Summer Reading Program

ICPL 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.

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

Gamecards coming soon!

Resources

Sponsors

A big thank you to ACT and 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 - 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

Tuesday, June 18, 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! Do you enjoy singing? Come sing...

Tweens Kids Families Music

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 - 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

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A

Don't just learn science - DO science with the UI Science Booster Club! This event is for 3rd-6th graders.

Tweens Science & Technology
Recover an ugly book

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 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...

Adults Teens Arts & Crafting Classes & Workshops

Friday, June 21, 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
try this: digital audiobooks

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 10:30am

Digital Media Lab

If you haven't made the switch from books-on-CD to digital e-audiobooks, let us show you the way! The Iowa City Public Library has two sources for free digital audiobooks: Libby and Hoopla. We'll take a look at both interfaces during this session...

Adults Classes & Workshops Science & Technology

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing! This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that Branch was...

Kids Families Movies

Monday, June 24, 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

Tuesday, June 18, 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 18, 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!

Do you enjoy singing?...

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 - 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...

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A

Don't just learn science - DO science with the UI Science Booster Club!

This event is for 3rd-6th graders.

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 6:30pm

Digital Media Lab

Recover an ugly book

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...

Friday, June 21, 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 21, 2024 - 10:30am

Digital Media Lab

try this: digital audiobooks

If you haven't made the switch from books-on-CD to digital e-audiobooks, let us show you the way!

The Iowa City Public Library has two sources for free digital audiobooks: Libby and Hoopla. We'll take a look at both interfaces during this...

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

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

This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that...

Monday, June 24, 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 23, 2024 - 7:00pm

Other

Movies are often based on books. Sometimes they are well done and fans of the book become fans of the film. Other times the words "based on a book" are little more than borrowing of the plot. Missing characters, changed endings or unrecognizable...

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 2:00pm

Meeting Room A

***TIME IS 2:00 PM! This program is intended for people of all ages who are neurodivergent, or who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities.

You've just been recruited as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's new tour...

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 6:00pm

Meeting Room A

Delve into the world of fountain pens! Join us to try out different pens, nibs, inks, and papers. Newbies and enthusiasts are welcome!

Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 10:00am

Meeting Room A

try this: board games

Whether you're a total newbie or a seasoned gamer, join us to explore a range of the board games available today.

We'll have board games like Calico, Azul, and Splendor available to try and people to teach you how to play, but you're also...

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 - 6:30pm

Digital Media Lab

try this: lego printmaking

LEGO bricks + ink + paper = a customized work of art!

LEGO Dots have a smooth top that's perfect for printmaking, even if that wasn't their intent.  You'll lay the pieces out in custom designs and we'll help you print it onto paper.

...

Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Join the UI Science Booster Club for some fun with hands-on scientific experimentation!

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

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 6:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

For the month of July, we've been documenting each day in our own ways. Bring your results and anecdotes to this wrap-up and we'll see how it went for everyone.

...

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 7:00pm

Meeting Room A

try this: writing poetry for non-poets

With prompts from a real poet and no pressure to share what you write, try your hand at penning something poignant.

This workshop will be led by Regina Napolitano, a poet and teacher from Oakland, CA. She is a first-year MFA candidate in...

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 6:30pm

Digital Media Lab

You know those little looped videos you see on social media? You can make your own!

Learn how to create simple animated GIFs in Photoshop with us.

Instructor: Charlie, Digital Media Lab intern

Registration is required to...

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 7:00pm

Other

Psychological Suspense is often told from the point-of-view of a psychologically stressed character who's unstable or delusional mental or emotional state becomes more evident as the book unfolds. The plot may revolve around deception,...

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 6:30pm

Digital Media Lab

You know those little looped videos you see on social media? You can make your own!

Learn how to create simple animated GIFs in Photoshop with us.

Instructor: Charlie, Digital Media Lab intern

Registration is required to...

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

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

This third installment of the Trolls franchise finds friends Poppy and Branch as a couple. But as they get to know each other more, it is revealed that...

Monday, June 24, 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 25, 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 25, 2024 - 1:00pm

Meeting Room A

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 Origami skills...

Wednesday, June 26, 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 26, 2024 - 2:30pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Sparkles is an adaptive and inclusive cheer and dance team for students with and without disabilities. Join members of City High and UI Sparkles to watch a performance, learn some cheer terminology and movements, and learn a short cheer routine...

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

You've just been recruited as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift's new tour! Professional dance instructor Miss Liz from Life's Your Stage Dance Company will teach you new choreography for one of Taylor's most popular songs to...

Friday, June 28, 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 28, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

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

The animated film tells the story of a family of ducks dreaming of the perfect getaway vacation. Mack, the overprotective father, cannot take the risk...

Monday, July 1, 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...