Summer Library Program:
June 3 through August 3rd, 2024!
Join us for another fun summer full of performers, crafts, scavenger hunts, special programming, and, of course, reading! Pre-registration for our Summer Library Program will be available beginning in mid-May. However, reading logged before June 3rd does not count. You can register by calling or emailing the youth desk or through Beanstack.
Who can sign up for the Youth Summer Library Program? Children ages birth through 6th grade. If you are going into 7th grade, you can participate in our Teen Summer Library Program. There is also an Adult Summer Program available for anyone over the age of 18.
How does it work? We challenge you to read 15-20 minutes a day. Log the days you read on Beanstack or on our paper log. For every 15 days you read, you earn one free book. You can log your minutes either through our paper Summer Reading Log 2024 or virtually through Beanstack. Also, you can complete activities to earn virtual badges.
What events/programs will there be this summer? Keep scrolling to find more information about our performers and programs, or check out our events calendar.
Thank you to the Cedar Falls Community Foundation: Robert & Shirley Berg Fund as well as the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library for sponsoring our summer program!
How does Beanstack work?
First, you need to create a Beanstack account. Parents can also create accounts for their children. Beanstack will automatically direct you to the appropriate challenges for which you can register based on your age. There are challenges for kids, teens, and adults. If you wish to be contacted about prizes and drawings, please include an email address as part of your Beanstack profile. The Beanstack app is available for iOS and Android. If you experience technical problems with the app, please contact Beanstack at usersupport@zoobean.com.
Getting Started
- Go to cedarfalls.beanstack.org
- Click on the blue “Register an Individual or Family” button.
- Fill in the information! If you are a parent registering a child, be sure to enter
your information in under “Adult Information.” Beanstack allows families to
be linked together, so that all family members can be accessed with one login. - Once you are registered, you will be taken to your account page. This is where
you will log your minutes and activities and track the badges you earn!
How to log days/activities
- Go to cedarfalls.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack Tracker app for Android
and iPhone! - Click on the blue “Log Reading and Activities” button in the upper left
corner or on the blue plus sign in the app. - Follow the prompts on the screen to log whatever you’ve accomplished.
- When you hit a reading landmark, you will receive a badge and may be
eligible for a prize!
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Performers
Animals! with Dr. Bechdel | Thursday, June 6th | 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. | Meeting Room
Crikey!! Animals!? Get exotic with us and Dr. Bechtel (Bec) as we travel deep into the Amazonian region! Bec will share with us some Peruvian artifacts from the indigenous Maijuna people living on the Amazon River along with some animals that can potentially be found there! Get your index fingers geared up and ready.... there may be touching involved! Particular animals brought will be determined day-of, so no guarantees can be made on the species of animal. More information on Bec and his work can be found at https://www.wartburg.edu/people/michael-bechtel/.
Reading is G.R.A.N.D with Juggler Dan Kirk | Thursday, June 27th | 2:00 p.m. | Community Center
Dan Kirk, The Juggler With The Yellow Shoes, is coming to our Library. He is a comic juggler and family entertainment expert from Wisconsin. With a performance on America’s Got Talent and starring in a commercial with Dale Ernhardt Jr., Dan has what it takes to create fun and laughs for all ages. Dan uses audience participation and volunteers to make each performance unique. Dan’s special library shows are super fun, engaging, and funny! You’re gonna love it!
For All Ages.
Happy Birthday, CFPL! | Friday, July 12 | 3:30-5:30 p.m.| CFPL Parking Lot
Join us in celebrating the 20th birthday of CFPL's building! There'll be carnival games, balloons, facepainting, mega foam canons, and lots of fun! All Ages.
