Adult Winter Library Program – We’re Smitten with Reading: Get your mitts on a good book (or 2 or 3) this winter and join our Perry Public Library Adult Winter Reading Challenge! Participating is easy. Read every day for 90 days and earn 1 point for each day you read. Every 5 points you earn gets you an entry into a prize drawing! Adults can earn entries for our two grand prizes, including Grand Prize 1: The Kindle Paperwhite Ultimate Prize Bundle and Grand Prize 2: The Connect to Hoopla or Libby TV Prize. Plus, earn entries for 6 fun mini-prizes. The Adult Winter Library Program will run from December 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025. Registration and participation began on December 1. We recommend using the Beanstack app, where you can easily track each day you read and enter to win prizes! Simply visit beanstack.com and enter in our library name or download the Beanstack app to get started. Patrons may also opt to register in person and use paper tracking forms to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Teen Winter Library Program – We’re Smitten with Reading: Get your mitts on a good book (or 2 or 3) this winter and join our Perry Public Library Teen Winter Reading Challenge! Participating is easy. Read every day for 90 days and earn 1 point for each day you read. Every 5 points you earn gets you a prize – alternating between earning a charm and earning a charm + a Grand Prize Entry! Teens can earn entries for our three grand prizes, including Grand Prize 1: Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Grand Prize 2: A Heated Blanket and Box of Hot Chocolate, and Grand Prize 3: A Cozy Reading Set Bundle. The Teen Winter Library Program will run from December 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025. We recommend using the Beanstack app, where you can easily track each day you read and enter to win prizes! Simply visit beanstack.com and enter in our library name or download the Beanstack app to get started. Patrons may also opt to register in person and use paper tracking forms to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Children’s Winter Library Program – We’re Smitten with Reading: Get your mitts on a good book (or 2 or 3) this winter and join our Perry Public Library Children’s Winter Reading Challenge! Participating is easy. Read every day for 90 days and earn 1 point for each day you read. Every 5 points you earn gets you a prize – alternating between earning a charm and earning a charm + a Grand Prize Entry! Children can earn entries for our three grand prizes, including Grand Prize 1: A Magna-Tile Construction Set, Grand Prize 2: A Fire 7 Kids’ Tablet, and Grand Prize 3: A Boy’s and Girl’s Cozy Reading Set. The Children’s Winter Library program will run from December 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025. We recommend using the Beanstack app, where you can easily track each day you read and enter to win prizes! Simply visit beanstack.com and enter in our library name or download the Beanstack app to get started. Patrons may also opt to register in person and use paper tracking forms to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Gingerbread Man at the Library Contest Voting
Patrons submitted Gingerbread men disguised as their favorite book characters all December long! Join us this January to view their delightful creations. Gingerbread Men at the Library contest submissions will be on display during the month of January. Patrons will vote on their favorites throughout the month (please vote one time per person, per gingerbread man, per day). A People’s Choice winner will be announced February 1, as well as Librarian-picked winners of Most Original and Most Creative. Prizes will be $25 in Perry Bucks to each winner. For more information, call (515) 465-3569, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or ask a librarian.
10th Annual Perry Festival of Trees: Ends January 4, 2025
This holiday season, the Carnegie Library Museum is thrilled to host the 10th Annual Festival of Trees! This Perry tradition began in 2014 with just twelve trees and a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Since then, participation has grown to include not only a Carnegie Library filled with beautiful trees and creative displays, but also community activities, such as coloring for kids, scavenger hunts, a handmade quilt raffle, and a special time to welcome the Latino community to view the displays. The public is invited to enjoy this free festival during open Carnegie Library hours, excluding holiday hours, through January 4, 2025. For questions, contact the Carnegie at 515-465-7713.
January Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit – DIY Flip Desk Calendar Kit
Ring in the new year with a fun, DIY Flip Desk Calendar that you can reuse in the years to come! Adult patrons can bring home one Free Adult Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This craft kit includes materials and instructions for one Flip Desk Calendar Kit. This January Grab and Go Craft is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last. For questions, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us or call 515-465-3569.
January Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit – DIY Snowman Snow Globe
Teens, 12 to 18, are invited to come into the library during January to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Snowman Snow Globe. Teen patrons can bring home one Free January Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This Grab and Go Craft is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last. For questions, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us or call 515-465-3569.
