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! Librarian Casey will kick off the...
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
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 4:00pm
Storytime Room
Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Tuesday from June 10 - July 22, 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 with...
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 7:00pm
Zoom
To celebrate Pride Month, tonight's discussion will focus on fiction with LGBTQUI+ characters. Both the Adult and Young Adult fiction collections contain many great LGBT books. Cheek out these lists for some suggestions: https://bookriot.com/...
Wednesday, June 11, 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, June 11, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Led by Amanda Cawthorn, a tribally-enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, learn what a powwow is and why they are important. Take in the vibrant colors, sounds, and tastes of an Oneida powwow as you explore different types of dance and...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join circus performer Sam Rezz with her dazzling show of hula hoops, juggling, and more! People of all ages will enjoy the family-friendly entertainment and audience interaction in every show! From aerial and hula hoop to contact juggling and fire,...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join circus performer Sam Rezz with her dazzling show of hula hoops, juggling, and more! People of all ages will enjoy the family-friendly entertainment and audience interaction in every show! From aerial and hula hoop to contact juggling and fire,...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tweens, dive into summer with a fin-tastic hangout involving sparkling ocean-themed slime; a sandy seaside message in a bottle; an upcycled, glowing coral reef craft; and a fish-themed snack mix. Get ready to shell-ebrate in style! This program is...
Friday, June 13, 2025 - 12:00pm
Zoom
Not sure how you'll choose books for the Summer Reading Program? In a reading rut? We can help! Join Stacey to learn how to find read-alikes for books and authors you've loved in the library's catalog, digitally browse the newest...
Sunday, June 15, 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 2: Card games...
Tuesday, June 10, 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! Librarian Casey will kick off the...
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 4:00pm
Storytime Room
Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Tuesday from June 10 - July 22, 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 with...
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 7:00pm
Zoom
To celebrate Pride Month, tonight's discussion will focus on fiction with LGBTQUI+ characters. Both the Adult and Young Adult fiction collections contain many great LGBT books. Cheek out these lists for some suggestions: https://bookriot.com/...
Wednesday, June 11, 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, June 11, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Led by Amanda Cawthorn, a tribally-enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, learn what a powwow is and why they are important. Take in the vibrant colors, sounds, and tastes of an Oneida powwow as you explore different types of dance and...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join circus performer Sam Rezz with her dazzling show of hula hoops, juggling, and more! People of all ages will enjoy the family-friendly entertainment and audience interaction in every show! From aerial and hula hoop to contact juggling and fire,...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Join circus performer Sam Rezz with her dazzling show of hula hoops, juggling, and more! People of all ages will enjoy the family-friendly entertainment and audience interaction in every show! From aerial and hula hoop to contact juggling and fire,...
Thursday, June 12, 2025 - 4:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tweens, dive into summer with a fin-tastic hangout involving sparkling ocean-themed slime; a sandy seaside message in a bottle; an upcycled, glowing coral reef craft; and a fish-themed snack mix. Get ready to shell-ebrate in style! This program is...
Friday, June 13, 2025 - 12:00pm
Zoom
Not sure how you'll choose books for the Summer Reading Program? In a reading rut? We can help! Join Stacey to learn how to find read-alikes for books and authors you've loved in the library's catalog, digitally browse the newest...
Sunday, June 15, 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 2: Card games...
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Led by Amanda Cawthorn, a tribally-enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, learn what a powwow is and why they are important. Take in the vibrant colors, sounds, and tastes of an Oneida powwow as you explore different types of dance and...
Friday, June 13, 2025 - 12:00pm
Zoom
Not sure how you'll choose books for the Summer Reading Program? In a reading rut? We can help! Join Stacey to learn how to find read-alikes for books and authors you've loved in the library's catalog, digitally browse the newest...
Sunday, June 15, 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 2: Card games...
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Learn about lucha libre, the fast-paced, high-flying sport of Mexican professional wrestling, from Iowa's own masked lucha libre superstar, Latin Thunder! Latin Thunder will share stories, demonstrate some moves, answer questions, sign...
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...
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 7:00pm
Zoom
The Iowa Writers Workshop began at the University of Iowa in 1936 and has produced many well known writers. In the last 80 years there are hundreds of published works by graduates of the Workshop in a wide range of genre. Pick some of your favorites...
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that combines slow, graceful movements with deep breathing and meditation. It originated as a martial art but has evolved into a holistic exercise known for its health benefits. In this beginner-friendly...
Thursday, June 26, 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...
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...
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Led by Amanda Cawthorn, a tribally-enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, learn what a powwow is and why they are important. Take in the vibrant colors, sounds, and tastes of an Oneida powwow as you explore different types of dance and...
Sunday, June 15, 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 2: Card games...
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Learn about lucha libre, the fast-paced, high-flying sport of Mexican professional wrestling, from Iowa's own masked lucha libre superstar, Latin Thunder! Latin Thunder will share stories, demonstrate some moves, answer questions, sign...
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that combines slow, graceful movements with deep breathing and meditation. It originated as a martial art but has evolved into a holistic exercise known for its health benefits. In this beginner-friendly...
Thursday, June 26, 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...
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...
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...
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...
Sunday, July 13, 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 4: Writing...
Wednesday, June 18, 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, June 18, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Learn about lucha libre, the fast-paced, high-flying sport of Mexican professional wrestling, from Iowa's own masked lucha libre superstar, Latin Thunder! Latin Thunder will share stories, demonstrate some moves, answer questions, sign...
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'...
Tuesday, June 24, 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! Mireu Martial Arts provides...
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 4:00pm
Storytime Room
Calling all science lovers in 3rd-6th grade! Every Tuesday from June 10 - July 22, 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 with...
Wednesday, June 25, 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, June 25, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that combines slow, graceful movements with deep breathing and meditation. It originated as a martial art but has evolved into a holistic exercise known for its health benefits. In this beginner-friendly...
Thursday, June 26, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Lindsay McDermott is a local reptile enthusiast who has a passion for sharing reptiles/invertebrates with children and families. Today she will bring several of her various lizards, snakes, arachnids and more to the library to get up close and...
Thursday, June 26, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Lindsay McDermott is a local reptile enthusiast who has a passion for sharing reptiles/invertebrates with children and families. Today she will bring several of her various lizards, snakes, arachnids and more to the library to get up close and...
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'...
Tuesday, June 24, 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! Mireu Martial Arts provides...
Wednesday, June 25, 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, June 25, 2025 - 2:30pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that combines slow, graceful movements with deep breathing and meditation. It originated as a martial art but has evolved into a holistic exercise known for its health benefits. In this beginner-friendly...
Thursday, June 26, 2025 - 10:00am
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Lindsay McDermott is a local reptile enthusiast who has a passion for sharing reptiles/invertebrates with children and families. Today she will bring several of her various lizards, snakes, arachnids and more to the library to get up close and...
Thursday, June 26, 2025 - 1:00pm
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C
Lindsay McDermott is a local reptile enthusiast who has a passion for sharing reptiles/invertebrates with children and families. Today she will bring several of her various lizards, snakes, arachnids and more to the library to get up close and...
Tuesday, July 1, 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! Mark Capron, recent inductee into...
Wednesday, July 2, 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 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...