The Perry Public Library and Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum have announced the following events for October 2025:
Tiny Art Show Kits Take-and-Make Kits Available – Wednesday, October 1
Patrons of all ages are invited to showcase your artistic talents in our Perry Public Library Tiny Art Show from November 8th to November 15th! The theme this year is Reading Takes You Places and we will hold our show during Art on the Prairie. Participants of all ages can pick up a take-and-make Tiny Art kit containing a 4”x4” canvas, acrylic paints, and brushes at the Perry Public Library beginning October 1st (while supplies last). Create an art piece using supplies from the kit and/or incorporate your own materials to create a tiny masterpiece (no larger than a 4-inch cube). Tiny Art will be displayed at the library, on the library’s website, and in social media posts. Please return artwork to the Perry Public Library by Monday, November 3, 2025, to be included in the Tiny Art Show. One entry per artist.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: Dia De Los Muertos Exhibit – October 1 – October 31
Visit the Carnegie Library Museum in October for a look at the cultural history of Dia De Los Muertos, how it is celebrated, and what the celebration represents. This free, all-ages exhibit will be open October 1st through October 31st during open hours. Carnegie Library Museum 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.
Evening Family Storytime: Mondays – October 6, 13, 20, 27
Your family is invited to Evening Family Storytime with Miss Laura in the library’s Children’s Area on Monday evenings in October for Nighttime Stories. Join us on Monday nights, from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm, for family fun. This is a free, all-ages program, and no registration is required. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
Tween Zone (3rd to 5th Grades): Tuesdays (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm) – October 7, 14, 21, 28
Tween Zone is a weekly library program for students in 3rd through 5th grades, that meets every Tuesday at our, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Each week will include a fun activity. We may make crafts, play games, or even watch a movie! Our October activities include:
• October 7: Jointed Puppets – We will make poseable puppets using paper fasteners.
• October 14: Mandrake Pots- Cover your ears, we will make our own screaming mandrake roots out of clay!
• October 21: Glow-in-the-Dark Fun – We will make glow slime, paint with glow powder, and use black lights to color in the dark.
• October 28: Haunted Graham Cracker Houses- Miss Laura will supply everything you need to make your own creepy graham cracker house!
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 (Ages 10+): Tuesdays – October 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! Our adventures are enjoyable for newcomers and experienced players alike. Patrons 10+ are invited to join us as we venture into exciting campaigns in the Perry Public Library Community Room on Tuesday nights in October from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 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 – October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
October is a month for spooky things, and sometimes our younger friends are a little bit afraid of what goes bump in the night. Miss Laura will read nighttime stories about animals that play at night, people who work at night, and children who face their fears at bedtime. Pajamas and stuffies are welcome! 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 – October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
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 engaging presentations, social gatherings, games, puzzles, and conversation. You’re invited to bring your lunch to enjoy during our meeting too! October’s schedule includes:
• October 1: Learn about decluttering with our special guest presenter, Rob Paulus, the Program Director of Senior Life Solutions at Dallas County Hospital.
• October 8, 15, 22, 29: Join us for games, puzzles, conversations, and crafts. We will provide a variety of activities for you to choose from – even if you would just like to chat!
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) (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm): Wednesdays – October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
This month, our theme is “Stories and STEAM! Each Wednesday, we are reading books and then doing activities related to the science shown in the books. 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 at our, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, in the Community Room. We will also have our Maker Space cart available for tinkering at each WOW! Wednesday. Our October activities include:
• October 1: Balancing Act: Read about exciting high-wire acts, try out our “pretend high wire,” then create a toy that balances itself.
• October 8: Musical Vibrations: Listen to stories about music and instruments, then create your own noisemakers!
• October 15: Helping Hands: Read astronaut adventure stories, try tasks in “astronaut gloves,” then see if you can design better space gloves.
• October 22: Chemical Reaction: Enjoy a story about a silly science fair, then help Miss Laura make one of her favorite science experiments – elephant toothpaste!
• October 28: Make Your Own Parachute: Go on a parachute reading adventure, then discover how to build a parachute and use air resistance to make it land softly.
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.
Library LEGO Club (3rd to 12th Grades) – Thursdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Join the Perry Public Library LEGO Club for LEGO fun on Thursdays in October! Our Library LEGO Club features LEGO challenges and creative activities for patrons in 3rd to 12th grades. We will meet each Thursday in the Community Room from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Plus, this fall, the club will focus on creating unique LEGO displays for this year’s Art on the Prairie in November! 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.
Wee Wonders Storytime (Ages Birth to 24 Months): (NEW DAY!) Fridays – October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Wee Wonders is an early literacy lapsit program for babies from birth through 24 months and their caregivers – now held every Friday – 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) (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm): Fridays – October 3, 10, 17, 24
Welcome to the Teen Lounge, our weekly program for teens in middle and high school! We meet on Fridays at our, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Every week will be different: crafts, games, speakers, a movie, karaoke, or just a place to hang out. On October 31st, join us for the community Spooktacular at the Library in place of Teen Lounge! This month’s planned activities include:
• October 5: Button Making: Design and punch your own buttons with a vintage button maker.
• October 10: Cryptid Crafts: Cryptids are mythical creatures who people claim they’ve spotted in the wild – like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Enjoy three cryptid-themed crafts, including magnets, stickers, and a miniature landscape.
• October 17: Monster Paintings – We will paint monsters, ghosts and other creatures on printed landscapes.
