Summer Reading Program and variety of other activities taking place at Robey Memorial Library throughout summer months
Robey Memorial Library’s “Level Up at Your Library” Summer Reading Program 2025 is underway as of Tuesday, July 1 and runs through Thursday, July 31. Activities include Reading Challenges with prizes for all ages, Kids and Teens Grab and Go Activity Bags, craft events and fine forgiveness, as described below:
4-Week Reading Challenge: Register at the front desk, pick up or print from the library website a reading log that features reading and activity challenges. Earn prizes and books by completing the tasks assigned to the squares. The more a reader participates, the more prizes they will receive.
Participants can display a “Library Champion” sign in their yard. Watch for these while driving around town.
Make & Take Crafts: Held every Wednesday in July, stop by between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. to make a craft to take home, including the following:
• July 9 - Butterfly Sun Catcher
• July 16 - Clay Leaf Print Art
• July 23 - Gemstone Magnets
• July 30 - Silhouette Jars.
Grab and Go Activity Bags: Features fun, challenging projects to create at home. Available the second Wednesday of each month while supplies last.
Summer Explorers Series: Summer Explorers continues in July bi-weekly Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m, as follows:
• July 9 - Survive the Dust Bowl Game & Activity with Sara Berges, Soil Conservationist, USDA
• July 23 - Life-Size Game Day featuring Candy Land, Checkers, Yahtzee, Bubbles, Sidewalk Chalk.
Reading Dragons: Reading Dragons & Friends program continues through the end of August. Pick up a reading log, track reading minutes and earn dragon cards. This program is for all ages.
Story Walk at the Allamakee County Fair, July 16-20: Robey Memorial Library will be hosting a Story Walk featuring the classic children’s book The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Families and children are encouraged to read the book by walking from page to page as they stroll the fairgrounds. The starting point of the Story Walk is at the Grain Bin Gazebo. Each stop will direct readers to the next, and it ends at the Fair Office.
Passport to Reading: Book club for kids grades 4th through 6th. Join library staff to discuss a book read with a puzzle theme July 10 and a sport theme August 4. Passport to Reading meets once a month Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. to discuss books read, participate in fun book-related activities, and enjoy snacks. Register at the Kids Summer Programs link on the library website or contact the library at 563-568-4424.
Reading Challenge: Register at the front desk, pick up or print from the library website a Reading Challenge Brochure. Earn prizes and books by completing reading minutes and literary quests. Earn entries to prize drawings for an Atari Pocket Player or book package. The more readers participate, the more prizes they earn.
Teen Book Clubs:
• Teen Summer Book Club - August’s book club meets Wednesday, August 6 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for snacks and discussion of The notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin.
• Classic Book Club for Teens - This club is reading and discussing classic titles: The thin man by Dashiell Hammett and The call of the wild by Jack London. Classic Book Club meets at 4 p.m. Mondays, July 14 and August 11.
Register for Teen Summer Book Club and/or Classic Book Club for Teens at the Teen Summer Program Link on the library website (www.waukon.lib.ia.us) or contact the library at 563-568-4424. The first five registrants receive the book to keep; copies are available at Robey Memorial Library.
Adults: Adults who participate in the 2025 Adult Reading Challenge through July will be entered into a drawing for a special prize. Read a title from one of 12 reading categories: Adventure; Book or character that inspires you; Celebrity book club selection; Fantasy; Fiction; Friendship-themed; Graphic novel or picture book; Non-fiction; Puzzle-themed; Set in another country (not the U.S.); Sport-themed; Technology-themed. Complete an entry on the library website (www.waukon.lib.ia.us) or at the library. The Adult Reading Challenge continues through December 31.
Events for adults in July:
• Thursday Night Book Club: discussing Technology-themed book, Thursday, July 17 at 6 p.m.
• Live & Learn - Homeward Bound: Pet Adoption Basics with the Northeast Iowa Humane Society, Thursday, July 31 at 5:30 p.m.
Fine Forgiveness: For those who participate in one of the library’s Reading Challenges: children and teens who register for the Summer Reading Challenge in July; and adults who read at least one book for the 2025 Adult Reading Challenge in July can have overdue fines forgiven. Fine Forgiveness does not include lost or damaged items on a library account.
