The Perry Public Library and Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum have announced the following programs for March 2025.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: Genealogy Exhibit – March 1 – 31
Are you curious about Genealogy? Would you like to learn more about how to start tracing your family tree and using genealogy tools? Visit the Carnegie Library Museum in March to view the latest exhibit and explore more about genealogy! This is a free event during open hours: Sun/Mon: Closed; Tues-Wed: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Thurs: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm; Fri-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.
March Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit – DIY Easter-Themed Sock Gnome
Mix up your Easter and Spring décor with an adorable bunny sock gnome, complete with bunny ears! 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 Easter-Themed Sock Gnome. This March 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.
March Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit – DIY Gnome Home
Teens, 12 to 18, are invited to come into the library during March to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Gnome Home. Teen patrons can bring home one Free March 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.
March Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit – DIY Lion and Lamb Gift Bow Ornament
Kids, up to age 11, are invited to come into the library during March to pick up a Free Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Lion and Lamb Gift Bow Ornament. Kids can bring home one Free March 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.
Carnegie Library Museum Grab and Go Craft Kit – DIY Genealogy Binder
Stop into the Carnegie Library Museum beginning March 1st and pick up a fun, free Grab and Go Craft kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to create your own Genealogy Binder. 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.
March 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 March 15, and our Adult Services Librarian, Mindy, will help you find your next book, while our tea enthusiast, Trista, will select your tea. March Book Matches will be available for patrons to pick up by April 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.
Evening Family Storytime (Ages Birth to 11): Mondays – March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
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 March, we will read about our Wild Weather 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 – March 4, 11, 18, 25
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 March activities include:
- March 4 – Shrinky Dinks
- March 11 – Make a 3-D Book
- March 18 – Paper Airplanes
- March 25 – Minecraft 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 – March 4, 11, 18, 25
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 March. 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 – March 5, 12, 19, 26
Does March really come in like a lion and out like a lamb? This month in our toddler/preschool storytime we will read about our Wild Weather and have fun related activities and crafts! 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. 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 – March 5, 12, 19, 26
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. March’s schedule includes:
- March 5 – ISU Stay Independent Series: Final Arrangements
- March 12 – Lifetime Fitness with Judy Tomenga
- March 19 – Games and Puzzles. Plus, Michelle White, Information Referral & Assistance Specialist from Aging Resources will be available to answer questions and help participants discover available support for older adults, such as rent or utility assistance.
- March 26 – 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 – March 5, 12, 19, 26
March WOW! Wednesdays will be all about wild weather! 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 – March 6, 13, 20, 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 – March 7, 14, 21, 28
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:
- March 7 – Perler Beads
- March 14 – Altoid Tin Craft
- March 21 – Guess the Name? YouTube Games
- March 28 – Pom Pom Animals
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 – 7, 14, 21, 28
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 March 7, 14, 21, and 28. 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.
Spring Break Minecraft Scavenger Hunt – March 14 – 21
Get your axe out and search the library for Minecraft characters! Find them all and solve the riddle and you will receive a small prize! Join us during Spring Break, from Friday, March 14, through Friday, March 21. This is a free drop-in activity for Kindergarten through 5th graders and no registration is required. This self-directed activity will begin on Friday, March 14, and go through Friday, March 21. Perry Public Library hours are: M-T: 10 am to 8 pm; F: 10 am – 6 pm; Sat: 10 am to 5 pm; Sun: 10 am to 4 pm. This is a free activity for kids and families. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or come to the library.
Paper Crafting with Kathy: Spring and Summer All-Occasion Cards – March 15
Warmer weather is on its way! Prepare for Spring and Summer with All-Occasion Cards at our next Paper Crafting with Kathy Class. 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, March 15, 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 March 14. 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, March 15
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, March 15, 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: Conclave by Robert Harris, March 18
You may recognize March’s Monthly Book Club selection, Conclave by Robert Harris, from its 2024 movie adaptation starring Ralph Fiennes. Harris, a well-known political journalist, takes his knowledge of power and politics to the Vatican for an unputdownable novel of intrigue, hypocrisy, faith, and politics. Join us on Tuesday, March 18, in the Community Room from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm as we discuss this thrilling 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.
New! Any Book Book Club: A Book Published in the Year You Were Born – Saturday, March 22
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! The prompt for March is a book published in the year you were born! Read whatever book you want that fits that prompt and then come and talk about it on Saturday, March 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.
Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum Presents: A Traditional English Afternoon Tea – Monday, March 24
Come to the Carnegie Library Museum for a traditional English Afternoon Tea on Monday, March 24, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm! We will have classic tea sandwiches, mini quiche, scones with jam and clotted cream, custard tarts, tea cake, and shortbread. All of these delicious treats will be served with two types of English tea. Space is limited, so purchase your tickets for this special tea for $15 per person at the Perry Public Library today. For more information, call the Carnegie Library Museum at 515-465-7713, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, or speak with a librarian.
March Adult Craft Club: Succulent Terriariums – Monday, March 31
Learn how to decorate your home this spring with simple, open Succulent Terrariums using succulent cuttings. The March Adult Craft Club will meet on Monday, March 31 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 March 24. 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 – 3rd Monday of the Month – March 17
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.
