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...
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
Wednesday, June 16, 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, June 16, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Learn about natural disasters, emergency preparedness techniques, basic first aid, creating emergency kits, & more. These skills would come in handy in case of an emergency like a zombie apocalypse! Play fun zombie games, and preparedness BINGO.
Wednesday, June 16, 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...
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you ever wanted to learn macrame so you can make your own wall art, book mark or plant hanger? Join ICPL staff for a virtual hands on workshop to learn the basic knots of macrame. Once you know the foundation knots you can let your imagination...
Thursday, June 17, 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, June 17, 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 live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event and is open to the public...
Thursday, June 17, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you heard that Libby is the easiest way to get free ebooks and e-audiobooks from the library? And did you know that Libby now has digital magazines, too? Do you want to see how it works? This class will cover downloading the free app,...
Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 4:00pm
Online
Join Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the Iowa City Public Library for a discussion of Making Local Food Work - the challenges and opportunities of today's small farmers by Brandi Janssen. When it comes to local food, it takes more than "...
Monday, June 21, 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...
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Tuesday, June 15, 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...
Wednesday, June 16, 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, June 16, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Learn about natural disasters, emergency preparedness techniques, basic first aid, creating emergency kits, & more. These skills would come in handy in case of an emergency like a zombie apocalypse! Play fun zombie games, and preparedness...
Wednesday, June 16, 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...
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you ever wanted to learn macrame so you can make your own wall art, book mark or plant hanger? Join ICPL staff for a virtual hands on workshop to learn the basic knots of macrame. Once you know the foundation knots you can let your...
Thursday, June 17, 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, June 17, 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 live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event and is open to the...
Thursday, June 17, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you heard that Libby is the easiest way to get free ebooks and e-audiobooks from the library? And did you know that Libby now has digital magazines, too? Do you want to see how it works?
This class will cover downloading the free...
Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 4:00pm
Online
Join Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the Iowa City Public Library for a discussion of Making Local Food Work - the challenges and opportunities of today's small farmers by Brandi Janssen.
When it comes to local food, it takes more than...
Monday, June 21, 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...
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Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you ever wanted to learn macrame so you can make your own wall art, book mark or plant hanger? Join ICPL staff for a virtual hands on workshop to learn the basic knots of macrame. Once you know the foundation knots you can let your...
Thursday, June 17, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you heard that Libby is the easiest way to get free ebooks and e-audiobooks from the library? And did you know that Libby now has digital magazines, too? Do you want to see how it works?
This class will cover downloading the free...
Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 4:00pm
Online
Join Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the Iowa City Public Library for a discussion of Making Local Food Work - the challenges and opportunities of today's small farmers by Brandi Janssen.
When it comes to local food, it takes more than...
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - 10:30am
Online
Have you heard that Libby is the easiest way to get free ebooks and e-audiobooks from the library? And did you know that Libby now has digital magazines, too? Do you want to see how it works?
This class will cover downloading the free...
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
"Literary Fiction" is the term give to fiction that falls outside traditional genres like mystery, science fiction, or romance because it does not follow a traditional genre formula. While genre fiction is plot driven and seeks to...
Thursday, July 1, 2021 - 10:00am
Other
The Painted Rock Mandala kit will contain all the supplies needed to create your own painted mandala rock. Creating a mandala - the geometric repetitive patterns made of dots - can be relaxing and meditative. The kit will contain a rock, paint...
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Join ICPL staff online for a discussion of Little Faith by Nickolas Butler, the 2021 All Iowa Reads book selection for adults.
Lyle Hovde is at the onset of his golden years, living a mostly content life in rural Wisconsin with his wife...
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Join ICPL and members of Green Iowa AmeriCorps for a discussion of Living The Change.
This documentary is available FREE with your library card on Kanopy.com. Watch it at your leisure and join us for a discussion. Registration for the...
Thursday, July 8, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Have you been playing online games over video chat with distant friends and family during the pandemic? We have! Learn about some popular options to try out for yourself.
Register here to receive an invitation to this Zoom event.
...
Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - 7:00pm
Online
Short Stories are short works of prose fiction. They may be in any genre, and the exact definition of "short" will often depend on the genre. Short stories are often collected together with other short stories in the same genre, or on...
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Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Learn about natural disasters, emergency preparedness techniques, basic first aid, creating emergency kits, & more. These skills would come in handy in case of an emergency like a zombie apocalypse! Play fun zombie games, and preparedness...
Monday, June 21, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
An exploration of Juneteenth through farming and food, inspired by chef Michael Twitty and the Book We Are Each Other’s Harvest. Make a fresh salad with African American greens.
Thursday, June 24, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Think you want to start a photography business or side gig? Check out some tips from Olivia Harding, owner of Olivia Katherine photography. Have your smartphones ready and learn how to sharpen your shots and gain exposure.
Monday, June 28, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Art and science are two sides of the same coin. Learn about scientists like George Washington Carver and Percy Julian who dabbled in paint manufacturing, check out various African American painters and sculptors, and make a small artistic...
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 - 11:00am
Pedmall
Our plants are in the soil and growing, and the only things between us and tasty vegetables are weeds and pests. Weeds love growing next to your plants where they suck up sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. Pests love plants as much as we do,...
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Learn the basics of circuits and electricity! We’ll play with Squishy Circuits (conductive and insulating play dough to teach the basics of electrical circuits) and Paper Circuits (Create your own light up cards!) Learn how to create paper...
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Ever wanted to try your hand at making balloon animals? Now’s your chance! Learn how to make simple balloon animals with a pro.
Monday, July 12, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Learn the basics of sugar scrubs, self-care and how to unwind.
Monday, July 19, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Using discarded books, we’ll turn shabby pages into artful masterpieces.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 - 1:00pm
Pedmall
Morgan Hibbs from Linn County Outreach will talk corn: it’s diversity and uses here in Iowa.
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Tuesday, June 15, 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...
Wednesday, June 16, 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, June 16, 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, June 17, 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, June 17, 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 live music, arts, crafts, and ice cream. This is a no-fee event and is open to the...
Monday, June 21, 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, June 22, 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, June 22, 2021 - 2:00pm
Online
Join Amanda Jorgenson, a natural science artist and illustrator, for a Zoom tutorial on nature sketching. Amanda will share some of her amazing creations and demonstrate techniques that you can apply for your own drawings. At the end of the...
Wednesday, June 23, 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, June 23, 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...
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