Programs & Events
Check us out on social media and subscribe to our eNewsletter or Text Club to receive updates and more information!
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
SPECIAL EVENTS
Lunch & Learn: 250th Memories Roadshow
Saturday, February 14
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is encouraged; click HERE or call (563) 242-5355.
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.
Please note: You will need to sign a release if you wish to participate in the photo display.
Love Your Pets Storytime
with the Clinton Humane Society!
Wednesday, February 18
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Main Branch, Lower Level
National Love Your Pet Day is February 20th, and our friends at the Clinton Humane Society are helping us celebrate with a very special Storytime! Join us to hear stories, have fun, and meet a furry friend or two!
Scrap & Smash - Creating a Smash Book
Teen Craft and Movie Lock-In
Friday, February 20
4:30PM - 6:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
It’s time to scrap some old books! Join us for a fun evening of tearing and decorating your own smash book from discarded library books. And enjoy a popcorn bar and movie while you’re at it!
Let's Learn American Mahjong!
Wednesday, February 25 & March 4
4:30PM - 6:30PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Registration is required; click HERE for Feb 25th, HERE for March 4th, or call (563) 242-8441.
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.
Teen D&D Club
"Welcome to Maho Academy" One-Shot
Friday, February 27
2:00PM - 5:00PM
Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Teens - adventure awaits! Join us for a one-shot campaign on the last Friday of each month (unless noted otherwise). Games will be run using D&D 5e.
Registration is required; click HERE to sign up. Register and submit the following character sheet to the library by Saturday, February 13th.
Synopsis: Welcome to the prestigious Maho Academy! A group of first year students enter the magical halls of Maho Academy, a dream for many aspiring mages wishing to hone their skills and mastery over the weave. Things take a turn for these students as things begin to go awry. Evil monsters start flooding the halls, and it’s up to these fresh students to find out what’s going on and how they can stop it to not only save the school but themselves.
No Pressure Book Club
February's theme: Sweet Romance
Click HERE to view this month's recommended reads!
Wednesday, March 4
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.
SPRING BREAK 2026!
Monday, March 16
Sit, Stay, Read
10:30AM - 12:30PM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Join Moose, our friendly therapy dog, for a special reading experience! Kids can practice their reading skills while sharing stories with a furry friend. For all ages.
Teen Level Up Lounge
1:00PM - 3:00PM | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Join us for Level Up Lounge, a chill and exciting teen time dedicated to video games! We'll have a variety of consoles set up with popular multiplayer games, allowing you to challenge your friends, team up, or just enjoy some casual gaming. For teens.
Big Game Time
3:30PM - 5:30PM | Main Branch
Play BIG versions of your favorite classic games, like jumbo Jenga, giant Connect Four, and more, throughout the library! We’ll also have board games and other classics for you to try. For all ages.
Tuesday, March 17
Wiggle Time
10:30AM - 11:30AM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Join us for songs, toys, bubbles, and plenty of play for you and your baby or toddler to enjoy together! It’s a great time for little ones—and their caregivers—to play, learn, and socialize. For kids 0-3 and their grown-ups.
Teen Craft: Sparkle & Shine
1:00PM - 3:00PM | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Teens, it’s time to DIY a little sunshine. In this upcycling workshop, we'll be transforming old CDs into dazzling suncatchers to put in windows or gardens this spring! For teens.
Creative Explorers | Trap the Leprechaun: LEGO Challenge
3:30PM - 4:30PM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Put your building skills to the test! Design and construct a creative leprechaun trap using LEGO bricks. Can you catch the mischievous leprechaun, and will your trap be strong enough to hold his gold? For K-5th graders.
Wednesday, March 18
Spring Has Sprung Storytime
10:30AM - 11:30AM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Join us for fun, stories, songs, puppet shows, and a craft to take home! For Pre-K kids and their families.
Teen Mario Kart Mayhem
1:00PM - 3:00PM | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Do you have what it takes to be the fastest racer in the Mushroom Kingdom? We're putting your driving skills—and your banana-tossing precision – to the test. Join us for Mario Kart Mayhem! Race, drift, and dominate the competition across iconic tracks to claim the championship title! For teens.
Family Movie Time
3:30PM - 5:30PM | Main Branch, Multipurpose Room
Watch a movie at the library! Bring your favorite blankets and comfy seating to settle in for the show. We'll provide popcorn, and you're welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy. Movie selection will be announced closer to the date. For all ages.
Thursday, March 19
“Block” Party
10:30AM - 12:30PM | Main Branch, Lower Level
Come explore your imagination and engineering skills by free-building with a wide variety of blocks—LEGO®, wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, and more. Whether you want to construct towering skyscrapers, design unique creations, or just enjoy hands-on play, this program is perfect for builders big and small. Drop in, build, and let your creativity shine! For all ages.
Brain Freeze – Teen Trivia!
1:00PM - 3:00PM | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Gather your knowledge and prepare for battle! Put your brain to the test across categories ranging from pop culture and gaming to history, science, and everything in between! For teens.
Minute-to-Win-It Games
3:30PM - 5:30PM | Main Branch, 2nd Floor
Play Minute-to-Win-It Games with fellow participants, just for fun. For all ages.
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!
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 Clinton Public Library | Thursday, February 5 - Saturday, February 28
View your artwork and others on display on the main floor of the library.
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, February 17.
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 February, learn how to scan negatives into photos and bring old film memories back to life!
Coming Up:
- March: Sony Digital Voice Recorder & Doxie wireless scanner.
- 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:
- Feb 17 – Heart Cup Stacking
- Feb 24 – Glue Art Suncatchers
- Mar 3 – Dr. Seuss
- Mar 10 – How Much Gold Can Your Boat Hold?
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.
Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum with Smithsonian Curator Emeritus Tom Crouch
Tuesday, February 24, 1PM
A Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration
Humor, Heart, and Reflective Rural Stories with Michael Perry
Wednesday, March 4, 1PM
New York Times Bestselling Author of Population: 485 and The Jesus Cow
How to Make Healthy Living Effortless and Fun - In Conversation with Jenn Lueke
Thursday, March 5, 1PM
Recipe Developer and Social Media Star
Unlock the Hidden Power of Dreams with Sleep Expert Michelle Carr
Wednesday, March 11, 1PM
Director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory in the Center for Advanced Sleep Medicine
Book Portals and Journeys of Literary Magic with Kate Quinn
Thursday, March 12, 6PM
New York Times Bestselling Author of The Alice Network and The Rose Code
America’s Failed Response to the Opioid Crisis with Author Shoshana Walter
Tuesday, March 24, 1PM
With Special Guest Host Barbara Kingsolver
MONTHLY
The following programs meet once a month. For more information, please view our calendar or call (563) 242-8441.
#52Stories
Time change! Now meeting at 10:30am instead of 1:30pm
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.
Bring Your Own Book Club
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.
Learn to Sew: A Beginner’s Workshop
Four-Part Workshop, Spring & Fall
1st 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.
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.
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.