January Novel-Teas Book Match: A Monthly Program for Adults
We think a good book and a delicious cup of tea are the perfect pairing. With our Adult Novel-Teas Book Match program, participants can sign up each month to receive an individualized book recommendation, with a complementary tea pairing. Simply register, and complete the personalized Book Match Form by January 15, and our Adult Services Librarian, Mindy, will help you find your next book, while our tea enthusiast, Trista, will select your tea. January Book Matches will be available for patrons to pick up by February 3rd. Patrons must be 18+ to participate and spots are limited. To register and complete your survey, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us for an online form or visit the library for a paper version. This is a free program. For questions, visit our website or call 515-465-3569.
Evening Family Storytime (Ages Birth to 11): Mondays – January 6, 13, 20, 27
Can’t make it to our daytime storytimes? Do you want to enjoy some family time with your children at the library? Come to our Monday Evening Family Storytime each week from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm in our Children’s Area! We will follow the same theme as our daily storytime each month and incorporate different songs and activities, depending on the ages of the children who attend. The theme for January is “Budding Artists” and we will be reading art-themed books, and creating crafts using stamps, daubers, pony beads, and pipe cleaners! No registration is required for this free program. For questions, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us or call 515-465-3569.
Tween Zone (3rd to 5th Grades): Tuesdays – January 7, 14, 21, 28
Tween Zone is a weekly library program for students in 3rd through 5th grades, that meets every Tuesday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm! Each week will include a fun activity. We may make crafts, play games, or even watch a movie! NEW THIS MONTH: We encourage all tweens to join us on the last Tuesday of the month to share what book they read and enjoyed the most in January, drink some hot chocolate while they discover new reads, and listen to Miss Laura read from her favorite Tween book of the month. Be sure to bring a blanket or pillow to add to the coziness. Our January activities include:
- January 7 – Candy Olympics
- January 14 – Perler Bead Creations
- January 21 – Board Games
- January 28 – Hot Chocolate and Books
This is a free, weekly activity and no registration is required. For more information, call the library at 515-465-3569 or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us.
Adventure in the World of Dungeons and Dragons: Tuesdays – January 7, 14, 21, 28
Welcome to a world of Dungeons and Dragons! Dungeons and Dragons is a communal storytelling adventure where you get to play a character of your own creation and make decisions (and rolls) to decide the path of our story and the destiny of your character! Great for newcomers and experienced players alike, our adventures in Candlekeep are based around short one-shot-like adventures that make popping in or coming every time a fun adventure! Patrons 10+ are invited to join us as we explore the magic books of Candlekeep in the Perry Public Library Community Room on Tuesday nights in January. We will meet from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Community Room. This is a free program and no registration is required. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Budding Bookworms Storytime (Ages 2 to 5): Wednesdays – January 8, 15, 22, 29
Budding Bookworms is a Wednesday storytime for ages 2 to 5 that meets weekly from 10:30 am to 11:15 am in the Community Room. This storytime combines our Toddler and Preschool storytimes into a fun, engaging 45-minute program that includes books, singing and dancing, and simple crafts. Our goal is to allow caregivers to introduce their children to good literature, encourage growth in children’s literacy skills, and promote the library as an enjoyable place where learning is fun. This month we are reading about art and the artist inside of everyone. Our crafts will all be process art, which emphasizes the making, not the final product. Letting kids do their own thing is very important at this age! There will be no storytime on January 1st, due to the New Year’s Day closure. Budding Bookworms is free to the public, but please register your child, so we can be prepared with supplies to enhance their experience. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.
“Next Chapter” 55+ Group at the Library: Wednesdays – January 8, 15, 22, 29
Join us for our new, weekly “Next Chapter” group for patrons 55+, every Wednesday, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in the Perry Public Library Community Room. We will offer a variety of activities each month, including free ISU Extension Stay Independent courses, Lifetime Fitness sessions with Judy Tomenga, and social gatherings and conversation opportunities. January’s schedule includes:
- January 1 – No group because the library is closed for New Year’s Day
- January 8 – ISU Stay Independent Series: 3 Meals a Day
- January 15 – Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga
- January 22 – Games and Puzzles
- January 29 – Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga
This is a free, weekly activity held each Wednesday for adults 55+, and no registration is required. For more information, call the library at 515-465-3569 or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us.
