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
SPECIAL EVENTS
No Pressure Book Club
April's theme: Cozy Mystery
Click HERE to view this month's recommended reads!
Wednesday, May 6 | 5 - 6PM | 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.
Let's Make Seed Bombs!
Tuesday, April 21 | 5:30 - 6:30PM | 2nd Floor
Registration encouraged; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
To celebrate Earth Day this month, we wanted to share an awesome DIY project to help spread springtime cheer. We’re going to be making seed bombs! These bombs will be packed with wildflower seeds that are native to Iowa and are beneficial to pollinators and butterflies.
Earth Day & the Food System
Wednesday, April 22 | 11:30AM - 12:30PM | 2nd Floor
Registration encouraged; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
Join us for a webinar by Annalise Vanvranken as she discusses “Earth Day & the Food System”. Learn how our food system impacts our environment and helpful tips to make more sustainable food choices.
To join the webinar from home: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Wellness on Wednesdays webinars with Family & Community Health Sciences-Rutgers Cooperative Extension, focuses on topics related to food, nutrition & healthy lifestyles.
Upcycled Spring Wreath Craft
Wednesday, April 22 | 5 - 6:30PM | 2nd Floor
Registration is not required, but you can still sign up; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
The Franciscan Peace Center has partnered with the Clinton Public Library to host an upcycle program to celebrate Earth Day. Participants will be encouraged to bring used sweaters or other cloth to be used to be wrapped around a wreath form while we use other upcycled materials to create spring wreaths.
This event is free and open to the public and is guaranteed to be a fun, creative, community-building event. If you have any questions about how you can participate, or if you have craft items that you’d like to donate, contact Marsha Thrall at mthrall@clintonfranciscans.com.
America 250
Presented by Amy Sunleaf, Honorary Chapter Regent of the Lawrence Van Hook Chapter of the D.A.R.
Saturday, May 2 | 1 - 2PM | 2nd Floor
Registration is required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
Happy America 250! While July 4, 2026 marks the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, members of the Lawrence Van Hook DAR Chapter started celebrating significant 250th anniversaries in 2023 starting with the Boston Tea Party on December 16. This America 250 presentation will highlight significant historical events of the American Revolutionary War that occurred between December 1773 - September 1783 in the 13 colonies and beyond.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a volunteer, non-political women’s service organization. Membership is open to any woman who can directly trace her lineage to a soldier or Patriot directly involved with the Revolutionary War.
Lyons Art & Wine Walk
Thursday, May 7 | 5 - 8PM | Lyons District
Stop by the Friends of the Library Bookstore, located at 105 Main Avenue, and visit the Clinton Public Library & The Sawmill Museum's tasting station at this great event! The Clinton Public Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Library & TYCOGA Winery & Distillery. Tasting samples and public restrooms will be available.
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Join the LBPA for our 5th annual Lyons Art & Wine Walk on Thursday, May 7th from 5PM - 8PM - RAIN OR SHINE! Follow the map through the Lyons neighborhood to hit all the designated stops on this walk along Main Avenue and side streets in Clinton, Iowa. Enjoy many types of art, drinks samples, musical entertainment, dining options, and shopping throughout the evening.
Our Story Circle Genealogy Club
Saturday, May 16 | 10AM - 12PM | 2nd Floor
Registration is encouraged due to limited seating; click HERE or call (563) 242-5355.
Do you love genealogy? Join us for the Our Story Circle Genealogy Club! This welcoming group brings together family‑history enthusiasts of all experience levels to:
- Share research ideas and discoveries
- Get help with questions and brick walls
- Explore genealogy resources in our collection, Memory Lab, and online
- Connect with other researchers and work on your projects
Computers are available in limited numbers, and you’re welcome to bring your own laptop.
The Genealogy Club meets on the third Saturday of each month from 10am-12pm, unless otherwise noted.
D&D Open One-Shot
Saturday, May 16 | 2 - 5PM | 2nd Floor
Registration required; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441. Intended for ages 18 and up.
Come one, come all, for a once in a lifetime adventure of Dungeons and Dragons! Get your dice and character sheet ready and join us for a D&D One-Shot, open to beginners and experienced players alike!
