Programs & Events
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Click on an event to learn more & register! Color Guide:
Kids (0-3) | PreK (3-5) | Kids (0-5) | Kids (K-6th) | Teen (12-18) | Family | Adult/General | Makerspace | Online | Closings
SPRING BREAK 2026!
Friday, March 20
Mini Golf in the Library
ALL DAY (10:00AM - 5:00PM) | Main Branch, All Floors
Get ready to tee off in the library! Participants will navigate through several holes on each floor, designed to challenge their putting skills while celebrating the magic of reading. Participants are encouraged to check out some books after they play! For all ages.
Creative Minds Drop-In Craft Day
ALL DAY (10:00AM - 5:00PM) | Main Branch, Lower Level
Drop in and dive into our stash of supplies—from paints and paper to yarn and beads – let your creativity take the lead. Come as you are, leave with something you made. For all ages.
Saturday, March 21
Sensory Saturday: Explore, Discover, Play!
10:00AM - 12:00PM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Sensory Saturday is a hands-on, play-based program that invites young children to explore a variety of sensory stations designed to stimulate touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. Each session features activities that support early childhood development, creativity, and social interaction, and encourages caregiver-child interaction.
All-Ages Chess Club
2:00PM - 3:00PM | Main Branch, Lower Level
The All-Ages Chess Club is a welcoming space for players of every skill level to learn, play, and connect. Join us for fun gatherings featuring casual games and opportunities to improve your strategy. We meet on the first and third Saturdays—come for the chess, stay for the community!
SPECIAL EVENTS
No Pressure Book Club
March's theme: Historical Fiction
Click HERE to view this month's recommended reads!
Wednesday, April 1
5:00PM - 6:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Join us for a no pressure book club! Each month, we'll curate a selection of books from a specific genre; you can pick a book from our list or choose your own! Read the book and join us on the first Wednesday of the next month to discuss your thoughts with others. Can’t make the meeting? No worries! We’ll share our selections on social media, where you can share any thoughts you had while reading or about the genre as a whole.
From Past to Present with the D.A.R.
Saturday, March 21
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
With America’s 250th birthday approaching, join us for an informative session on the history and mission of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Learn how the organization was founded, explore its patriotic and educational programs, and discover the historic preservation efforts it supports at both the national and local levels. Have a Revolutionary War Patriot in your family tree? Learn how the DAR membership process works! There will be time for a Q & A at the end of the program.
Let's Learn American Mahjong!
Wednesdays, March 25, April 1, & April 22
4:30PM - 6:30PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441 to sign up for an upcoming class.
Come join us for a beginner-friendly, two-hour workshop and learn to play American Mahjongg! You will learn the basics of how this game is played with Clinton native, Lori Kennedy. This is a very welcoming space for total beginners—no experience necessary, just bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Speed Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
Thursday, March 26
5:30PM - 7:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is full!
Put your puzzle skills to the test! Form a team of 4-6 people to complete a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle. Which team will complete the puzzle the fastest?
Teen D&D Club
"Heist Down Below"
Friday, March 27
4:30PM - 7:00PM (Time Change!)
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is required; sign up by clicking HERE (or call (563) 242-8441), then fill out and return the character sheet below to the library before March 13th.
"Heist Down Below" Character Sheet
Adventure awaits! Venture into a secret underground town and collect your reward in March's one-shot D&D campaign for teens! Games will be run using D&D 5e.
Synopsis: A fresh band of shady adventurers come together to steal a rumored artifact that could be worth thousands of gold pieces. The group must venture below the city sewers and find their way into the secret underground town of The Denn to find all the information they can and successfully steal the artifact to earn their reward.
BookTok Bingo
Wednesday, April 8
Doors open at 6pm | Bingo starts at 7pm
Copper Mill (2750 S 27th St)
Grab your friends and join us to play BookTok bingo at the Copper Mill! Bingo winners will get to pick a popular book to take home with them.
Registration is required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441. Bingo cards are $5 each with a limit of four cards per person. Cash or check at event check in is required to play. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Library.
The Friends of the Clinton Public Library is a nonprofit advocacy organization which supports the Library. Volunteer members advocate, educate, and raise funds on behalf of the Library, its patrons, and the community. The Friends have a used book store, located at the Lyons Branch. Donations are welcome.
