Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Summer Reading Program
Celebrating 125 years of stories
June 1 - September 1, 2021
Stay busy this summer reading and attending events!
Available to readers of all ages and abilities, babies through adults. Participants will receive a gamecard to track their summer reading goals.
Did you know ICPL turns 125 this year? Help us read 125,000 books this summer to celebrate 125 years of stories!
Sign up starts now! Prizes available starting June 7, 2021.
Iowa City Reads Goal
We're challenging you to help us read 125,000 books this summer as we celebrate our 125th anniversary. Watch the tracker increase as you log books for the Summer Reading Program!
Iowa City Reads Goal 125,000 books to go Log books
Downloads
Resources
- Watch past programs on The Library Channel
- Learn how to log books with Beanstack's mobile app
Sponsors
A big thank you to the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation for sponsoring the prizes this year!
Upcoming Events
All library patrons, regardless of age or neurodiversity can participate in our Summer Reading Programs. We will be happy to customize reading programs and activities to meet the individual needs of our patrons. Please contact Angela Pilkington for more information.
Upcoming events
Monday, August 2, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Willow Creek Park
Monday, August 2, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
You can watch a Creative Bug class (login with your library card and select the Sketching Class) beforehand and meet to sketch in the Ped Mall. We will go over the principles of sketching during class so you do not need to watch the Creative Bug...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 10:30am
Online
This summer we are offering a weekly Zoom Storytime for preschool and toddler age children in addition to outdoor, in-person programs. In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
Watch educators Briante and Sarah of the Iowa City Science Booster Club demonstrate EcoStax, a game created through the National Center for Science Education. Their video will be made available on August 3 at 2PM on calendar.icpl.org and on facebook...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Wetherby Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Jason Paulios, avid ICPL birder will showcase birding in the city. Join us at the Ped Mall and get ready to look for some avian (that means bird) friends and learn some tips and tricks to spot them.
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
World Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity to learn about and celebrate world cultures! Each week we will learn by doing with a craft, game or activity that explores a different part of the world. School age children are invited to join us online...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 10:30am
North Market Square Park
Join us in North Market Square Park on Thursdays for special summer kids' programming for all ages! Note: parking for this event is street parking only in the neighborhood around the park near Horace Mann Elementary. Please bring your own...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
We made it! Our plants have been seeded and transplanted, we managed the weeds and pests while they grew up, and now we have fruit on our plants to be harvested. Join the Grow Team at the Ped Mall gardens to learn how to harvest, store harvest...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 6:30pm
Other
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join other neighbors for an evening of fun and entertainment in a different local park each week. The event will include the ICPL Bookmobile, live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event and...
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Monday, August 2, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Willow Creek Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Monday, August 2, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
You can watch a Creative Bug class (login with your library card and select the Sketching Class) beforehand and meet to sketch in the Ped Mall. We will go over the principles of sketching during class so you do not need to watch the Creative Bug...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 10:30am
Online
This summer we are offering a weekly Zoom Storytime for preschool and toddler age children in addition to outdoor, in-person programs. In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
Watch educators Briante and Sarah of the Iowa City Science Booster Club demonstrate EcoStax, a game created through the National Center for Science Education. Their video will be made available on August 3 at 2PM on calendar.icpl.org and on...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Wetherby Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Jason Paulios, avid ICPL birder will showcase birding in the city. Join us at the Ped Mall and get ready to look for some avian (that means bird) friends and learn some tips and tricks to spot them.
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
World Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity to learn about and celebrate world cultures! Each week we will learn by doing with a craft, game or activity that explores a different part of the world. School age children are invited to join us...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 10:30am
North Market Square Park
Join us in North Market Square Park on Thursdays for special summer kids' programming for all ages! Note: parking for this event is street parking only in the neighborhood around the park near Horace Mann Elementary. Please bring your own...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
We made it! Our plants have been seeded and transplanted, we managed the weeds and pests while they grew up, and now we have fruit on our plants to be harvested. Join the Grow Team at the Ped Mall gardens to learn how to harvest, store harvest...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 6:30pm
Other
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join other neighbors for an evening of fun and entertainment in a different local park each week. The event will include the ICPL Bookmobile, live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event...
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Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 10:30am
Online
Whether the last time you wrote a paper was last week or 60 years ago, you should know about our general research databases! If you're curious about a current topic or would like to do in-depth research on anything of interest to you, our...
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Comedy fiction is usually a work of fiction in which the writer seeks to amuse the reader, sometimes with subtlety and as part of a carefully woven narrative, sometimes above all other considerations. Comedy can assume many forms - from farce,...
Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Despite fueling a century of American progress, the people at the heart of coal country are being left behind: suffering from unemployment, the opioid epidemic, and environmental crises often at greater rates than anywhere else in the country....
Thursday, August 19, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Whether the last time you wrote a paper was last week or 60 years ago, you should know about our general research databases! If you're curious about a current topic or would like to do in-depth research on anything of interest to you, our...
Monday, August 2, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
You can watch a Creative Bug class (login with your library card and select the Sketching Class) beforehand and meet to sketch in the Ped Mall. We will go over the principles of sketching during class so you do not need to watch the Creative Bug...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Jason Paulios, avid ICPL birder will showcase birding in the city. Join us at the Ped Mall and get ready to look for some avian (that means bird) friends and learn some tips and tricks to spot them.
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
We made it! Our plants have been seeded and transplanted, we managed the weeds and pests while they grew up, and now we have fruit on our plants to be harvested. Join the Grow Team at the Ped Mall gardens to learn how to harvest, store harvest...
Monday, August 9, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Learn how to combine herbs and carrier oils to make the basis for soaps, lotions and balms.
Monday, August 9, 2021 - 5:00pm
Online
Join Randy Ribay, author of the 2021 Teen All Iowa Reads title "Patron Saints of Nothing" for an hour of conversation. If you've read the book or if you just want to hear Randy talk about his work, join us. This webinar will...
Monday, August 16, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
The Great IC Bake-off (minus the baking). Compete to decorate the perfect cupcake which will be judged by Aashika Gadkari, High schooler and owner of iCake Bakery in Iowa City. All supplies provided.
Monday, August 2, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Willow Creek Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 10:30am
Online
This summer we are offering a weekly Zoom Storytime for preschool and toddler age children in addition to outdoor, in-person programs. In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
Watch educators Briante and Sarah of the Iowa City Science Booster Club demonstrate EcoStax, a game created through the National Center for Science Education. Their video will be made available on August 3 at 2PM on calendar.icpl.org and on...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Wetherby Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
World Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity to learn about and celebrate world cultures! Each week we will learn by doing with a craft, game or activity that explores a different part of the world. School age children are invited to join us...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 10:30am
North Market Square Park
Join us in North Market Square Park on Thursdays for special summer kids' programming for all ages! Note: parking for this event is street parking only in the neighborhood around the park near Horace Mann Elementary. Please bring your own...
Thursday, August 5, 2021 - 6:30pm
Other
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join other neighbors for an evening of fun and entertainment in a different local park each week. The event will include the ICPL Bookmobile, live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event...
Friday, August 6, 2021 - 10:30am
Bookmobile, Mercer Park
Stories in the Park returns this summer! In order to keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or you can...
Thursday, August 12, 2021 - 6:30pm
Other
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join other neighbors for an evening of fun and entertainment in a different local park each week. The event will include the ICPL Bookmobile, live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event...
Thursday, August 19, 2021 - 6:30pm
Other
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join other neighbors for an evening of fun and entertainment in a different local park each week. The event will include the ICPL Bookmobile, live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event...
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