Eric Michaels, Magician | Monday, July 15th | 11:00 a.m. | Community Center
Eric Michaels has been performing magic since he was a child. Starting with a little ring and a piece of string from his very first magic set, Eric began his journey into the magical world of mystery and excitement. Since 2003, Eric's show has developed into a one-of-a-kind class act that is jam packed with puzzling magic, audience participation, comedy, live animals, and his beautiful assistant! Come see what everyone is talking about, it's not just a magic show, it's an experience! Youth, Families
CLIMB Theater presents Country Mouse and City Mouse – Adventures in the Suburbs | Thursday, July 18th | 11:00 a.m. | Meeting Room
This play is a continuation of one of Aesop's best known fables (prior knowledge not required to enjoy!). Since the mouse cousins had such a “gouda” time when they last met, they decided to take their next adventure to more neutral grounds: The Suburbs. Country Mouse wants to explore the new area while City Mouse wants to read, renew, and repeat for a relaxing vacation. Will conflict tear apart their relationship, or will they learn to compro-mice and celebrate their differences? In this play, kids will learn to use their empathy skills and to advocate for their own needs.
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Weekly Crafts in the Youth Department
Week 1: Bumblebees
Week 2: Cactus
Week 3: Jellyfish
Week 4: Rainbow
Week 5: Crab
Week 6: Fox
Week 7: Lightning Bug
Week 8: TBD
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Scavenger Hunts
Library Scavenger Hunt | June- July| Youth Department
Find 20 friends hidden throughout the youth department to earn a prize!
Find Fable | Year Round | CFPL
Each night, Fable loves to explore the library, and ends up in some very random spots. Can you find Fable and bring them back to the youth desk?
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Programs
Summer Storytimes
June 1–July 29, 10:30 a.m
Mondays: Sprout/ Baby Storytime (0–23 months)
Tuesdays: Sapling/ Preschool Storytime (3–5 year-olds)
Wednesdays: Seedling/ Toddler Storytime (2–3 year-olds)
*Most Fridays: Music and Movement (2-5 year-olds)
Saturdays: Grove/Family Storytime (3–5 year-olds)
This summer, we will have one special guest for Music & Movement Storytime: On Friday, July 26th, Music Together will be leading storytime.
*Sunshine Storytime | Various Fridays, times, and locations
Geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Get ready to dance and be silly! We'll read books that encourage movement, sing songs, and shake our sillies out! We'll bring the Book Bike to Overman and Washington Park.
- 6/7: Overman Park at 10:30 a.m.
- 6/21: The Falls Aquatic Center at 11:30 a.m. **Registration Required**
- 7/5: Washington Park at 10:30 a.m.
- 8/2: The Falls Aquatic Center at 11:30 a.m. ** Registration Required**
**If attendees/registrants of the storytimes at The Falls Aquatic Center would like to stay and swim when the pool opens at noon, they can receive reduced admission.
Story Time guests will receive:
- Tactile Coloring Pages
- Secret Code Bookmarks, with your very own name in Braille!
- Braille Alphabet Cards
*Special Note to Parents: This Storytime will help your child gain a better understanding of how similar each one of us can be; however, we just may do things a little differently.
Elementary-aged programming
Sensory Stations for Little Learners| Thursday, June 13th, July 11th, and August 1st | 10:30 a.m. | Youth Department
Dewey & Donuts | Friday, July 19th | 2:00 p.m.| Youth Department
Come and learn a little bit about how the Dewey Decimal System works while snacking on donuts! Then, when you are feeling confident about what you have learned, take part in a scavenger hunt throughout the Youth Department and get hands-on with Dewey! Registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome! Register by clicking here, calling the Youth desk at 319-859-3282, or emailing youth@cedarfallslibrary.org. For kids 8-12.
Trinkets & Trash: An Assemblage Workshop | July 24th | 2:00-4:00 p.m. | Youth Department
Drop in and shift through recycled bits and bobs and assemble a work of art! At this workshop inspired by the art of Louise Nevelson, kids are invited to create functional found-object collages on top of their choice of a keepsake picture frame or a box. This drop-in style program is geared toward kids ages 8+, but will be fun for the whole family. Picture frames and boxes will be provided as well as recycled objects and crafting supplies to explore and create with from 2:00-4:00 pm. During this time, kids and their families are invited to participate at any time that best fits their schedules. Registration is encouraged, but not required.
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Please note: According to our safe child policy, all children under 11-years-old must be accompanied by and be within sight of a responsible adult caregiver at all times while in the library.
Funding for the summer library program is provided by the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, Robert & Shirley Berg Fund for use by the Library.
Questions? Email: youth@cedarfallslibrary.org or call the youth desk at 319-859-3282.
