM, Teachout Aquatic Center* June 15 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 15 – Outdoor Bilingual Storytime (Pride Month themed) 6:30 PM, Rosie’s Nature Nook June 22 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 29 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn
June 9 – Family Storytime | 6 PM, Belle M. Turner Park June 10 – Family Storytime | 10:30 AM, McHenry Park June 11 – Storytime at Heritage Carousel | 10:30 AM, Union Park June 16 – Family Storytime | 6 PM, Belle M. Turner Park June 17 – Family Storytime | 10:30 AM, McHenry Park June 23 – Family Storytime | 6 PM, Belle M. Turner Park June 24 – Family Storytime | 10:30 AM, McHenry Park June 30 – Family Storytime | 6 PM, Belle M. Turner Park
FOREST AVENUE LIBRARY
June 3 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 7 – Swim Storytime | 6:45 PM, Nahas Aquatic Center June 8 – Swim Storytime | 12:15 PM, Nahas Aquatic Center* June 10 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 16 – Plant, Grow, Fly! Storytime | 2:30 PM, Library lawn** June 17 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 24 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn
June 2 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 9 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 16 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 23 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn June 30 – Sunshine Storytime | 10 AM, Library lawn
FRANKLIN AVENUE LIBRARY June 8 – Baby Storytime at the Park | 10:30 AM, Tower Park June 9 – Storytime on the Go! | 10:30 AM, Tower Park June 15 – Baby Storytime at the Park | 10:30 AM, Frisbie Park June 15 – Family Storytime at the Park | 6 PM, Frisbie Park June 16 – Storytime on the Go! | 10:30 AM, Frisbie Park June 22 – Baby Storytime at the Park | 10:30 AM, Beaverdale Park June 23 – Family Storytime at the Park | 6 PM, Beaverdale Park June 26 – Family Storytime at the Park | 10:30 AM, Beaverdale Park
SOUTH SIDE LIBRARY
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
(FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE) June 4 – Water Safety | 10:15 AM June 11 – Zonia’s Rain Forest | 10:15 AM June 18 – Juneteenth Virtual Storytime | 10:15 AM June 22 – Bilingual Storytime – Drag King Edition | 6:30 PM June 25 – Virtual Stories, Songs, and Movement! | 10:15 AM
*Admission required. Admission is $2 for children and $4 for adults **Registration required.