The summer heat has officially started to arrive and the programming and activities at the Gibson Memorial Library for the month of June are proving to be just as hot! A more detailed listing of activities and programming happening in June are as follows: Summer Reading Program 2026 - Plant a seed, read this summer! “Plant a seed, read” is rooted in the concept of farm to table. A farm grows food that nourishes our bodies; a library grows ideas that nourish our minds. Both food and stories connect us to our family, culture, economy and ecology. “iREAD 2026: Plant a seed, read” will provide a context for exploring culture, history, science, health and human connection.
Starting May 30, patrons can register for our reading challenges for all ages from birth to adult, and the summer is packed with programs and opportunities to play! Be sure to pick up your summer reading brochure to keep all the important dates in one place.
Performers - Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at the Gibson Memorial Library Pavilion* June 3: Circus Variety Show - Enjoy a big top experience in the form of a one-woman circus show by Martika Daniels!
June 10: Jonathan May, Magician** - Enjoy crowd-favorite magician Jonathan May as he mesmerizes with illusions and humor!
June 17: Blank Park Zoo’s “Zoo To You” - Blank Park Zoo is coming to our library! They will bring a couple of animals to share as well as other educational information to learn about nature.
June 24: Beatbox 101 with Skippy - Join us for an educational concert and learn the basics of beatboxing with Luke Harbur, AKA Skippy, the Human Drum Machine!
*Rain/high heat location United Methodist Fellowship Hall **This event will be held at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, also our rain/high heat location Family events
Saturday, May 30, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Summer Reading Program kickoff foam party: Pick up your summer reading log and partake in food and fun for the whole family, including glitter tattoo artists and a foam party at 12 p.m. Plan to wear clothes that can get wet and bring a towel with you!
Monday, June 8, 4 - 6 p.m. - Good egg adoption: Adopt and decorate your own “good egg” to take on summer adventures!
Wednesday, July 1, 4:30 - 6 p.m. - Seed mosaic art: Come create a masterpiece using seeds and beans.
Wednesday, July 8, 3 - 6 p.m. Library escape room: Sign up as an individual or with friends for a kid-friendly escape room!
Sunday, Aug. 16, 1:08 p.m. I-Cubs Game (for youth program finishers): Each youth finisher gets 2 tickets to enjoy some baseball with the I-Cubs! At Principal Park, Des Moines.
Community Events: Come see us out and about at these events — we’ll have activities for kids and library info!
Creston Farmers Market - Mondays 4 - 6:30 p.m. at McKinley Park, June 15 and July 13.
Tuesdays in the Park - Tuesdays from 6 - 8 p.m. at Afton Park, June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21 and Aug. 11.
Programs for kids and tweens: Tuesdays at 1:30 PM June 2: Marble Terracotta Pots June 9: DIY Paper Flowers June 16: Garden Fairy Wands* June 23: Bricks & Beads June 30: DIY Pressed Flower Lanterns July 7: Farm Bingo July 14: Bleach Painting July 21: DIY Painted Tote Bags July 28: Bricks & Beads *supplies are limited Nature and STEM exploration with Iowa State Extension - Thursdays at 4 p.m. Learn about plants, animal habitats and more in this new series! See details for each session on our website.
Teen Summer Reading Program - Grades 6th through 12th. Sign up begins May 30th for SRP fun!
Teen Programs: Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.
June 11: Keychain-Palooza June 18: DIY Cement Garden Stones June 25: Tied Avocado Pillows July 2: Pine Tree Lantern Jar July 9: Flower Pen & Garden Markers July 16: Zany Sock Caterpillar July 23: Tiny Seed Pots Adult Summer Reading Program Registration begins on May 30 for the adult summer reading program! Participants will receive a seed packet of reading challenges. Complete the varying difficulties of challenges and turn them in to be entered into a drawing for prizes, awarded at the end of the program.
All books must be checked out from Gibson Memorial Library between May 30 and July 31 from our collection, interlibrary loan or Libby/ Bridges ebooks. DVDs and children’s books will not count towards your totals.
Adult Programs
June 4 at 4:30 p.m.: Book Bedazzling June 10 at 5 p.m.: Paint Your Own Garden Pot June 17 at 4:30 p.m.: Barnstorming Babe Presentation June 24 at 5 p.m.: Art Meditation July 14 at 4:30 p.m.: Iowa’s Rogues & Heroes Presentation Lunchtime Concert Series: Come enjoy live music and food trucks at our new concert series over your lunch hour! Wednesdays in July, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Come-and-Go Activities:
June 1-6: Pressed Flower Bookmarks June 8-13: Take Home Spice #1 June 15-20: Leaf Printmaking with Greeting Cards June 22-27: Take Home Spice #2 July 6-10: Take Home Spice #3 July 20-24: Take Home Spice #4 LAST DAY to turn in ALL reading logs is July 31.
*All events are FREE and open to the public.* *These programs are not sponsored by area schools or daycare providers. For more information, please contact the library. Events and prizes are sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
