Event List

Featured Events

An owl sits on a handler's arm.

Superb Owl Party

Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B, Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Family Programs, Special Performances

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
Clay creatures made by area third graders.

Opening Exhibition: Third Grade Clay

Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Family Programs

Age Group:

Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
A clay creature with feathers, big blue ears, a purple head, and beads for legs.

Third Grade Clay

All Day 2/8 - 2/14
Library Commons at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Family Programs

Age Group:

Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Valentine Party

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
image of a dragon and words dungeons and dragons

Dungeons & Dragons Club Presents: Character Creation

Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
book club words over pic of a book

Steeped in Books

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
UnConference Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Books and Reading

Age Group:

Adult
Solve the Mystery! written over an illustration of a magnifying glass.

Murder Mystery Club

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Games and Activities

Age Group:

Teen, Adult
Filters
Age Group
A painting shows abstract faces in bright colors.

Leah Casey: Ladd Library Gallery

All Day
Ladd Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Multimedia artist Leah Casey will exhibit at the Ladd Library Gallery this spring.

A graphic has a cog and says "Maker and technology fest."

Maker Fest Feature with Collins Aerospace: Downtown Library, Skywalk Gallery

All Day
Downtown Library
Program Type:
Maker Room and Technology, Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

In conjunction with the Third Annual Maker Fest: Making in Space, we welcome community partner Collins Aerospace to the Downtown Library's Skywalk Gallery. 

A triptych painting has skeletons on both sides of a woman whose hair is streaming up and out of the frame.

Susan Creamer Joy: Third Floor Gallery

All Day
Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us in the Third Floor Gallery for an exhibition of painting by Susan Creamer Joy.

In her own words: 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, and bubbles!

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, March 6, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

Family Fun written over a green circle.

National Cereal Day Celebration

Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Come celebrate National Cereal Day at the library! Help yourself to snacks from the cereal bar and stick around for fun cereal-themed crafts and activities.

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, March 9, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, and bubbles!

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

The words Library Music Concert over an illustration of a guitar on a blue circle.

Pied Piper: Woodwind Quintet

Friday, March 13, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:15am
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Early Learning, Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, Adult

Orchestra Iowa presents a free concert designed for preschool-aged children. Performances are held from 9:30-10:15 am and 10:30-11:15 am. March features a woodwind quintet and May highlights a brass quintet.

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, March 13, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

The words Library Music Concert over an illustration of a guitar on a blue circle.

Pied Piper: Woodwind Quintet

Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:30am - 11:15am
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Early Learning, Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, Adult

Orchestra Iowa presents a free concert designed for preschool-aged children. Performances are held from 9:30-10:15 am and 10:30-11:15 am. March features a woodwind quintet and May highlights a brass quintet.

Illustration of animal puppets with the words "Story Time."

Pi Day Story Time

Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Join us on Pi Day for a pie-themed story time. Complete a pie activity and challenge the librarian to see who can remember the most numbers in pi!

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, March 16, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, and bubbles!

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

image of a puppy with words read to dogs

Read to Dogs

Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Trained, certified therapy dogs provide companionship to emerging readers as they earn a free book and bookmark. Everyone is welcome to read to the dogs. Stay for a performance at 7 p.m.! 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

Family Fun written over a green circle.

Literary Mini Golf

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Tee up to explore the library and enjoy book-themed mini-golf holes. Drop-in anytime between 1-3 pm to pick up a map and score card. Balls and putters will be located with each hole. All ages are welcome to test their putting skills!