ICPL kids dream big, read big this summer

Children at the Iowa City Public Library have been dreaming big — and reading big — this summer! At ICPL, 2,280 children participated in the Summer Reading Program, Dream Big … Read! The program included a game card which helped kids choose books and learn more about their Library with various activities. One activity was a scavenger hunt in the Children’s Room of the library. Kids and their parents searched nooks and crannies and the entryway mosaic to discover treasures in the Children’s Room.

Summer programs transformed the Children’s Room into a bustling hub of activity. The library offered a full line-up of kids’ programs, which included music, magicians, dancing, culture, science, technology, star-gazing, animals, games, puppets, crafts, authors and, of course, stories! More than 7,500 people came to children’s Library programs this summer, and another 4,000 attended Library programs at summer festivals. More than 105 community day camps visited the Library, with large groups of kids finding cool entertainment on hot summer days.

The surprise hit of the summer was the City Plaza Children’s Garden, planted by children during the Iowa City Public Library’s Children’s Day of the Iowa Arts Festival. It has been faithfully watered and tended by Scott Koepke, of New Pioneer Co-op’s Soilmates education program, and other volunteers. Children have sampled the produce at storytimes, and much of the harvest will be donated to Table to Table. Initial worries about vandalism have dissipated as the garden has instead engendered a sense of community spirit. The garden has been featured in the Iowa City Press-Citizen, on Iowa Public Radio and in Farmer’s Markets Today magazine. What started as an experiment will likely become a tradition.

The Children's Services staff welcome you and your family to explore the Children's Room at the Iowa City Public Library, attend an upcoming storytime or special program, and visit your public library this fall. For more information on programs this week, this month, and beyond, visit the Library's online calendar at http://calendar.icpl.org/.

For more information on services and programs for children, visit the Iowa City Public Library's Kidspace site at http://www.icpl.org/kids/.