Just in time for the holidays, the Iowa City Public Library will host the Sixth Annual Arts & Crafts Bazaar and Holiday Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Thanks to the generous donations of local artists and crafters, shoppers will find a wide selection of unique gifts from quilts and knitted items to jewelry, holiday ornaments, and more. For every $10 spent at the bazaar, shoppers receive an entry for amazing door prizes. Winners do not need to be present to win.

The craft bazaar will be held in meeting rooms A, B and C at the Library, 123 S. Linn St. The used book sale will be held in Meeting Room D. Shoppers can name their own price all day at the book sale.

Proceeds from the Arts & Crafts Bazaar and book sale benefit the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation, which supports the Summer Reading Program and other Library programs and collections.

If you would like to donate a handmade craft to the bazaar, there's still time! We will accept items until Thursday, November 30. Go here for more information.

Tired of impulsively buying magazines at the grocery store? Save big bucks by downloading magazines for free through Digital Johnson County’s digital magazine collection.

For more than a year, Coralville Public Library, Iowa City Public Library and the North Liberty Community Library have offered a combined digital magazine collection through RBdigital (formerly known as Zinio) to area residents. These magazines can be read on a computer, smartphone or tablet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This is a free library service, but patrons must live in Coralville, Hills, Iowa City, Lone Tree, North Liberty, University Heights or rural Johnson County, and have a Library Card from their home library in order to use it. Sign up for a new RBdigital account here and then find your device on that page to download the app. 

With more than 175 magazine titles available, everyone will find something they enjoy. To prove this, the Digital Johnson County libraries – Coralville, Iowa City and North Liberty – will each give away an iPad Mini to a lucky digital magazine reader in December. Go here to enter the drawing, then download and read five magazines throughout the month of November.

Thinking about making a big purchase and want to know what to buy? Consumer Reports online is a great resource to help you make the right decision.

The Library offers Consumer Report online. You can find the terrific product evaluations and ratings you have relied on from the print magazine and from the annual buying guide as well as additional videos, bonus reviews not found in print and a weekly news and recall section.

You will need an up-to-date Library Card and a password to access Consumer Reports online. If you need assistance with your card or password, give us a call at 319-356-5200 or click on Live Help and staff will be glad to assist you.

'Tis the season for holiday hours at the Iowa City Public Library.

The Library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. The Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 24.

The Library will be closed on Friday, December 8, for Staff Inservice Day.

The Library will be closed on Sunday, December 24, and Monday, December 25, for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26.

ICPL will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 31, but closed on Monday, January 1.

Find more information about holiday hours here.