City of Literature USA - Connecting readers and writers through the power of story

Out Loud! to feature Patchett, Flynn and Lehane

Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series in Linn County will present three of the most famous names in fiction this June. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion public libraries will present Ann Patchett, Gillian Flynn and Dennis Lehane in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Patchett, an [...]

Jr. High Writing Jam set for May 11th

All 7th and 8th grade authors who love to write are invited to register for the Writing Jam Saturday, May 11 from 3:00 p.m. Students will craft their work in a session at the Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A, from 3 – 5 p.m., before heading over to Fair Grounds Cafe at 5:30 [...]

Jane Jacobs Walk set for May 4th

The second annual Jane Jacobs Walk will be held Saturday, May 4th, 3-4:30 p.m. in downtown Iowa City. Jane Jacobs, who died at the age of 90 in 2006, was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. As a community organizer in 1960s New York City, she helped [...]

Hawkeye Readers brings football players into classrooms

About a dozen members of the University of Iowa football team visited classrooms at two Iowa City elementary schools last week as part of the third year of the Hawkeye Readers program. The program, a partnership between the UI football program and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization, brings the UI student-athletes into [...]

UNESCO World Book & Copyright Day to feature Community Book Talk, April 23

The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s third Community Book Talk will be held at the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City from noon-1 p.m. on April 23. The program will feature community and business leaders from around the area, who will each discuss a favorite or meaningful book. The talk, which features six presenters, will [...]

Out Loud! to feature Patchett, Flynn and Lehane

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2013

Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series in Linn County will present three of the most famous names in fiction this June. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion public libraries will present Ann Patchett, Gillian Flynn and Dennis Lehane in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

Patchett, an alumna of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will open the series on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. Patchett is the author of five novels including State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2012, she was named one of Time magazine’s “World’s 100 Most Influential People,” in part due to her highly publicized decision to open an independent bookstore-Parnassus Books-in Nashville, Tenn., bucking trends in the book business.

Flynn, author of the runaway bestseller Gone Girl, will appear on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m. She is also the author of Sharp Objects and Dark Places, two acclaimed thrillers. But Gone Girl, which topped the bestseller list in 2012 and has remained in the top 10, elevated her career to a new level. Reese Witherspoon is producing the movie adaptation of the novel, which is a taut he-said-she-said tale of a marriage gone horribly awry.

Lehane, one of the biggest names in the mystery genre, will close out the series on Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m. Lehane is known for his series featuring Boston private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Genaro, as well as for standalone novels including Shutter Island, Mystic River, and Gone Baby Gone, each of which has been made into a major motion picture. His most recent bestseller is 2012′s Live by Night.

While no tickets are required, series organizers are requesting preregistration for this year’s events. To register, visit http://bit.ly/OutLoud and navigate to the event dates. Alternately, patrons may contact any of the Metro Libraries or send an email to outloudauthorseries@hotmail.com.

Jr. High Writing Jam set for May 11th

Posted by admin on May 3rd, 2013

All 7th and 8th grade authors who love to write are invited to register for the Writing Jam Saturday, May 11 from 3:00 p.m. Students will craft their work in a session at the Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A, from 3 – 5 p.m., before heading over to Fair Grounds Cafe at 5:30 for free snacks and a live performance. Instructors from the Iowa Youth Writing Project will moderate this awesome event, and invite students to share their work in an open-mic format (family and friends are invited to attend the open mic).

Click here to register!

What: Jr. High Writing Workshop and Open Mic

When: Saturday May 11, 3-5 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library, followed by a live performance at 5:30 p.m. at Fair Grounds (family and friends are invited to attend the open mic)

Where: Workshop at the Iowa City Public Library, Open Mic at Fair Grounds Cafe

Jane Jacobs Walk set for May 4th

Posted by admin on April 30th, 2013

The second annual Jane Jacobs Walk will be held Saturday, May 4th, 3-4:30 p.m. in downtown Iowa City. Jane Jacobs, who died at the age of 90 in 2006, was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. As a community organizer in 1960s New York City, she helped save her neighborhoods from destruction at the hands of Robert Moses (“the man who built New York”) and other outside interests. As an author she invited her readers to go out and see what makes some neighborhoods thrive but other ones struggle, and to learn through direct experience how cities actually work. She opposed those who insisted on applying standardized solutions to the unique challenges facing particular cities.