• October 24: Project Runway Skeletons- Each teen will get a skeleton to dress up for the runway! There will be check-ins every 15 minutes and a final reveal! Make sure to show up right at 3:30 so you have plenty of time to design your model skeleton!
• October 31: Perry Spooktacular– Come to downtown Perry for the Spooktacular and be sure to visit the library! Are you interested in volunteering during our library Spooktacular event? Contact Miss Laura to learn more about opportunities for teens!
This is a free program and no registration is required. Call the library at 515-465-3569, or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us for more information.
Paper Crafting with Kathy: Halloween and Thanksgiving Cards, Plus a Treat Box – Special Date — Saturday, October 4
Prepare for the upcoming holidays with this month’s early Paper Crafting with Kathy! October is the month of our special Friends of the Library Fundraiser, Crafting with Friends, so Crafting with Kathy will happen early this month on Saturday, October 4th. We will meet in the Library Community Room from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm to create our fall-themed cards. The class is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Registration closes on Friday, October 3rd and it can be completed online through our Events Calendar at www.perry.lib.ia.us. All materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own supplies. For more information, call 515-465-3569 or ask a librarian.
New! Card Makers Card Swap: Special Date — Saturday, October 4
Build your card collection, learn new design ideas, and have fun swapping cards with our new Card Makers Swap! This monthly card swap will include 10 participants creating 10 cards based on our monthly theme. October’s theme is Thanksgiving or all-occasion cards. The group will get together on October 4th after Paper Crafting with Kathy, to swap cards from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm. Participation is free, but registration is required to participate. To register, visit our Events Calendar at www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or email Misty VonBehren at misty.vonbehren@perryia.org.
Saturday Crafternoons: Special Date — Saturday, October 4
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 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, October 4th, 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.
Second Saturdays: A Not-So-Grimm Halloween – Saturday, October 11
Our original fairy tales, as written by the Brothers Grimm, were quite dark and scary! On October 11th, our friends, ages 4 to 10, are invited to celebrate the spooky side of your favorite fairy tales, including Snow White, Red Riding Hood, and Hansel & Gretel! Join us from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for a Second Saturday Grimm Halloween event full of spooky-fun crafts, games, and treats! This is a free activity, and no registration is required. Call the library at (515) 465-3569, or visit www.perry.lib.ia.us for more information.
Quarterly Classics Book Club: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray – Monday, October 13
Explore literary classics from a variety of authors with our Quarterly Classics Book Club. For October, the club will discuss William Thackeray’s classic, Vanity Fair, a satirical and witty commentary on English society in the early 19th century. The Quarterly Classics Book Club will meet on Monday, October 13th, 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.
National Friends of Libraries Week: You’ve Got a Friend in the Perry Public Library – Monday, October 19 – Saturday, October 25
Join the Friends of the Perry Public Library as they celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week! They will be having fun with the theme “You’ve Got a Friend in the Perry Public Library” all week on their Facebook page and in the library! Visit their Facebook page, “Friends of the Perry Public Library,” for fun posts and prizes. You can also come into the library to enjoy treats and participate in a free scavenger hunt for kids. The Friends of the Perry Public Library is a volunteer organization that supports and enhances the library and its services to the Perry community through fundraising and volunteerism. Visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on the Friends link for more information.
Monthly Book Club: A Nightmare in Villisca by Richard Estep- Tuesday, October 21
The Monthly Book Club explore paranormal Iowa with Richard Estep’s A Nightmare in Villisca: Investigating the Haunted Axe Murder House. Join us on Tuesday, October 21, in the Community Room from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm as we discuss Estep’s investigation into the house’s mysteries. 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.
Annual Fall Shred Event – Saturday, October 25
We will be hosting our Annual Fall Shred Event for the public on Saturday, October 25th, from 9 am to 12 pm. The shredder truck will be located in the library’s south parking lot, accessible by car from Railroad Street. This event is an opportunity for area residents to dispose of outdated personal documents, free of charge, safely and securely. This is a free service, but donations are always welcome! Not sure what to shred? Click on the Knowing-What-to-Shred document at www.perry.lib.ia.us. For more information, please contact the library at 515-465-3553 or visit our website.
Any Book Book Club: A Book That’s a First in a Series – Saturday, October 25
The Any Book Book Club is a book club for anyone and any book, just as the name says! We will meet on Saturday, October 25th, 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 October is “A book that’s a first in a series!” Read whatever book you want that fits that prompt and then come and talk about it on Saturday, October 25th, in the Community Room. No registration is required to participate. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.
October Adult Craft Club: Pumpkin Button Art – Monday, October 27
For October’s Adult Craft Club, Trista will demonstrate how to use buttons and an embroidery hoop to create the perfect pumpkin seasonal art! Join us for our monthly Adult Craft Club on Monday, October 27th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Supplies and instruction are provided free of charge, but space is limited and registration is required by October 20th. 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.
October Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit – DIY Spooky Lace Ghost
Create a vintage Halloween vibe this year with our DIY Spooky Lace Ghost! 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 Spooky Lace Ghost. This October 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.
October Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit – DIY Scrap Paper Pumpkin
Teens, 12 to 18, are invited to come into the library during October to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Scrap Paper Pumpkin. Teen patrons can bring home one Free October 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.
October Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit – DIY Leaf Sprites
Kids, up to age 11, are invited to come into the library during October to pick up a Free Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Leaf Sprite. Kids can bring home one Free October 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.
