Summer Reading Program

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

Adventure Begins at Iowa City Public Library

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

Wednesday, July 31, 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, July 31, 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! Irish dancing is a very important part of Ireland's heritage...

Kids Families

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.

Adults Teens Tweens Kids

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 10:00am

Other

All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out with splash…or blast! Join us anytime between 10am-12pm in the Chauncey Swan outdoor area to play with bubbles, experience a mega foam blaster party and other fun messy and...

Tweens Kids Families

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Your brain is the boss of you! It's the master controller of everything you think and do, even when you're asleep. It's truly mind-boggling! Join Kathy Andersen, clinical instructor of anatomy and cell biology in the UI Carver College...

Tweens Gaming & Pop Culture Science & Technology
try this: daily documentarian wrap-up

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. Did you miss the first session?  No problem!  Everyone is welcome at this wrap-up,...

Adults Teens

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Mercer Park

Note: The Family Folk Machine at Mercer Park has been rescheduled to Friday August 16th. 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...

Kids Families Storytimes

Friday, August 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 a...

Kids Babies Families Storytimes

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

Every Friday throughout Summer, we'll explore food and watch a movie. Food: Breads- Bread is a staple in many cultures throughout history and plays a symbolic role in The Hunger Games. We'll explore different styles and types of breads....

Teens Gaming & Pop Culture

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

Take a break from the summer sun and join us every Friday for a matinee movie showing! On the heels of his many adventures, Po rises through the ranks to achieve the level of Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. When a sinister sorceress...

Kids Families Movies

Wednesday, July 31, 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 31, 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!

Irish dancing is a very important part of Ireland's...

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 - 10:00am

Other

All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go out with splash…or blast! Join us anytime between 10am-12pm in the Chauncey Swan outdoor area to play with bubbles, experience a mega foam blaster party and other fun messy...

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Your brain is the boss of you! It's the master controller of everything you think and do, even when you're asleep. It's truly mind-boggling!

Join Kathy Andersen, clinical instructor of anatomy and cell biology in the UI...

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 6:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

try this: daily documentarian wrap-up

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.

...

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Mercer Park

Note: The Family Folk Machine at Mercer Park has been rescheduled to Friday August 16th.

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...

Friday, August 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...

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

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

Food: Breads- Bread is a staple in many cultures throughout history and plays a symbolic role in The Hunger Games. We'll explore different styles and types of...

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

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

On the heels of his many adventures, Po rises through the ranks to achieve the level of Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. When a sinister...

There are no upcoming events.

Friday, August 16, 2024 - 1:00pm

Teen Center

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

Food: Survival Food; Rations and Space food

Movie: Avengers: Infinity War
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt...

Friday, August 16, 2024 - 5:00pm

Teen Center

We'll have all-season clothes in the Teen Space to get you kitted out for back to school, as well as some school supplies. Feel free to bring any school supplies you don't use, but we won't need clothes by this date.

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 4:00pm

Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C

Your brain is the boss of you! It's the master controller of everything you think and do, even when you're asleep. It's truly mind-boggling!

Join Kathy Andersen, clinical instructor of anatomy and cell biology in the UI...

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Mercer Park

Note: The Family Folk Machine at Mercer Park has been rescheduled to Friday August 16th.

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...

Friday, August 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...

Friday, August 2, 2024 - 1:00pm

Storytime Room

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

On the heels of his many adventures, Po rises through the ranks to achieve the level of Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. When a sinister...

Sunday, August 4, 2024 - 2:00pm

Storytime Room

Let's embrace the summer heat with a summertime cactus craft! Maybe you are taking a road trip this summer to a very hot place where the roads are lined with prickly pears or tall saguaros. Make your own road trip ready cactus from your own...

Monday, August 5, 2024 - 9:30am

Bookmobile, Willow Creek Park

Today we are hosting special musical performances with the Family Folk Machine for Stories in the Park! The Family Folk Machine is a non-profit, intergenerational, non-auditioned choir that welcomes kids and adults of all ages and backgrounds to...

Monday, August 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...

Tuesday, August 6, 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, August 7, 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, August 7, 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...