The Perry Public Library and Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum have announced the following programs for April 2025.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: Local Conservation and Preservation Exhibit – April 1 through April 30
What is conservation and preservation? How can we do our best to help conserve and preserve our local flora and fauna? Where are the places around us that are doing their best to protect our native land and wildlife? Visit the Carnegie Library Museum’s Local Conservation and Preservation Exhibit in April to discover more! This is a free event during open hours: Sun/Mon: Closed and Tues-Sat: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, call the Carnegie Library Museum at 515-465-7713, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or speak with a librarian.
April Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit – DIY 3D Pop-Up Magazine Flower
We all know April showers bring May flowers! Why not prepare for Spring with this lovely DIY 3D Pop-Up Magazine Flower? 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 DIY 3D Pop-Up Magazine Flower. This April 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.
April Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit – DIY Beaded Wind Chime
Teens, 12 to 18, are invited to come into the library during April to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Beaded Wind Chime. Teen patrons can bring home one Free April 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.
April Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit – DIY Bunny Bookmark
Kids, up to age 11, are invited to come into the library during April to pick up a Free Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Bunny Bookmark. Kids can bring home one Free April Grab and Go Kids 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.
Carnegie Library Museum Grab and Go Craft Kit – DIY Seed Bombs
Stop into the Carnegie Library Museum beginning April 1st and pick up a fun, free Grab and Go Craft kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to create your own DIY Seed Bombs, just in time for spring! Kits are free and available while supplies last. For more information, call the Carnegie Library Museum at 515-465-7713, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or speak with a librarian.
April 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 April 15, and our Adult Services Librarian, Mindy, will help you find your next book, while our tea enthusiast, Trista, will select your tea. April Book Matches will be available for patrons to pick up by May 1. 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.
Friends of the Perry Public Library National Library Week T-Shirt FUNdraiser – Ends April 12
In celebration of National Library Week in April, the Friends of the Perry Public Library are releasing Perry Public Library-themed shirts! The teal “Support the Perry Public Library” comes in adult sizes for $20. The true blue “Superhero” shirt comes in kids/youth sizes for $15. Both shirts are Bella Canvas. A portion of the sales goes toward library activities, such as KidsFest, the summer reading program, adult book clubs, the Teen Lounge, and much more! (The remainder covers the cost of producing the shirt.) A huge thank you to All Good Things in Ogden for helping make this possible!
Order online at their site: https://all-good-things-102643.square.site.
Please note the order and pick up schedule:
- Order 3/3–3/14 → Your shirt will be delivered to the Perry Public Library on 3/25
- Order 3/15–3/28 → Your shirt will be delivered to the Perry Public Library on 4/7
- Order 3/29–4/12 → Your shirt will be delivered to the Perry Public Library on 4/21
Evening Family Storytime (Ages Birth to 11): Mondays – April 7, 14, 21, 28
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! For April, we will read about things that grow and where they grow, and do some simple related crafts. 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 – April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
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! Our April activities include:
- April 1 – Make Fidget Sticks
- April 8– Poetry Games
- April 15 – Easter/Spring Crafts
- April 22 – Shrinky Dinks
- April 29 – Lilo & Stitch Crafts
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 – April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
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 April. 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 – April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
This month in our toddler/preschool storytime, we will learn about things that grow, who grows them, and maybe even grow something of our own! From gardens to farms, growing things is fun! 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, 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. 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 – April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Join us for our 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. April’s schedule includes:
- April 2 – ISU Stay Independent Series: Final Arrangements (moved from March date)
- April 9 – Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga
- April 16 – Games and Puzzles.
- April 23 – Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga
- April 30 – Games & Puzzles
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 – April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
April WOW! Wednesdays will be all about Makerspace Masters! What can you build using the items and tools in our MakerSpace cart? Tinker all month long and we will display some of the coolest designs in the library for everyone to see! Our WOW! Wednesdays STEAM program for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade explores Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! The group meets every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Community Room. 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 – April 3, 10, 17, 27
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.
Teen Lounge (6th to 12th Grades): Fridays – April 4, 11, 18, 25
Welcome to the Teen Lounge, our 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:
- April 4 – Jigsaw Puzzle Bookmarks and Magnets
- April 11 – Library Scavenger Hunt
- April 18 – Make a Trivet Plate Out of Clothespins
- April 25 – Board Games
No registration is required. Call the library at (515) 465-3569, or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us for more information.