In 1961 Jacobs wrote The Death and Life of Great American Cities, a book that is perhaps the most influential book ever written about urban planning and development in the U.S. In addition to Death and Life, she wrote four powerful books about the role of cities in economic development: The Economy of Cities (1970), Cities and the Wealth of Nations (1985), Systems of Survival (1992), and The Nature of Economies (2000), plus a worried finale titled Dark Age Ahead (2004).

This year’s walk will focus on the neighborhoods immediately north and east of downtown Iowa City which contain an array of lovely older buildings, many of which are included in the College Green and (newly-created) Jefferson Street Historic Preservation Districts. These neighborhoods are facing increasing development pressure, which has resulted in the construction (and planned construction) of several new multi-story mixed-use buildings. Whether these changes will contribute positively to the long-term prosperity and vitality of the city has recently been a topic of considerable public debate. Participants on the tour will be encouraged to see the neighborhoods and debate through Jane Jacobs’ eyes, and to draw upon her thinking to suggest alterations that would make the neighborhoods into even more attractive, diverse, and livable places.

Event Route: The walking tour will begin at the fountain on the Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City. It will then go north three blocks, east three, south three, and west three back to the fountain on the mall. This event is accessible and welcoming to wheelchairs, bicycles, seniors, and children. No registration required.

Hawkeye Readers brings football players into classrooms

Posted by admin on April 15th, 2013

About a dozen members of the University of Iowa football team visited classrooms at two Iowa City elementary schools last week as part of the third year of the Hawkeye Readers program.

The program, a partnership between the UI football program and the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization, brings the UI student-athletes into classrooms to talk about the importance of reading and their educational path as it relates to their collegiate success. They also work with the elementary students by reading to them and hearing the students read.

The players visited fifth and sixth grade students at Mark Twain and third through sixth graders at Grant Wood. They will meet with the students for five more weeks through the program. Participating players include: Jordan Lomax, Macon Plewa, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Brandon Scherff, Austin Blythe, Mike Meyer, Ray Hamilton, Brett Van Sloten, Riley McMinn, Mark Weisman, Andrew Donnal, and Marcus Collins.

UNESCO World Book & Copyright Day to feature Community Book Talk, April 23

Posted by admin on April 9th, 2013

The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s third Community Book Talk will be held at the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City from noon-1 p.m. on April 23. The program will feature community and business leaders from around the area, who will each discuss a favorite or meaningful book.

The talk, which features six presenters, will be held in the former Talbot’s space at the east end of Sycamore Mall. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided.

Presenters are:

Terry Brands, Associate Head Coach of University of Iowa Wrestling, will speak about American Sniper by Chris Kyle.

Greg Delzer, owner of Defunct Books at Sycamore Mall, will speak about Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en.

Kirsten Frey, attorney at Kennedy, Cruise, Frey & Gelner, L.L.P., will speak about Plainsong by Kent Haruf.

Carl Klaus, author and founder of the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program, will speak about The Raptors of Iowa, illustrated by James F. Landenberger.

Dale Simon, vice president of Kirkwood Community College, will speak about The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

Karen Thompson Walker, author of The Age of Miracles, will speak about Blindness by Jose Saramago.

The event is being held on UNESCO World Book & Copyright Day. In addition to the book talk, participating libraries and businesses will offer special giveaways and treats to celebrate the day, including:

Defunct Books will give a long-stem rose to every customer who purchases a book.
The Haunted Bookshop will distribute free book recommendation postcards for customers to share their favorite book suggestions with friends and family.
Iowa Book will hand out free St. George prayer cards.
Murphy-Brookfield Books will hand out tea roses to each customer who purchases a book.
Prairie Lights Bookstore has partnered with Every Bloomin’ Thing to distribute one long-stem rose to each customer who purchases a book.
Uptown Bill’s will offer customers one free used book from the shelves.
The Iowa City Public Library will hand out rose stamped bookmarks. Patrons can then take those bookmarks to Yotopia, in downtown Iowa City, for a 15% discount.
The Coralville Public Library will also hand out rose stamped bookmarks. Patrons can take those bookmarks to the library’s Cafe del Sol for a buy-one-get-one-free cookie treat.
The North Liberty Community Library will hand out World Book and Copyright Day bookmarks which can be taken to Corridor Coffee for a 25% discount.