Summer Reading Program

Bright and colorful icons like a rainbox, books, balloon, paintbrushes surrounding Summer Reading Program text

Color our world this summer

May 27 - August 9, 2025

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.

Prizes available starting Monday, June 9, 2025. Children's prizes include gift certificates for Blank Park Zoo and the Iowa Children's Museum as well as a free book! Adults and teens can get a coupon for a free book at The Book End bookstore and be entered into the grand prize drawings for a downtown gift card.

Track your reading online

If you have time for a quick question, let us know how did you hear about the summer reading program?

Downloads

Resources

Sponsors

A big thank you to the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation for sponsoring the prizes!

Color your world!

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

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Kids Families Storytimes

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Elementary-age kids are invited to join us each Tuesday at 1:00 to learn a little bit about a fun skill or hobby that maybe they haven’t tried before! We have experts from the community here to teach you the basics! Learn the basics of LEGO robotics...

Tweens Kids Science & Technology

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Kids Families Storytimes

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Color our world, and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe! Every Wednesday during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a new event where they can explore and experience unique cultures and traditions...

Tweens Kids Families

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Create your own unique, colorful bouquet of local blooms when Kara Krapfl of Lovely Bunches Farm teaches us the thoughtful, meditative art of flower arranging. All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who...

Adults Teens Tweens Kids Classes & Workshops

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

This is a storytime, a dance class, and dress-up fun all in one! Dance Me a Story ties together ballet performances and the literature that inspires the choreography. Emily Kate from Ballet QC will read a story and explore and teach the dance...

Tweens Kids Families

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Come learn about some of Iowa's largest birds and even meet a couple! Joan and other volunteers from Raptology will bring some birds of prey and talk about their habitat, diet, size and any other questions you bring about owls, falcons,...

Tweens Kids Families

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Kathy and other volunteers from the our local K9 Ambassador program, sponsored by the lowa City Dog Obedience Club, will use handpicked dogs to help teach attendees about dog safety and etiquette. Following an educational presentation, enjoy tricks...

Tweens Gaming & Pop Culture

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 6:00pm

Digital Media Lab

Do you knit, crochet, spin, punch needle, embroider or do some other fiber arts activity?  Bring your current work in progress and join us the last Thursday of each month for an evening of conversation and group crafting. Whether you're...

Adults Teens Arts & Crafting

Friday, August 1, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Kids Families Storytimes

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Elementary-age kids are invited to join us each Tuesday at 1:00 to learn a little bit about a fun skill or hobby that maybe they haven’t tried before! We have experts from the community here to teach you the basics! Learn the basics of LEGO robotics...

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Color our world, and celebrate diverse cultures from around the globe! Every Wednesday during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a new event where they can explore and experience unique cultures and traditions...

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Create your own unique, colorful bouquet of local blooms when Kara Krapfl of Lovely Bunches Farm teaches us the thoughtful, meditative art of flower arranging. All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who...

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

This is a storytime, a dance class, and dress-up fun all in one! Dance Me a Story ties together ballet performances and the literature that inspires the choreography. Emily Kate from Ballet QC will read a story and explore and teach the dance...

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Come learn about some of Iowa's largest birds and even meet a couple! Joan and other volunteers from Raptology will bring some birds of prey and talk about their habitat, diet, size and any other questions you bring about owls, falcons,...

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Kathy and other volunteers from the our local K9 Ambassador program, sponsored by the lowa City Dog Obedience Club, will use handpicked dogs to help teach attendees about dog safety and etiquette. Following an educational presentation, enjoy tricks...

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 6:00pm

Digital Media Lab

Do you knit, crochet, spin, punch needle, embroider or do some other fiber arts activity?  Bring your current work in progress and join us the last Thursday of each month for an evening of conversation and group crafting. Whether you're...

Friday, August 1, 2025 - 10:30am

Children's Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summer Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. The Storytime librarian will vary each week, and every day is open to all ages! Catch the all-ages Thrilling Thursday programs...

There are no upcoming events.

There are no upcoming events.

There are no upcoming events.

There are no upcoming events.