Summer Reading Program

Adventure begins at Iowa City Public Library - child reading in a tent at sunset

ICPL Reads

May 28 - August 10, 2024

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 3, 2024.

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!

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

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - 3:30pm

Other

Catch, hatch and trade Pokémon in the real world with other fans. We'll meet in the Teen Space in the library, but will venture out around the city to build up our Pokédex.

Teens Gaming & Pop Culture

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summertime Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 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 at a...

Kids Babies Families Storytimes

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Teens Science & Technology

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world! Embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of stained glass with...

Kids Families

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Explore something new each Wednesday in June. In its earliest days, furoshiki was used by noble families and feudal lords to wrap their clothes when visiting the public baths. We'll explore this sustainable practice, try out a few techniques...

Teens Arts & Crafting

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 3:30pm

Teen Center

Learn about the history and significance of Juneteenth as you sip on hibiscus tea, nibble on red velvet cake and barbeque food. We'll also look at African American music in America since emancipation and play a few rounds of trivia for prizes.

Teens

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Dino O'Dell, children's musician and author of Zar and the Broken Spaceship, will be blasting off with a musical dance party. Whether he's counting monsters, fixing spaceships or swimming in peanut butter, Dino's interactive...

Tweens Kids Families Music

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Teens Science & Technology

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Each Thursday in June, middle and high schoolers are invited to explore creativity through art, tech, design, and more. All supplies will be provided for this event and no experience is needed. This week, Environmental Educator, Amanda from Bur Oak...

Teens

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Dino O'Dell, children's musician and author of Zar and the Broken Spaceship, will be blasting off with a musical dance party. Whether he's counting monsters, fixing spaceships or swimming in peanut butter, Dino's interactive...

Tweens Kids Families Music

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - 3:30pm

Other

Catch, hatch and trade Pokémon in the real world with other fans.
We'll meet in the Teen Space in the library, but will venture out around the city to build up our Pokédex.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summertime Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 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 at...

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Explore something new each Wednesday in June.

In its earliest days, furoshiki was used by noble families and feudal lords to wrap their clothes when visiting the public baths. We'll explore this sustainable practice, try out a few...

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!

Embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of stained...

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - 3:30pm

Teen Center

Learn about the history and significance of Juneteenth as you sip on hibiscus tea, nibble on red velvet cake and barbeque food. We'll also look at African American music in America since emancipation and play a few rounds of trivia for...

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Dino O'Dell, children's musician and author of Zar and the Broken Spaceship, will be blasting off with a musical dance party. Whether he's counting monsters, fixing spaceships or swimming in peanut butter, Dino's interactive...

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Each Thursday in June, middle and high schoolers are invited to explore creativity through art, tech, design, and more.
All supplies will be provided for this event and no experience is needed.

This week, Environmental Educator,...

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Dino O'Dell, children's musician and author of Zar and the Broken Spaceship, will be blasting off with a musical dance party. Whether he's counting monsters, fixing spaceships or swimming in peanut butter, Dino's interactive...

There are no upcoming events.

Saturday, June 29, 2024 - 11:00am

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Try this: tai chi

As part of the Adult Summer Reading Program, local Taiji instructor Heaiming Chen of Four Hands Taiji, will lead us through an introduction to Taiji.

Tai Chi (or Taiji) is a gentle, low-impact exercise that combines physical movement,...

Saturday, June 29, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Compete for Mario themed prizes

Monday, July 1, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Monday, July 1, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Create your very own distinctive cosmetic or tote bag using iron-on transfers and the Cricut.
All supplies will be provided for this event and no experience is needed.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 3:30pm

Other

Catch, hatch and trade Pokémon in the real world with other fans.
We'll meet in the Teen Space in the library, but will venture out around the city to build up our Pokédex.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A

Drop in for casual gaming using big, oversized versions of games like Connect 4, bowling, Jenga, UNO, and others.

This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental...

Friday, July 5, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Friday, July 5, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Every Friday throughout Summer, we'll explore food and watch a movie

Food: Lasagne

Movie: Garfield: A Tale of two Kitties
Jon and Garfield visit the United Kingdom, where a case of mistaken cat identity finds Garfield...

Monday, July 8, 2024 - 11:00am

Teen Center

This summer, take a dip into the realms of math, biology, chemistry, and astronomy! Our weekly program, tailored for middle and early high school students (grades 6 to 9), invites young minds to get excited about STEM and make friends through...

Monday, July 1, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Join us every Monday from 2-3 pm for a program featuring items we make!

This Monday we will be making tiny canvases. Once you're done, you will leave your art here at the library to display for a tiny art show!

每周一下午 2-3...

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summertime Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 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 at...

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 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...

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Wetherby Park

Join us for Stories in the Park all summer long! Note the new Stories in the Park time at 9:30 to beat the midmorning heat! We will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend. We will...

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summertime Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 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 at...

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

On Wednesdays during our Summer Reading Program, elementary-age kids are invited to join us for a different event every week to understand and experience cultures around the world!

Step into the vibrant world of Mexican weaving at Tejido...

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A

Drop in for casual gaming using big, oversized versions of games like Connect 4, bowling, Jenga, UNO, and others.

This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental...

Friday, July 5, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Mercer Park

Join us for Stories in the Park all summer long! Note the new Stories in the Park time at 9:30 to beat the midmorning heat! We will offer the same Storytime over the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend. We will...

Friday, July 5, 2024 - 10:30am

Storytime Room

Join us in the Storytime Room for Summertime Storytime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 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 at...

Friday, July 5, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!

This fantasy musical film follows the story of Willy Wonka, the famous but eccentric chocolatier based on the character from Roald Dahl's novel. In...