WOW! Wednesdays STEM Program (K-5th Grades): Wednesdays – January 8, 15, 22, 29
Did you know? STEM is often interchangeable with STEAM now. The “A” in STEAM stands for Art and Art helps foster creativity and imagination in children. So, our activities will be art-related this month to add the “A” in STEAM! Our WOW! Wednesdays STEM program for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade explores Science, Technology, Engineering, Math – and now Art! The group meets every Wednesday (excluding holidays), from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Community Room. January’s schedule includes:
- January 1 – No group because the library is closed for New Year’s Day
- January 8 – Pop Art
- January 15 – Self-Portraits
- January 22 – Re-create Masterpieces with Yarn
- January 29 – Mini Clay Sculptures
We will also have LEGOs, Snap Circuits, and our Maker Space cart available for tinkering at each WOW! Wednesday. This is a free, weekly activity and no registration is required. For more information, call the library at 515-465-3569 or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us.
Wee Wonders Storytime (Ages Birth to 24 Months): Thursdays – January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Wee Wonders is an early literacy lapsit program for babies birth through 24 months and their caregivers held every Thursday from 10:30 am to 11:15 am in the Community Room. We sing songs and rhymes, read simple books, do fingerplays and bounces, and incorporate motor skills with shakers and scarves. There is also a period of social play at the end of each program. Plus, each participating baby gets a free board book every time they come to the program. This program is free to the public, but please register your child, so we can be prepared with supplies to enhance their experience. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.
Chess Club at the Library: Thursdays – January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Are you interested in learning how to play chess? Do you already know how to play, but are looking for some local players to challenge? Could you use some tips and practice to improve your skill level? Local Chess Instructor David Oliveira is partnering with the Perry Public Library to teach, mentor, and play chess with players of all ages and experience levels. Whether you are new to chess or looking for a challenging game, mark your Thursday evenings in January for chess instruction and walk-in play at the Library. Students, grades K-12, will meet from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm, in the library Board Room. Chess players of all ages are then welcome to meet from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, also in the Board Room, for instruction or competition. David Oliveira leads the group meetings and also offers chess instruction by individual appointments as part of the library program. Call the library for more information or to arrange a time at 515-465-3569. This is a free program and no registration is required. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, call, or come to the library.
Teen Lounge (6th to 12th Grades): Fridays – January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Welcome to the Teen Lounge, our new weekly program on Fridays from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm for teens in middle and high school! Every week will be different: crafts, games, speakers, a movie, karaoke, or just a place to hang out. This month’s planned activities include:
- January 3: DIY Pop Sockets
- January 10: Make a Crystal Light
- January 17: Worry Doll Pens
- January 24: Decorate a Rubber Duck
- January 31: Board Games
No registration is required. Call the library for more information at (515) 465-3569 or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us.
Teen Advisory Board (6th to 12th Grades): Fridays – January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
The Perry Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board, or TAB, meets from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm on Fridays immediately following the Teen Lounge program. The board is intended for students in 6th through 12th grade who have a strong interest in the library and want to become involved in its function. Participants will have a say in future teen programs, the young adult collection, and the teen space. Participation counts toward high school volunteer hours. To join, come to the library to fill out an application. Applications will be available during Teen Lounge programs as well. Regular participation is required. For more information, contact Youth Services Librarian Laura Pieper at laura.pieper@perryia.org or (515) 465-3569.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: Tea Parties: Past and Present with Living History Farms – Saturday, January 11
Cups and saucers, pots and plates – all bring to mind a relaxing and refined tea party! Learn where tea comes from, how it became a popular beverage, and how the manners of serving tea developed. Discover how Victorian England and the United States felt about tea party menus and manners, and how tea became a fixture in Iowa’s culture. The Carnegie Library Museum is pleased to welcome historians from Living History Farms on Saturday, January 11, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Join us for this free presentation on the history of tea parties for all ages. No registration is required. For more information, contact the Carnegie Library Museum at 515-465-7713, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or ask a librarian.
