Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Wednesday from June 11 - July 16, join West High students Flora and Tina for hands-on activities about physics, the scientific study of matter and energy. Figure out how gravity works, experiment...
Summer Reading Program
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.
If you have time for a quick question, let us know how did you hear about the summer reading program?
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!
Come read with us!
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 18, 2025 - 6:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join us to add some color to your world in the form of the nail polish of your dreams! We'll have supplies on hand, including suspension coats, liquid colors, powdered-mineral pigments, and sparkles and shimmers. We'll learn a little about...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Comedian and Magician Jonathan May entertains audiences of all ages and sizes, with a magic show that is awe-inspiring for children, while still engaging and entertaining the adults in the audience. You'll Laugh, you'll Ooooh and you'...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Comedian and Magician Jonathan May entertains audiences of all ages and sizes, with a magic show that is awe-inspiring for children, while still engaging and entertaining the adults in the audience. You'll Laugh, you'll Ooooh and you'...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 3:00pm
Teen Center
Turn your favorite snack, local landmark, or object into Pop Art using Canva. No experience using Canva is needed.
Friday, June 20, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Charlotte Hilker will be leading a philosophy class aimed at increasing cognitive ability, enhancing social skills and supporting emotional well-being. Oh, and it’ll be really fun! This is a series, but you're welcome to attend one or all...
Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Smash Brothers Contest- Bring you’re A game and compete for a top spot and a decent prize.
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Create a gorgeous piece of jewelry around your favorite fandom.
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A
Every Monday in the summer we will be hosting games and activities! Join us today to play BINGO!
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A
Back by popular demand, we'll have two very special guests for teens to meet and greet. Earl and Bootleg Benny will be here in all their llama glory as well as their human, Kahle who will be dispensing information about Prairie Patch Farms as...
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 4:00pm
Storytime Room
Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Wednesday from June 11 - July 16, join West High students Flora and Tina for hands-on activities about physics, the scientific study of matter and energy. Figure out how gravity works, experiment...
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 6:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join us to add some color to your world in the form of the nail polish of your dreams! We'll have supplies on hand, including suspension coats, liquid colors, powdered-mineral pigments, and sparkles and shimmers. We'll learn a little about...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Comedian and Magician Jonathan May entertains audiences of all ages and sizes, with a magic show that is awe-inspiring for children, while still engaging and entertaining the adults in the audience. You'll Laugh, you'll Ooooh and you'...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Comedian and Magician Jonathan May entertains audiences of all ages and sizes, with a magic show that is awe-inspiring for children, while still engaging and entertaining the adults in the audience. You'll Laugh, you'll Ooooh and you'...
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 3:00pm
Teen Center
Turn your favorite snack, local landmark, or object into Pop Art using Canva. No experience using Canva is needed.
Friday, June 20, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Charlotte Hilker will be leading a philosophy class aimed at increasing cognitive ability, enhancing social skills and supporting emotional well-being. Oh, and it’ll be really fun! This is a series, but you're welcome to attend one or all...
Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Smash Brothers Contest- Bring you’re A game and compete for a top spot and a decent prize.
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Create a gorgeous piece of jewelry around your favorite fandom.
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A
Every Monday in the summer we will be hosting games and activities! Join us today to play BINGO!
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A
Back by popular demand, we'll have two very special guests for teens to meet and greet. Earl and Bootleg Benny will be here in all their llama glory as well as their human, Kahle who will be dispensing information about Prairie Patch Farms as...
There are no upcoming events.
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Sunday, June 29, 2025 - 12:30pm
Digital Media Lab
For this 4-part series of workshops, we will explore tabletop game design! These are no-experience-required workshops that introduce attendees to making games with cards, dice, tokens, boards, or in the mind with plenty of rules! Part 3: Game boards...
Monday, June 30, 2025 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Bring in a couple of your paperback books with misleading or unpleasant cover designs, and we'll create custom book jackets! After measuring your book, we'll use Canva to make a template you can fill with their clip art, background images you find...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
All supplies will be provided to create a firework painting just in time for Independence Day.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Johnson County Ambulance will have qualified staff to cover ‘hands only’ CPR, AED instruction, stop the bleed, Narcan administration and an overview of the PulsePoint app. This will not result in certification. This program is a repeat of the June...
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Known for her vibrant paintings of landscapes, plants, and animals, Maud Lewis' iconic folk art is celebrated around the world. In addition to creating paintings for sale, Lewis also covered the inside of her 100-square-foot tiny home with...
Thursday, July 3, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Add some flair to your room or a community space. This simple build will allows you to showcase 3D objects to wow your friends.
Monday, July 7, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Calling all puzzle lovers! If you love putting together puzzles in a more competitive way, this is for you. Get teamed up to compete for bragging rights and a cool prize- a puzzle!
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 3:00pm
Teen Center
What is bad can be good? Especially when it comes to art, beauty and talent may be subjective, but we’re purposely going for bad! We’ll share some prompts to get you going but you’ll ultimately be creating a true monsterpiece.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
As part of our partnership with Bur Oak, Next Gen Land Stewards are invited to learn about pollinators and the importance of keeping them hydrated during the hottest summer months. Then, assemble a bee drinking fountain.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Casey leads ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement. All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering an inclusive, lower-stimulation, and...
Tuesday, July 22, 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 a few easy stitches that...
Wednesday, July 23, 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 23, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Get hands-on with exciting science experiments led by the UI Science Booster Club! All Abilities Club programs are designed for those who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering an inclusive, lower-...
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Go head-to-head against other tweens in a pub quiz style sports trivia challenge! Between rounds, engage in movement-based brain breaks incorporating everything from yoga to the giant parachute.
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 - 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 24, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Get up close and hands-on with a variety of exotic animals with Wild Times Exotics. Wild Times Exotics is a fully licensed and insured Zoo to You program visiting ICPL for the first time! Zoo expert Lacey offers a hands on approach to animal...
Monday, July 28, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A
Every Monday in the summer we will be hosting games and activities! Join us today to test your Pokemon knowledge!
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 - 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,...
Monday, August 4, 2025 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Every Monday in the summer we will be hosting games and activities! Join us today for LEGO Play!
Tuesday, August 5, 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! For our last How-To Tuesday of...