Are you ready to rock?

The Iowa City Public Library’s 2018 Summer Reading Program, Libraries Rock!, will be held June 1 through August 11.

Pre-registration begins May 24. You may begin logging books on June 1, but prizes won’t be available for distribution until June 4.

Registration can be completed in-person at the Library, online or during ABC Saturday, formerly known as Children’s Day, on Saturday, June 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ABC Saturday will be held on Clinton Street between Burlington and Washington streets as part of the Summer of the Arts Festival.

Summer Reading Program participation is free and available for all ages, babies through adults. All registrants will receive a game card to track their progress in meeting summer reading goals, or they can choose to record their progress online. The game cards also include information for all Summer Reading Program activities, programs and events.

Go here for more information and get ready to rock!

Here’s a novel idea: take the day off from preparing Sunday’s breakfast and go out to eat instead. Better yet, support the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation at the same time.

The Foundation has partnered with local restaurants for our Eat Out to Read fundraising program. On Sunday, May 20, visit Timmy Flynn’s Red Pepper, 517 S. Riverside Dr. in Iowa City, anytime between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. for a home-style breakfast, and a portion of the sales will be donated to the Library.

Did you know an Iowa Department of Transportation self-service driver’s license renewal station is available at the Library?

Located on the Library's second floor, the renewal kiosk is a web-based device that uses touch-screen technology to allow each customer to renew their own driver’s license or ID, including a secure update of the photo that will appear on the customer’s new card. The kiosk is accessible all hours the Library is open, offering evening service that is not available at the Iowa City driver’s license station.

Self-service kiosk transactions can be used to renew and replace licenses. To do this, customers must meet the following conditions: 

• The customer has a valid noncommercial Iowa driver’s license or ID (not a commercial driver’s license).
• The customer is at least 18, but younger than 70 years old.
• The customer’s driver’s license or ID has not been expired for more than a year.
• It is not more than 180 days before the expiration date on the customers current driver’s license or ID.
• The customer is a U.S. citizen.
• The customer does not have any medical or vision conditions that negatively impact the customer’s ability to safely drive.
• The customer does not need to change the customer’s name, or license class, endorsements or restrictions. 

The kiosks are serviced by personnel from the Iowa City driver’s license station.

Linn and Johnson County libraries will make reading a social activity this summer with #CorridorReads.

Beginning May 24, participating libraries in the two counties will use the #CorridorReads hashtag when posting on their social media platforms with the goal of generating more engagement amongst libraries and their patrons, increasing awareness of libraries throughout the Corridor.

The community is invited to use the #CorridorReads hashtag, too. Add it to photos of your favorite summer reads, lists of books you’ve checked out at your library, or a program or event you plan to attend. We even have additional hashtags to get you started. Each week during the summer reading program, libraries will use the following hashtags to generate conversation:

• Monday: #choosekindness – share example of how you are choosing to be kind or how someone was kind to you
• Wednesday: #summershelfie – show us your bookshelf or a fun display at your library
• Thursday: #weekendreads – what are you reading this weekend?

We will give away a piece of library swag each week during the summer to someone who participates in the campaign. In order to win the drawing, you must follow one of the libraries on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, post a photo and include the hashtag #CorridorReads in the caption.