It’s time to play the Summer Reading Program Game--no Library card required! All ages this year have the goal of completing ten levels of the challenge to win a free book before September first! Read a book or participate in a Library program of your choice and log it to complete each level. There are two ways to track your reading and be entered into our prize drawings: by using the paper game card or by playing online at srp.icpl.org. See the online calendar or refer to the Summer Reading Program guide that was mailed to homes in Iowa City to find both online and in-person programs for all ages, all summer long! You may complete up to three more cards to earn three extra entries into our prize drawings for every ten additional books you read this summer.
Stories in the Park Returns
“Stories in the Park” returns this summer! Bring blankets or lawn chairs, and enjoy a weekly outdoor Storytime beginning the week of June 14. To keep audience attendance safely low without requiring registration, we will offer the same Storytime throughout the course of the week, so please choose one park location a week to attend, or watch the Storytime from home live on Zoom on Tuesdays! We will be at Willow Creek park on Mondays, Wetherby Park on Wednesdays, and Mercer Park on Fridays. Masks are required, as well as families sitting and remaining socially distant from individuals not in their group. The bookmobile will also be on site for limited capacity express browsing. In the case of inclement weather, Storytime will be canceled, but the bookmobile will still be available for browsing. icpl.org/stories-park
What to Expect from All Ages Summer Reading Programming
There are more programs over the course of the ICPL Summer Reading Program than we can describe here, but if you have a school-age child, there are several reoccurring virtual programs to choose from each week, plus an in-person storytime or program most days at one of the Iowa City parks!
Tuesdays: Tuesdays are for trying out new things and “Try It Out Tuesdays” and “Totally Tweens” alternate at 2 p.m. each week. “Totally Tween” programs are for children in grades 3-6. Visit our calendar to find out more and register for programs.
Wednesdays: Each Wednesday at 2 p.m., school-age children are invited to join us online, and/or with a Take & Make Kit to be picked up from the Library ahead of time, for a World Wednesday activity that will help us learn and understand something new about different world cultures.
Thursdays: Special Library performances are back this summer on Thursday mornings at 10:30 at North Market Square Park. Join us to see local talent and as well as educational programs from around the state! “Outdoor Specials” are designed for the whole family to enjoy, so bring a blanket and join us at the park.
Click here to find out more and register for programs.
Drag Storytimes in Iowa City for Pride
Although Iowa City Pride has opted to postpone the majority of Pride festivities to allow more time for participants to get vaccinated and allow University students to join in, there are still several cool programs going on this month to celebrate 50 years of Pride in Iowa City! IC Parks & Rec and IC Pride present Pride at the Pool on Saturday, June 19 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at City Park Pool. This fun-filled day includes a Splish Splash Storytime reading of "Julian Is A Mermaid" by one of Iowa City's own drag queens! Then join us again for an ICPL Storytime on Thursday June 24, at 10:30 a.m. in North Market Square for the return of our annual Pride Month Family Storytime! Fun costumes are encouraged as we read LGBTQ stories and sing and dance with some local drag kings and queens. Note: parking for this event is street parking only in the neighborhood around the park near Horace Mann Elementary. Please bring blankets or chairs for seating. For more information click here
Enjoy a Story while Strolling through Willow Creek with our New BookWalk Installation this Summer!
ICPL and ICPR have partnered to bring Iowa City a brand new, permanent BookWalk in Willow Creek Park! Join us for a special event to celebrate the kickoff of the BookWalk installation on Sunday June 13 at 1 p.m. Come and meet author Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrator Claudia McGehee as they read aloud their book “Creekfinding: A True Story”, and then read it as you stroll through the park. We will meet at the Willow Creek Shelter House. The story in the BookWalk will change every few weeks during the summer and fall months, so be sure to enjoy each one while it’s available! For more information click here
We are offering limited services. Community safety continues to be our priority and we will continue to adapt our services based on the changing public health conditions. Learn more about current Library services here.
