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 be...
Summer Reading Program
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.
If you have time for a quick question, let us know how did you hear about the summer reading program?
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!
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
Monday, June 10, 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...
Monday, June 10, 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, June 10, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Every Monday in June, middle and high schoolers have to opportunity to make something new. All supplies are provided and no experience is necessary. The mini vendor kit we're making this week is absolutely adorable! Work on building it...
Monday, June 10, 2024 - 2:00pm
Storytime Room
Our friends from snapshots literary magazine will be here to help us design our very own magazine in this special three week workshop. The first week we will work on the writing for the magazine, the second will be the art, and finally the third...
Monday, June 10, 2024 - 4:00pm
Teen Center
Go back in time and celebrate your youth through TV, movies, gaming, candy, and snacks! Travel back in time to the early to mid 2000's and reminisce about those good old days: iCarly, Adventuretime, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Teen Titans Go!...
Tuesday, June 11, 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...
Tuesday, June 11, 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! Looking for a unique hobby to try...
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Tuesdays in June are for healthy competition, co-operation, strategy, and innovation through console, table top, and good old fashioned board games. An array of boards games will be out, and feel free to join in our pick-up Jack Box game selection...
Tuesday, June 11, 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.
Monday, June 10, 2024 - 9:30am
Bookmobile, Willow Creek 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...
Monday, June 10, 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...
Monday, June 10, 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, June 10, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Every Monday in June, middle and high schoolers have to opportunity to make something new.
All supplies are provided and no experience is necessary.
The mini vendor kit we're making this week is absolutely adorable! Work on...
Monday, June 10, 2024 - 2:00pm
Storytime Room
Our friends from snapshots literary magazine will be here to help us design our very own magazine in this special three week workshop. The first week we will work on the writing for the magazine, the second will be the art, and finally the third...
Monday, June 10, 2024 - 4:00pm
Teen Center
Go back in time and celebrate your youth through TV, movies, gaming, candy, and snacks! Travel back in time to the early to mid 2000's and reminisce about those good old days: iCarly, Adventuretime, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Teen Titans Go...
Tuesday, June 11, 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, June 11, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Tuesdays in June are for healthy competition, co-operation, strategy, and innovation through console, table top, and good old fashioned board games.
An array of boards games will be out, and feel free to join in our pick-up Jack Box game...
Tuesday, June 11, 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!
Looking for a unique...
Tuesday, June 11, 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.
Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 6:00pm
Digital Media Lab
Do you knit, crochet, spin, punch needle, embroider? Bring your current project and join us the last Thursday of the month for an evening of conversation and fiber arts of all kinds. Whether you're new the hobby or a seasoned veteran, all...
Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 6:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
This July, explore different ways to record your days and find meaning in the details!
We’ll discuss different methods of daily record keeping, journaling, and creative acts, with a focus on simple and unique ways to both document and...
Saturday, June 29, 2024 - 11:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
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,...
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - 6:00pm
Meeting Room A
Stop by to make the candle of your dreams! We’ll be melting and pouring soy wax into small glass containers, then personalizing with color, scent, shimmer, and sparkles! Cotton and wood wicks, wick anchors, scent, and glittery goodness will be...
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...
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - 7:00pm
Other
Can you think of a better way to take a break from all the summer heat? Join the Let's Talk Books folks for a discussion of some of our favorite Holiday Reads! Break out a few of your favorites and join us for the fun.
Let's Talk Books...
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Frosting and sprinkle choices will allow you to create a custom cookie to your taste! Then join in at craft stations including button making, beaded bracelet making, and more.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are...
Thursday, July 11, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Learn how to use the library's Photoshop subscription to correct lighting, repair imperfections, and remove unwanted objects from your photos.
Please register for a library computer with Photoshop or bring your own.
Instructor:...
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join Casey for ukulele music, singing, instruments, and movement.
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Thursday, July 18, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
Make a 3D piece of art using folded paper and the library's Cricut!
You'll have your choice of using this ready-made toadstool design or customizing your own design from scratch by attaching any shapes to the circular opening on each sheet...
Tuesday, June 11, 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.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 6:30pm
Digital Media Lab
You need first-hand experience with AI to fully understand the hype! In this workshop, we'll generate text, images, and music with various online tools. You'll leave with a better ability to identify AI-created content and ideas for how you...
Wednesday, June 12, 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 12, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Explore something new each Wednesday in June.
Kara from Lovely Bunches will be facilitating a program on designing flower crowns (think Disney's Tangled towards the end of the movie)
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Join us to play Squishmallow bingo (with prizes!), then create a piece of Squishmallow fan art by...
Thursday, June 13, 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 13, 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 is a dynamic and engaging youth...
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 4:00pm
Teen Center
Bring a team or be paired up once you get here and compete for top Swiftie spot. Winning team earns a home-made trophy and candy.
Friday, June 14, 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, June 14, 2024 - 1:00pm
Teen Center
Every Friday throughout Summer, we'll explore food, create a recipe and watch a movie.
Food: Mediterranean Rainbow Pasta Salad
Movie: Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he...
Wednesday, June 12, 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!
Immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of Brazil's...
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Join us to play Squishmallow bingo (with prizes!), then create a piece of Squishmallow fan art by...
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Mikayla Oz is one of the best magicians in Iowa! She offers unique performances that combine fresh, new magic tricks with amazing sleight of hand techniques, all delivered with her engaging and welcoming personality.
In her show you will...
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Mikayla Oz is one of the best magicians in Iowa! She offers unique performances that combine fresh, new magic tricks with amazing sleight of hand techniques, all delivered with her engaging and welcoming personality.
In her show you will...
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Do you love Squishmallows, the plush toy that's loved the world over for being super soft, huggable, round, and aodrable? We'll play Squishmallow bingo (with prizes!), then create a piece of custom Squishmallow fan art by painting in...
Friday, June 14, 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, June 14, 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, June 14, 2024 - 1:00pm
Storytime Room
Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing!
Catch the original Inside Out just in time for the release of the sequel! After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco...
Monday, June 17, 2024 - 9:30am
Bookmobile, Willow Creek 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...
Monday, June 17, 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...