PASSIVE PROGRAMS
Tiny Art Show 2026
Thank you for being a part of the Clinton Public Library’s third annual Tiny Art Show! Individuals ages 5 and up of all artistic abilities were encouraged to participate. We invited artists to create their paintings with one of the following themes in mind:
1) America’s 250th Birthday Celebration 2) Stained Glass 3) Community is . . . 4) My Perfect Day
Tiny Art Show on Display at the River Arts Center | Thursday, March 5 - Thursday, March 26
River Arts Center Address: 229 5th Ave S, Clinton, IA 52732
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 1 - 4 p.m.
Tiny Art Show on Display at Clinton Community College's Library | Thursday, April 2 - Thursday, April 23
Clinton Community College Address: 1000 Lincoln Blvd, Clinton, IA 52732
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Artwork Pick-Up | Thursday, April 30 - Thursday, May 7
Pick up your artwork at the library.
Take & Sew Kits: Boomerang Bags
Sustainability Club: Living Well with CPL!
Always Available at the Main Desk
The Clinton Public Library is looking for volunteers to sew Boomerang Bags at home! Boomerang Bags is a global movement to help tackle plastic pollution and to upcycle and recycle fiber to make home-sewn reusable tote bags as an alternative. These bags will then be provided to library patrons to carry their library books.
Take & Sew Kits will be available at the front desk during library hours. You will return the bags when completed. To volunteer for this project, you will need your own sewing machine and thread. If you have any questions, please call (563) 242-5355 or email the makerspace at cplmakerspace@gmail.com.
WEEKLY
Intro to Memory Lab
One-on-One Makerspace of Memories Training
Tuesdays & Fridays | 2:00PM - 4:00PM (1 hour appointments) | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Appointments are required! Click HERE to find a date and register, or call (563) 242-5355. NOTE: Appointments are unavailable for Tuesday, March 17; Friday, March 20; and Tuesday, March 24.
Discover how to preserve your personal history by digitizing cherished items in our Memory Lab. Training is one-on-one, personalized guidance just for you. In March, learn about our Sony Digital Voice Recorder & Doxie wireless scanner!
Coming Up:
- April: Plustek large format flatbed scanner.
Thank you to the Clinton County Development Association and the Friends of the Library for funding this equipment.
Fiber Friends
Weekly Craft Club
Tuesdays, 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Join us for a cozy and creative gathering of fiber arts enthusiasts! Whether you're passionate about crochet, knitting, or other fiber crafts like weaving, embroidery, or felting, this club is the perfect place to share your skills, learn new techniques, and connect with fellow makers.
All skill levels are welcome—from beginners to seasoned crafters. Bring your current project or start something new. Limited yarn, crochet hooks/knitting needles are provided. Come stitch, chat, and be inspired!
Sensory Saturday
Explore, Discover, Play!
Saturdays, 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Main Branch, Lower Level
Sensory Saturdays is a hands-on, play-based program that invites young children to explore a variety of sensory stations designed to stimulate touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. Each session features activities that support early childhood development, creativity, and social interaction, and encourages caregiver-child interaction.
Wiggle Time
Tuesdays at 10:30AM
Main Branch, Lower Level
We will have songs, toys, and bubbles for you and your baby or toddler to interact! This is a great chance for kids and caregivers to socialize with each other and their peers. This program is suited for ages 0-3.
Storytime
Wednesdays at 10:30AM
Main Branch, Lower Level
Storytime is offered continually, with breaks occurring in late December and August. Join us for fun, stories, songs, puppet shows, and a craft to take home!
Creative Explorers
Tuesdays at 3:30PM
Main Branch, Lower Level
Join us for an afternoon of play and learning! The Creative Explorers (formerly Afternoon Adventures) program offers a space for children to create, explore, and discover. Through fun and interactive programs, we aim to provide patrons of all abilities and stages of learning with the opportunity to learn about the world around them in a hands-on way.
Caregivers are encouraged to stay in the building and participate with their children. Children under the age of 8 are not to be left alone in the building without a caretaker at least 14 years of age.
Weekly Schedule:
- Mar 24 – Basketball Launcher
- Mar 31 – Animals
Teen Hangout
A Space for Teens!
Most Fridays, 2:00PM - 4:30PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Join us at the library Friday afternoons - play games, do homework, read a book, make art, make a craft, or just hangout. Oh, and enjoy some snacks!
FREQUENT
The following programs may occur several times a month. For more information, please view our calendar or call (563) 242-8441.
All-Ages Chess Club
Where Every Move Matters!
