Meet and greet with ICPL’s new Library Director on May 16
The Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation invites the public to meet the Library’s new director, Elsworth Carman, on Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the first floor gallery near the Children's Room.
Carman, who assumed his new role in January, received his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Information Studies. Prior to joining ICPL, Carman spent two-and-a-half years working in Marion, first as director of the Marion Public Library, then as a city administrator. He previously was a manager at the Oak Park Public Library in Illinois.
The community is welcome to stop by for cookies and conversation anytime during the two-hour window, though brief formal remarks will be made at 4:15 p.m.
ICPL’s children’s, young adult materials to be fine-free
The Iowa City Public Library is pleased to announce that beginning June 1, children’s and young adult materials will be fine-free. This means patrons will not be charged overdue fines for materials checked out from the children’s and young adult collections.
Multiple libraries across the country have stopped the practice of charging overdue fines in recent years, including several in Iowa. A study from the Colorado Library Association found that fines do not motivate patrons to return materials on time. Instead, research found that fines are a barrier for Library use.
“Creating financial barriers to public library use is counterproductive and goes against the Library’s mission to encourage more use, not less,” Director Elsworth Carman said. “We want to remove barriers that stop people from using the Library, and we’re pleased to have the support of the City of Iowa City councilmembers and our Library Board of Trustees to do so.”
Under the new policy, it does not matter if children’s and young adult materials are checked out on a minor’s card or an adult’s card; no overdue fees will be charged on materials returned late from the these collections. However, this does not mean materials don’t have to be returned to the Library. A full replacement fee will be charged to the borrower’s account if materials are not returned. For items with a 7-day loan period, there will be a bill at 14 days overdue. For 21-day items, there will be a bill at 21 days overdue.
ICPL’S Summer Reading Program Begins June 1
Get ready to explore A Universe of Stories, the theme for the Iowa City Public Library’s 2019 Summer Reading Program.
This year’s program will be held June 1 through August 10, with registration beginning May 13. Registration can be completed in-person at the Library, online at srp.icpl.org, on the Bookmobile or during ABC Saturday, formerly known as Children’s Day, on Saturday, June 1.
ABC Saturday will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Summer of the Arts Festival.
June 8 is the first day participants can turn in game cards for prizes.
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. The game cards also include information for all Summer Reading Program activities, programs and events.
