ICPL Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King's Legacy

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "Intelligence plus character: that is the goal of true education." Each day at the Iowa City Public Library, we try to honor those words by ensuring resources and information are easily and readily available. We come together as a community to learn, share, and celebrate. We come together through classes, book discussion series, storytimes, and events. As we celebrate Dr. King's life and legacy, we invite you to gather with us for special programs at your library. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Teen Event Series- Speak Session
Friday, January 13, 2023 - 5:00 pm

To celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., UAY and the Iowa City Public library are co-conspiring to bring weekly middle and high school geared programming throughout the month of January. Events will be held every Friday from 5-7 pm at the UAY Swaim Youth Center and will include the following:

January 13th
Speak
Youth are invited to speak/sing/act/dance the truth’s Dr King has instilled in them. Interested performers can register with ICPL by emailing victoria-fernandez@icpl.org.

Sunday Fun Day: Freedom Bells
Sunday, January 15, 2023 - 1:00 pm
Storytime Room

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday in January. Join us to create a bell craft and "let freedom ring" as we prepare to recognize and reflect on Dr. King's life and work across the country tomorrow!

Sunday Fun Day is a drop-in craft program for all ages. Attend anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. Young children will need the assistance of an adult.

StoryJAM--Songs of Change
Monday, January 16, 2023 - 10:30am
Storytime Room

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., join us for a special StoryJAM. Participants will be encouraged to lift their voices in songs of protest from the Civil Rights Era and beyond, share stories about Dr. King, and watch a short film at the conclusion. Join us for this special StoryJAM!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Teen Event Series- Create Session
Friday, January 20, 2023 - 5:00 pm

To celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., UAY and the Iowa City Public library are co-conspiring to bring weekly middle and high school geared programming throughout the month of January. Events will be held every Friday from 5-7 pm at the UAY Swaim Youth Center and will include the following:

January 20th- Create
Staff will showcase the art of/inspired by the civil rights movement and youth will have an opportunity to make and present their work.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Teen Event Series- Serve Session
Friday, January 27, 2023 - 5:00 pm

To celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., UAY and the Iowa City Public library are co-conspiring to bring weekly middle and high school geared programming throughout the month of January. Events will be held every Friday from 5-7 pm at the UAY Swaim Youth Center and will include the following:

January 27th- Serve
Like many in the civil rights movement, meeting their community’s basic needs was a priority. We’ll learn about service projects of the civil rights and distribute food we’ve been collecting throughout the month to those who need it in our community.

Snacks will be provided at every session and you don’t have to attend all.

If you are unable to be in the building but would like to participate, email victoria-fernandez@icpl.org and best accommodations will be made for online options.

Book List for MLK Day

Our staff has prepared a great selection of books to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, we invite our Library patrons to check out a book that celebrates his life and work. We have a wide variety of titles available to choose from, including biographies, histories, and books of quotations and speeches that focus on his teachings and accomplishments. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to learn more and to honor his memory.

Please visit: https://www.icpl.org/books-more/staff-picks/lists/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-celebration-human-rights

Also, we invite you to explore the vast selection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and movies from Kanopy, Libby, and hoopla. Enjoy a variety of titles on topics such as civil rights, social justice, and more. Access these streaming services with your Library card and start discovering inspiring stories today.

View all local MLK Day events here: https://mlk.uiowa.edu/.