1st & 3rd Saturdays
2:00PM - 3:00PM (may go longer)
Main Branch, Lower Level
Welcome to the All-Ages Chess Club, a vibrant community where chess enthusiasts of all skill levels come together to share their passion for the game! Players of all ages—children, teens, adults, and seniors—can connect over the chessboard. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned grandmaster, our club provides a friendly and inclusive environment for everyone.
LEGO Club
2nd & 4th Saturdays
2:00PM - 3:00PM (may go longer)
Main Branch, Lower Level
Join us on 2nd and 4th Saturdays in an all-ages LEGO club. Show off your building skills, learn some tricks of the trade, complete a mini build challenge, or enjoy some open building time with buckets of bricks.
Virtual Author Talks
Library Speakers Consortium
Click HERE to view more information, register for upcoming events, or view past recordings.
America’s Failed Response to the Opioid Crisis with Author Shoshana Walter
Tuesday, March 24, 1PM
With Special Guest Host Barbara Kingsolver
On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
Thursday, April 2, 1PM
A Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration
On Writing Action-Packed and Suspenseful Spycraft with Brad Taylor
Tuesday, April 14, 6PM
Former Special Forces and New York Times Bestselling Author of the Pike Logan Series
How Exploration, Uncertainty, and Risk Help Us Find Meaning with Author Alex Hutchinson
Thursday, April 16, 1PM
New York Times Bestselling Author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
Bittersweet: Exploring the Five Tastes of Dessert with Thalia Ho
Thursday, April 23, 6PM
Award-Winning Blogger and Author of Wild Sweetness
On Writing Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals of Resilience in Virtual Conversation with Jason Reynolds
Thursday, April 30, 6PM
Award-Winning and New York Times Bestselling Author
MONTHLY
The following programs meet once a month. For more information, please view our calendar or call (563) 242-8441.
#52Stories
First Saturdays
10:30AM - 12:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
On every headstone or plaque, there are two dates separated by a dash. How do you define your dash? The #52Stories genealogy project provides the inspiration you need to write down one story every week for a year by using a handwritten journal, blog, voice, or video recording. During this meeting we will chat about what we are doing with our own #52Stories project by sharing our stories & photos.
Lunch & Learn: 250th Memories Roadshow
Second Saturdays
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
You are invited to join us for the first Lunch & Learn 250th Memories Roadshow at the Clinton Public Library. Bring an object, document, photograph or other historical material that holds special meaning to you. Share the memory attached to that item as we take turns presenting. The library will photograph these items and create a photo display of 250 memories (or more!) in celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026.
Registration is encouraged. Please note: You will need to sign a release if you wish to participate in the photo display.
Bring Your Own Book Club
Note: Time change for March! Meeting at 10:30am.
Third Saturdays
1:30PM - 2:30PM (may go longer)
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Formerly Lyons Reads, this book club is relaxed and we have fun conversations about books and authors. We each read our own book and discuss it with our group.
Let’s Dish: Potluck Club
Fourth Saturdays
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Food lovers, this one’s for you! Join us each month for Let’s Dish: Potluck Club, where great recipes and great conversations come together. Each month features a new theme—simply choose a recipe that fits, prepare it at home, and bring your dish (along with serving utensils) to share family‑style.
Learn to Sew: A Beginner’s Workshop
Four-Part Workshop, Spring & Fall
First Thursdays | 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor (Makerspace)
Registration is closed for the January-April 2026 series. Catch the next series in the fall!
Always wanted to learn how to sew but didn’t know where to start? Join us for a hands-on Learn-to-Sew class designed just for beginners! In this friendly, no-pressure workshop, you’ll get comfortable with the basics of both hand and machine sewing.
Make, Mend, Repair
Second Thursdays
5:00PM - 7:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor (Makerspace)
Don’t toss it—fix it! Join us for Make, Mend, Repair, a creative, community-centered workshop where you’ll learn basic repair skills to extend the life of your clothes, textiles, and small household items.
Bring something you’d like to fix—like a broken zipper, a missing button, or a broken stuffed animal or toy—or just come to learn!
Registration is encouraged, but not required; drop-ins and all ages welcome.
Sustainability Club | Help Us Make Boomerang Bags
Third Thursdays
5:00PM - 6:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Do you like to sew? We are looking for volunteers to cut and sew Boomerang Bags, put together take-n-sew kits, and to help us eliminate the use of plastic bags in the library. Boomerang Bags is a global movement to help tackle plastic pollution and to upcycle and recycle fiber to make home-sewn reusable tote bags as an alternative. These bags will then be provided to library patrons to carry their library books.