Home Improvement DIY Workshop
Presented by Home Depot
Wednesday, May 20 | 6 - 6:45PM | 2nd Floor
Registration encouraged; click HERE or call (563) 242-8441.
Join us for a Home Depot DIY Workshop and learn how to repair or replace window screens. Keeping your screens in good condition lets you enjoy fresh air while keeping pests out. When a simple adhesive or patch isn’t enough, replacing a window or door screen yourself can be an affordable and attractive solution.
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 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.
OPEN HOURS
Memory Lab Hours
Tuesdays & Fridays | 2 - 4PM | 2nd Floor
Preserve your personal history by digitizing cherished items in our Memory Lab. Training is one-on-one,
personalized guidance just for you. Turn your keepsakes into digital treasures and make sure your memories
last a lifetime! Memory Lab hours are subject to change, based on staff availability. To make sure a time is
available for you, please schedule an appointment by calling (563) 242-5355.
In April, learn about our Plustek large format flatbed scanner!
Thank you to the Clinton County Development Association and the Friends of the Library for funding this equipment.
Makerspace Hours
Tuesdays 1 - 4:30PM; Thursdays 3:30 - 7:30PM; or by appointment | 2nd Floor (Makerspace)
Makerspace hours are subject to change, based on staff availability. To make sure a time is available for you, or to make an appointment, please call (563) 242-8441 or email cplmakerspace@gmail.com. Click HERE to learn more about the Makerspace!
IowaWORKS Career Services
Select Thursdays | 9AM - 5PM | Main Floor
IowaWORKS services include Resume Assistance, Registered Apprenticeship, Virtual Workshops, and other service referrals for educational and unemployment insurance needs. Please call ahead for Soft Skills Training and Mock Interviewing Skills.
WEEKLY
Fiber Friends
Weekly Craft Club
Tuesdays, 5 - 7PM | 2nd Floor
Note: Moving to Thursdays, beginning in May!
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, 10AM - 12PM | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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:
- Apr 21 – Soil Layers
- Apr 28 – Disappearing Ink
- May 5 – "I Love You" Coding Bracelets
- May 12 – Straw Rockets
- May 19 – CD Spinning Tops
- May 26 – Paper Airplanes
Teen Hangout
A Space for Teens!
Most Fridays, 2 - 4:30PM | 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 - 3PM (may go longer) | 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 - 3PM (may go longer) | 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.
Let's Learn American Mahjong!
Wednesdays, April 22; May 6 & 27; June 24 | 4:30 - 6:30PM | 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.
Virtual Author Talks
Library Speakers Consortium
Click HERE to view more information, register for upcoming events, or view past recordings.
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
JoyFull: Daily Rituals to Eat Freely and Live Radiantly with Radhi Devlukia-Shetty
Tuesday, May 5, 1PM
New York Times Bestselling Author and Health & Wellness Expert
On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love with Marjan Kamali
Thursday, May 7, 6PM
Internationally Bestselling and Award-Winning Author of The Stationery Shop and Together Tea
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Technologies for Peak Brain Performance with Dr. Patrick K. Porter and Ruchika Sikri
Thursday, May 14, 1PM
Restore Cognitive Clarity and Find Emotional Balance with Visionary Researchers
Reshape Your Beliefs and Unlock Your True Potential with Nir Eyal
Tuesday, May 19, 1PM
Internationally Bestselling Author of Hooked and Indistractable
See More and Register
MONTHLY
The following programs meet once a month. For more information, please view our calendar or call (563) 242-8441.
#52Stories
1st Saturdays | 10:30AM - 12PM | 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
2nd Saturdays | 1 - 2PM | 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
3rd Saturdays | 1:30 - 2:30PM (may go longer) | 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
Note: Not meeting in May.
4th Saturdays | 1 - 2PM | 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 | 1st Thursdays | 5 - 7PM | 2nd Floor (Makerspace)
Registration for the September-December 2026 series will open in August.
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
2nd Thursdays | 5 - 7PM | 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
3rd Thursdays | 5 - 6PM | 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.