Quarterly Classics Book Club: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – Monday, January 13
Explore literary classics from a variety of authors with our Quarterly Classics Book Club. Join the club in January as they discuss Charlotte Bronte’s best-known novel, Jane Eyre. This classic focuses on a strong, female protagonist through an intimate, engaging first-person narrative. The Quarterly Classics Book Club will meet on a new day and time beginning in 2025. The first meeting is on Monday, January 13 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the Carnegie Library Museum. Books may be purchased in advance for a small fee from the library or borrowed with your Perry Public Library card. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: A Winter Afternoon Tea – Monday, January 13
Our popular afternoon teas will continue in 2025! Come to the Carnegie Library Museum on Monday, January 13 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm to enjoy a cozy, winter-themed afternoon tea. We will have tea sandwiches, mini shepherd’s pies, cream cheese scones, mini chocolate tarts, and shortbread cookies. Plus, these delicious treats will be served with two types of tea, jams, clotted cream, and butter. Space is limited, so be sure to purchase your ticket at the Perry Public Library today. Tickets are $15 per person. For questions, contact the Carnegie Library Museum at 515-465-7713, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or ask a librarian.
Paper Crafting with Kathy: Valentine’s Cards and Treat Holder – January 18
Prepare for Valentine’s gifting by making sweet Valentine’s cards, a treat holder, and a new fun fold card! Kathy Miller leads this series of monthly how-to workshops featuring different paper crafting techniques and creative designs for making greeting cards. The craft series will be held one Saturday each month. We will meet on Saturday, January 18, in the Library Community Room from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. The class is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Registration closes on January 17. All materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own supplies. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call 515-465-3569, or ask a librarian.
Saturday Crafternoons: Saturday, January 18
Are you looking for a quiet, community space to craft? Then, we have the perfect Saturday event for you! The Perry Public Library welcomes crafters and do-it-yourselfers to our dedicated makerspace – now following Paper Crafting with Kathy. You bring your ideas and supplies and we’ll supply the crafting space. Saturday Crafternoons last from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the Library Community Room and offer a free community space to work on projects in a comfortable environment. Plan your next work session for Saturday, January 18, at the library. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and everyone is invited. No reservations and no charge! For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Monthly Book Club: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frank, January 21
The Montly Book Club will begin 2025 with a book ranked among the ten most influential books in America by a Library of Congress Survey. Join us on Tuesday, January 21, in the Community Room from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm as we discuss this classic book about moving forward with meaning. Anyone interested in participating in the Book Club is welcome to come! Books are available in advance for purchase or a copy may be checked out from the library. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or come to the library.
Dog Man Party – Saturday, January 25
Come celebrate all things Dog Man as we prepare for the furry hero’s big screen debut! We will have games, crafts, and snacks at our celebration of the crime-fighting dog…man! Join us on Saturday, January 25, in the Community Room from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. No registration is required. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
NEW! Any Book Book Club: Come Discuss Any Book You’re Currently Reading – Saturday, January 25
The Any Book Book Club is a book club for anyone and any book, just as the name says! We will meet on the 4th Saturday of each month from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Library Community Room. The Any Book Book Club is a prompted book club where every month we have a prompt and you the reader pick a book that aligns with it to read! For your first month, we are doing an introductory meeting on Saturday, January 25, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, where the theme is simple: any book you’re currently reading! In this initial meeting, we will discuss the books everyone brings, as well as how our prompting will work. Plus, we’ll help each other brainstorm books for February’s prompt. No registration is required to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
January Adult Craft Club: Any Day Wreaths – Monday, January 27
For our January Adult Craft Club, Candi will demonstrate how to create an easy-to-assemble wire and felt wreath for any occasion. The January Adult Craft Club will meet on Monday, January 27 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the Community Room. Supplies and instruction are provided free of charge, but space is limited and registration is required by January 20. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.
Salvation Army Support Services – The Salvation Army Support Services will return to the Perry Public Library on the third Monday of the month beginning in January 2025. The Salvation Army helps with rent, utilities, gas, personal care items, food, and other information. For more specific information about services offered, contact the Salvation Army directly at 515-282-3599. This is a free service and no registration is required. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or visit the library.
Winter Holiday Closure for New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
The Perry Public Library and the Carnegie Library Museum will be closed on Wednesday, January 1. We will open again for regular hours beginning, Thursday, January 2.
