Events and Meetings: Adult EventsAdult Events
Summer Reading Programs
The annual Adult and Teen Summer Reading Programs begin registering readers each June, and offer events throughout the summer. The 2011 Summer Reading Program theme was "1, 2, 3 GO." When participants sign up at the Help Desk they receive a Reading Form. After reading five books, participants fill out the Reading Form and return it to Help Desk staff to receive a paperback book prize and entry into the grand prize drawings. This year's prizes included a NOOK Color eReader and gift certificates to Prairie Lights Books. For more information, call 356-5200, or email help@icpl.org.
All Iowa Reads
The purpose of All Iowa Reads is to encourage Iowans statewide to read and talk about a single title in the same year. The 2012 book selection is Strength In What Remains by Tracy Kidder. All Iowa Reads is a project of the Iowa Center for the Book. For more information about the All Iowa Reads program and reviews, discussion guides, and the selected books for each year, visit the All Iowa Reads website. For ICPL's All Iowa Reads events, contact 319.356.5200 or visit the Library's All Iowa Reads page.
Art Purchase Prize
Every fall, the Library Art Advisory Committee selects artworks by local artists as the winners of the Iowa City Public Library Art Purchase Prize competition. The winning works of art are chosen from submitted entries. They are placed on display during December before being added to the Library's Art-To-Go collection of circulating art and art prints. The Art Purchase Prize is an annual competition and is funded by a special appropriation from the Library's Gifts and Bequests Fund and contributions from the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation and Book End Committee, Barbara Haring (in memory of Stan Haring) and Emily Martin & Nils Varney.
Author Visits
The Iowa City Public Library is dedicated to offering a wide variety of experiences with local and nationally-renowned authors to the public. Authors have included Yann Martel, Augusten Burroughs, Sarah Prineas, Andre Dubus III, Jay Walljasper and ICPL's first Author in Residence, Jack Gantos.
Building the Collection Auction Event
This annual fundraiser is hosted by the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation in May. The event features a silent auction and socializing, appetizers and desserts, and a live auction of spectacular one-of-a-kind events with authors, musicians and artists. For more information, contact Patty McCarthy at 319.256.5249 or development@icpl.org.
Computer Classes
Classes for adults are held in the Computer Lab on the second floor. For more information, contact Jose Ruiz at 319.887.6073 or jose-ruiz@icpl.org.
ECO Iowa City
Iowa City and the Iowa City Public Library partnered to form ECO Iowa City, an 18 month-long grant-funded initiative intended to motivate citizens to live more sustainably. The program had something for everyone, ranging from urban composting and local foods to energy conservation, urban storm water management to smart waste disposal. For more information, contact Maeve Clark at 319.887.6004 or maeve-clark@icpl.org, or Jennifer Jordan at 319.887.6160 or jennifer-jordan@iowa-city.org.
Garden Forums
Second Sunday Garden Forums are sponsored by ICPL and Project GREEN. Each two-hour forum is free and open to the public. For more information on upcoming Garden Forums, contact Beth Fisher at 319.887.6024 or beth-fisher@icpl.org.
Intellectual Freedom Festival
In 1995, The Iowa City Public Library established the annual Carol Spaziani Intellectual Freedom Festival to honor Spaziani 26-year career at ICPL and life-long commitment to the freedom of ideas. Spaziani believes that the public library's role is to be a resource and a forum for an individual's pursuit and expression of diverse points of view. The festival is held in the fall. For more information, call the Library at 319.356.5200. The 2011 schedule is available here
Iowa City Spells
This annual adult spelling bee is hosted by the ICPL Friends Foundation as a Library fundraiser. Local businesses, organizations, and individuals can participate in Iowa City Spells by sponsoring a team. Admission is free and those attending are encouraged to bring used books for The Book End bookstore in the Iowa City Public Library. The annual spelling bee is held in the spring. For more information, contact 319.356.5249 or development@icpl.org.
Irving B. Weber Days
The Iowa City Public Library, Johnson County Historical Society, Iowa City Genealogical Society, Iowa City Noon Lions club, and other area groups celebrate Irving B. Weber days in May, during Local History Month. For more information about Weber Days programs, visit the online Irving B. Weber site or call the Library at 319.356.5200.
One Community, One Book
All Johnson County Reads is a community-wide reading project that runs annually, from mid-September to mid-November. For more information, visit the Library's One Community, One Book page.
Tax Filing Help
Have questions about tax forms and publications? Need a place to e-file? The Iowa City Public Library can help. You can find tax forms and publications at the Library as well as links to useful tax websites each spring during tax time. For more information, call the Library at 319.356.5200.
Third Thursdays
This series of programs is for persons 55 years and older and are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Lunches are available by reservation a $2 contribution toward the cost of the lunch is suggested. For more information, call the Library at 319.356.5200.