Teen Advisory Board (6th to 12th Grades): Fridays – April 4, 11, 18, 25
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. Meetings will be held on April 4, 11, 18, and 25. 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. Plus, 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.
National Library Week 2025: Drawn to the Library – Sunday, April 6 to Saturday, April 12
Millions of people across the country visit their libraries every week. What’s the draw? Everything.
From young families stopping in for play and storytime, to students sketching out their next creative project in a makerspace, to seniors seeking tech help and everyone in between, libraries of all kinds help us connect the dots from one part of our journey to the next. Chart your next literary adventure by browsing the stacks or joining a book club. Let an author color your imagination at an author talk, outline your big business idea at an entrepreneur workshop, or trace your history with your library’s genealogy resources. Make your mark and get involved with your library by volunteering or spreading the word.
Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone. Celebrate National Library Week, April 6-12, 2025.
National Library Week Book Swap – Friday, April 11
Celebrate National Library Week with a Book Swap! To participate, simply bring a copy of a book that you enjoy (pre-loved is great!). No need to wrap the book for this swap. Just come prepared to share why you loved your book selection. We’ll draw numbers and a fun swap will commence, with every participant returning home with a new-to-them book to read! Join our National Library Week Book Swap in the Community Room on Friday, April 11, from 6:oo pm to 7:30 pm. We’ll have our swap and light refreshments. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Once Upon a Time at the Library (Ages 4 – 10) – Saturday, April 5
Calling all princesses, knights, wizards, dragons, unicorns, and fairy godmothers! You are hereby invited to Once Upon a Time at the Library! This event will take place on Saturday, April 5, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, in the Library Community Room. Dress up and come enjoy crafts, STEM activities, games and snacks at our party celebrating fairy tales! For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Quarterly Classics Book Club: “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thornton Wilder – Monday, April 14
Explore literary classics from a variety of authors with our Quarterly Classics Book Club. For April, the club will discuss Thornton Wilder’s classic, “The Bridge of San Luis Rey,” a Pulitzer-Prize-winning, fable-like story based in Peru. The Quarterly Classics Book Club will meet on Monday, April 14, 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.
Paper Crafting with Kathy: Learn a New Fun Fold. One-Page Wonder, and Graduation Cards – April 19
For April, we’re learning two new cards using some of our favorite paper-crafting techniques, plus creating some graduation cards. Join Kathy and learn a new way to make a fun-fold card and a one-page wonder! 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 the third Saturday each month. We will meet on Saturday, April 19, 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 April 18. 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, April 19
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 on the third Saturday of the month 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, April 19, 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: “Distant Sons” by Tim Johnston – Tuesday, April 15
We’re diving into the 2025 All Iowa Reads pick, “Distant Sons” by Tim Johnston, for the April Monthly Book Club. This book appears at first glance to be simply a crime novel, but critics praise it as gripping, immersive, devastating, and beautiful. Join us on Tuesday, April 15, in the Community Room from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm as we discuss this engaging novel. 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.
Library Holiday Closure – Sunday, April 20
The Perry Public Library will be closed on Sunday, April 20, in observance of the Easter holiday. We will reopen for normal business hours at 10:00 am on Monday, April 21.
Salvation Army Support Services – 3rd Monday of the Month – April 21
The Salvation Army Support Services will visit the Perry Public Library on the 3rd Monday of the month. 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.
NEW! Any Book Book Club: A Book From a Genre You Don’t Usually Read – Saturday, April 26
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 participants pick a book that fits the theme to read! The prompt for April is a book from a genre you don’t usually read! Read whatever book you want that fits that prompt and then come and talk about it on Saturday, April 22, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. No registration is required to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
April Adult Craft Club: Upcycled Open Book Vase – Monday, April 28
Trista is demonstrating a unique craft utilizing upcycled books – just in time for spring! Join us and learn how to make your own book vase filled with artificial flowers. The April Adult Craft Club will meet on Monday, April 28 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 April 21. 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.
Share Your Lego with the Library – Donate Today!
Perry Public Library is excited to announce a Lego Club coming your way this summer! Our Club will need a variety of Lego to participate in fun challenges and create imaginative builds. We would appreciate any Lego donations you would like to share with us – sets, partial sets, figures, and bins of random Lego are all welcome! Simply bring your clean and gently used Lego to the library circulation desk and we’ll set them aside for our upcoming club.
