When the plates have been cleared and the leftovers properly stored away, another Thanksgiving will be in the books. That, of course, means another holiday shopping season is underway. If you’re looking for the perfect gift, head to the Des Moines Public Library’s new website and use your library card to gain free digital access to Consumer Reports online.

Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a fair, just and safe marketplace for consumers by performing rigorous testing of products. As part of the free digital access, you’ll also have access to past digital versions of past Consumer Reports magazines.

Use Consumer Reports for research before buying items such as:

• Electronics like televisions, cellphones, tablets and computer accessories
• Appliances, including anything from coffee grinders to refrigerators to waffle makers
• Home and garden items, such as drills, snow blowers, cookware and air mattresses
• Items for children, like car seats, strollers and diaper bags
• Cars, food, money-related items and more

Right now, on the front page of its website, you’ll find the best Black Friday deals for TVs, robotic vacuums, appliances, mattresses and more, along with its 2019 Holiday Gift & Shopping Guide.

Just go to dmpl.org/consumerreports and enter your library card number and PIN to get started. Need a Des Moines Public Library Card? Go to dmpl.org/get-card to learn how.

Note: All Des Moines Public Library locations will be closed Thursday and Friday to allow employees to celebrate Thanksgiving. All branches will reopen on Saturday.

Upcoming events:

Mother Goose on the Loose: Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., North Side Library. Rhymes, stories and movement to help build young children’s literacy foundations. For newborns to 3-year-olds.

Try It Out Tuesday – 3-D Pens and Painting: Tuesday, 4 p.m., South Side Library. Build a creation with our 3-D pens or paint something on a small canvas or tote bag to take home. Ages 8-18.

Nutcracker Storytime: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Central Library. Join the dancers of Ballet Des Moines and learn about the beloved holiday tradition “The Nutcracker” through stories and crafts.

Dino Day: Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., East Side Library. Drop in anytime both days for dinosaur crafts, games, activities and more.

Youth Makerspace – Da Vinci Day: Wednesday, 4 p.m., Forest Avenue Library. Try your hand at recreating some of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous inventions. Ages 8-12.

STEM Activities: Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Franklin Avenue Library. We’ll have a plethora of science, technology, engineering, and math activities and puzzles in the children’s area.

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