The Iowa City Public Library (ICPL) will be part of Free Week, a new, admission-free winter festival celebrating the vibrant arts and cultural scene of Downtown Iowa City. Presented by X Marks the Arts, the festival will run from February 18-22, offering free concerts, performances, workshops, and more across over fifteen venues.
As part of this collaborative initiative, ICPL will host a series of literary events that spotlight Iowa City’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. Visitors can enjoy interactive storytelling sessions for families and a book discussion for adults, connecting with the power of words and the literary heritage that defines our community.
Thursday, Feb. 20 Noon to 1 p.m. Meeting Room A + Livestream
Join Dr. Shirley Moody-Turner for an engaging February Lens Webinar as she examines the legacy of Anna Julia Cooper—a pioneering Black educator who boldly challenged Jim Crow education policies. Drawing on her in-progress biography of Cooper and her Washington Post article, Dr. Moody-Turner will reveal how Cooper’s courageous resistance led to significant pushback in the era of segregation.
Don't miss this insightful discussion on the battles over Black education and the enduring impact of Anna Julia Cooper’s legacy!
About the Speaker: Dr. Moody-Turner is an award-winning associate professor at Penn State and the author/editor of several notable books, including the Penguin Portable Anna Julia Cooper.
Accessibility: For accommodations, please contact the City of Iowa City Office of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356-5022 or humanrights@iowa-city.org.
To celebrate Free Week in the Iowa City Downtown District, kids, families, and adults are invited to a free evening at the Library to enjoy music while they paint! We will offer a large variety of "Paint by Number" Kits ranging in difficulty and interest for all ages and provide all the materials needed to work on your masterpiece at the Library! Listen as you paint to the ICPL house band, the 781s, at 5:30! The 781s are drawn from staff who work at the Library, representing every part of ICPL, and together, cover a lot of musical ground.
Registration is encouraged to guarantee a paint kit, but all are welcome to listen and enjoy!
Part of Free Week, a winter arts & culture festival presented by X Marks The Arts. For more related events visit our calendar.
Thursday, Feb. 27 3 to 9 p.m. Hudson’s Tap 482 Hwy 1 W in Iowa City
Enjoy fabulous food and beverages from Hudson's Tap and fuel the Iowa City Public Library at the same time!
Hudson's Tap is offering Eat Out to Read from 3 to 9 pm on February 27. Dine in and carry out orders included. A generous percentage of all sales will be donated to the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation. Thank you for your support!
Iowa City Public Library Closing Early, Bookmobile Closed All Day on February 20
The Iowa City Public Library (ICPL) will close early at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, in support of staff training. The ICPL Bookmobile will also be closed for the day.
Regular Library and Bookmobile hours will resume on Friday, February 21. Patrons are encouraged to plan accordingly and take advantage of the Library’s digital resources, which remain available 24/7 at icpl.org/digital.
For more information, please visit icpl.org/ask or contact the Library at 319-356-5200.
