Teen Summer Reading!

Ready, Set, Read! June 1st - August 12th

If you haven't signed up for the Teen Summer Reading program at the library it is not too late! There is still plenty of time left to participate! Set a reading goal and then read every day. After you have completed a checkpoint come back to the library for a prize and grand prize ticket! Complete level 5 for a free book! Make sure you keep an eye on the calendar and don't miss our fun programs this summer! Some require pre-registration. We have a lot of fun events coming this July, including our Zombie Lock In. Keep reading to to find out more!

Out Loud Authors
Friday, July 1, 7:00 p.m.

Hotel at Kirkwood Center

Young adult author Matt de la Peña is the New York Times Bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of six young adult novels: Ball Don't Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, I Will Save You, The Living, and The Hunted. He's also the author of the critically-acclaimed picture books A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) and Last Stop on Market Street (illustrated by Christian Robinson). de la Peña currently lives in Brooklyn NY. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country.

Register for our great line-up of summer authors! All seating is general admission, but your registration will help us know what size venue we'll need.

Learn about and register for Matt de la Peña.

Donna's Dance Place
Tuesday, July 5th, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Meeting Room A

Join us for a fun dance program today as we welcome Donna's Dance Place! She'll get your kids up and dancing as they stay active and healthy this summer!

Game Day!

Thursday, July 7th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Stop by after school to play video games and board games in Meeting Room A. We've got Mario Kart, Minecraft, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Dance Central, Guitar Hero, Twister, Apples to Apples, and lots more!

Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, or another card game? Bring your friends and stake out a corner of the room for an epic game.

Anime Club
Monday, July 11, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Room A

Join us in Meeting Room A every month to hang out with other people who love anime as we watch shows and eat Japanese snacks.

Anime Club meets the first Monday of each month. Mark your calendars for the next meeting on August 1.

Zombie Lock In!

Friday, July 15, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Meet in the Lobby

Join us at the library after hours for some zombie themed fun. Can you break out of our Escape Room? Bring your own T-shirt to zombify! We will have food and other fun activities. Can you survive the zombie apocalypse?

You must fill out a registration form and turn in a permission form to attend. You can print out the permission form online or pick one up at the information desk.

Geocaching 101

Saturday, July 16, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

We're excited to offer Geocaching 101, presented by Tim Stewart ("The Weasel"), President of the Iowa Geocachers Organization (visit them on Facebook, too). Geocaching is a great family-friendly activity that's sort of like treasure hunting. You can search for geocaches all over the world, but you'll probably be surprised to learn how many there are right in your own neighborhood. Tim will have nine GPS units to use; if you've got your own, please bring it!

Please register for this class so we get an idea of how we'll manage our equipment.

Join the World's Largest Treasure Hunt!

Bruce Taekwondo

Tuesday, July 19 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Bruce Taekwondo is a local martial arts studio, and their demo team is ranked 2nd in the nation! They will provide a demonstration and show your kids the basics of taekwondo in this fun and interactive program!

Interactive Movie: The Sandlot

Thursday, July 21, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Take a break from the heat to watch The Sandlot! Enjoy this funny film with some snacks and your friends.

A new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his team in this coming of age movie set in the summer of 1962. Together, they get themselves into many adventures involving rival teams, lifeguards, and a vicious dog. Rated PG. (via IMDb)

Home School Book Fair

Saturday, July 23, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Come meet the library's Home School liaison, Dawn Cline, and find out about library resources available for home school families. Dawn will be available for questions as you browse and select books from the large collection available including curriculum, non-fiction, and fiction books (some Christian fiction); there is no charge. Bring bags or boxes.

YMCA Yoga

Tuesday, July 26, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Join us in Meeting Room A from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. for a yoga program focused on breath, body, and balance, run by YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area.

Game Day!

Thursday, July 28th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, or another card game? Bring your friends and stake out a corner of the room for an epic game.

National Coloring Book Day!

Tuesday, August 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Meeting Room A

It's National Coloring Book Day! Are you a closet colorer? Looking for a fun way to spend a summer evening with friends or family? Need to de-stress after a tough day at work? Get Out and Color today at the library!

We will have coloring sheets, markers, and pencils set up all day in the window alcove nearest our Information Desk (you can sign up and grab a log for our Book a Trip reading program while you are over there!). Sit down whenever you happen to be in and relax for a bit.

Our Meeting Rooms A & B will be open all evening from 6:00 - 9:00 for your coloring pleasure. All ages welcome. We'll provide coloring supplies and refreshing cool beverages -- and we encourage you to bring treats to share!

Coloring: it's cheaper than therapy!

Check out the display in the Teen area or reserve one of our picks below. Find even more suggestions on the Teen Reads section on the library's website.

Share Your Art in the Library

We want musicians, artists, dancers, and anyone who wants to use the library lobby to share their art with the world. Want to set up an easel and paint, letting people who walk by watch ? Want to do a preview of your ballet recital or your violin performance? Talk to us!

If you'd like to paint, draw, play music, sing, dance, or otherwise share your interest in the arts, just send an email to PerformanceSpace@marionpubliclibrary.org
and let us know what date and time you'd like to come. We provide the space, you provide the arts! We'll also do a little promotion for you at our website and Facebook page.

Come in, create, and share in the library!

Take and Make

Stuck at the library, waiting for a ride? Need something to do on a rainy day? When you're bored, look on the little table in the Teen area for crafts, word games, coloring pages, and more! Make it at the library, or take it home, your choice.

Little Free Library for Teens

Have you found the Little Free Library filled with books for Teens? It's on the far side of the library's east parking lot, next to the daycare.

What's a Little Free Library? It's a great way to get books totally free (no checkouts, no fines!) and to share books you no longer want. Give a book, take a book. All free!

Book a Trip:

Year-Round Reading Program

This all-ages reading program couldn't be easier: just pick up a log and start reading. Check off each state as you read a book that either takes place in that state, is about that state, or is by an author who is from that state. You can read fiction or non-fiction. We've got suggested books for each state, or pick out your own!

As you check off each state, get a dot at the Information Desk to mark your progress on our map. When you've read a book from all 50 states, pick up a special prize! Find more information on the Book a Trip page on our website.