October events on tap at Perry Public Library

The Perry Public Library and Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum will host the following October events:

Registration and Contact Information for the Perry Public Library:  For more information about any of these programs or events, or to register, please visit our website at www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

Weekly Recurring Events

Each week, your Perry Public Library offers activities for patrons of all ages. Be sure to check the activity descriptions for registration requirements, library closures, and more!

Budding Bookworms Storytime (2- to 5-Year-Olds): Mondays, 10:30 am to 11:15 am – October 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, & 26^th

Monsters and ghosts and witches, oh my! This month’s theme is “Let’s Get Spooky,” and we will read about Halloween creatures and how they are not as scary as they seem! Don’t be a ‘fraidy cat; Miss Laura will make sure the boos won’t be boo-hoos during these fun and educational storytimes! Budding Bookworms is a Storytime for ages 2 to 5 that meets weekly on Mondays from 10:30 am to 11:15 am in the Community Room (January to April and September to November). This fun, engaging 45-minute program includes books, singing, dancing, and simple crafts. Our goal is to allow caregivers to introduce their children to good literature, encourage growth in children’s literacy skills, and promote the library as an enjoyable place where learning is fun. Budding Bookworms is free to the public, but please register your child so we can prepare supplies to enhance their experience. Your family is welcome to register, even if you cannot attend every week. We would love for you to join our storytimes! To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

This month’s schedule includes:

• October 5^th – Monsters: We will read fun books about monsters, play “Find the Monster” on the flannel board, and make monster puppets.
• October 12^th – Ghosts: We will read all about ghosts, play “Pass the Pumpkin,” then make paper plate ghosts.
• October 19^th – Witches: We will enjoy books about witches, learn the song “Five Little Bats,” and color a “Room on a Broom” coloring booklet.
• October 26^th – Pumpkins: For our final spooky theme, we’ll read about pumpkins, enjoy flannel board jack-o’-lantern faces, and make pumpkin faces with shapes.

WOW! Wednesdays (K to 5^th Grades): Wednesdays, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm – October 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, & 28^th

This month we will start the program by reading creepy Halloween stories, and then we will do a related STEAM challenge or experiment! From escaping creepy carrots to making witches’ brew, this month is sure to be a scary good time! Our WOW! Wednesday’s STEAM program for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade explores Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! The group meets every Wednesday (January to April and September to November) from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Community Room. We will also have our Maker Space cart available for tinkering at each WOW! Wednesday. This is a free program, and no registration is required. This month’s schedule includes:

• October 7^th – Creepy Carrots: We will read Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and make fences to keep the creepy carrots from escaping the garden!
• October 14^th – Creepy Crayon: We will read Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds and build a structure to keep creepy crayons from escaping!
• October 21^st – Creepy Underwear: We will read Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds and make a pair of creepy underwear that fits one of Miss Laura’s stuffed animals!
• October 28^th – Room on the Broom: We will read Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and make some Bubbling Brew!

Next Chapter Group (55+): Wednesdays, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm – October 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, & 28^th

Mark your Wednesday afternoons for engaging presentations, friendship, games, puzzles, and great conversation at the Perry Public Library! Patrons 55+ are invited to gather in our Community Room each Wednesday from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm for our Next Chapter Group. We invite a new presenter on our first Wednesday and then gather for games, puzzles, and other activities for the remainder of the month. This is a free activity, and no registration is required.

This month’s schedule includes:

• October 7^th – Rob Paulus of Senior Life Solutions: Special Presentation on Living with Chronic Pain
• October 14^th, 21^st, & 28^th – Games, Puzzles, & Friends

Adventures in the World of Dungeons and Dragons (Ages 10+): Wednesdays, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, October 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, & 28^th

Dungeons and Dragons is a communal storytelling adventure where you get to play a character of your own creation and make decisions (and rolls) that shape the path of your story and the destiny of your character. Great for newcomers and experienced players alike, our campaigns are based around short one-shot-like adventures that make popping in or coming every time a fun adventure! Players ages 10 and up are invited to join us on Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This is a free program, and no registration is required.

Library LEGO Club (3^rd to 12^th Grades): Thursdays, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm – October 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, & 29^th

Everything is awesome on Thursdays at the Perry Public Library! Join the Perry Public Library LEGO Club for awesome LEGO challenges and creative activities for patrons in 3^rd to 12^th grades. We meet each Thursday in the Community Room from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This is a free program, and no registration is required.

Wee Wonders Storytime (Birth to 24 Months): Fridays, 10:30 am to 11:15 am – October 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd, & 30^th

Wee Wonders is an early literacy lapsit program for babies from birth through 24 months and their caregivers, held every Friday (January to April and September to November) from 10:30 am to 11:15 am in the Community Room.  We sing songs and rhymes, read simple books, do fingerplays and bounces, and incorporate motor skills with shakers and scarves. There is also a period of social play at the end of each program. Plus, each participating baby gets a free board book every time they come to the program. This program is free to the public, but please register your child so we can prepare supplies to enhance their experience. Your family is welcome to register, even if you cannot attend every week. We would love for you to join our storytimes! To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

Teen Lounge (6^th Grade to 12^th Grade): Fridays, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm – October 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd, & 30^th

Teens in middle and high school are invited to the library on Fridays for our weekly Teen Lounge from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm (January to April and September to November). Each week will feature a new activity, including games, speakers, movies, crafts, karaoke, or just a fun place to hang out! Teen Lounge is a free program, and no registration is required. This month’s planned activities include:

• October 2^nd – Mini Succulent Pumpkins: We will decorate miniature pumpkins with plastic succulents and moss.
• October 9^th – Henna Tattoos: We will use natural plant-based henna and stencils to create intricate tattoos that last 1-2 weeks.
• October 16^th – Tarot Card Boxes: We will fold cards to form boxes to store trinkets. Teens can bring their own card decks if they want.
• October 23^rd – Creepy Clay Craft: We will make creepy sculptures out of air dry clay and other supplies, including fake teeth.
• October 30^th – Perry Spooktacular: Teens are invited to attend the Perry Downtown Spooktacular from 4 pm to 6 pm and stop by the Perry Public Library to trick or treat for a free book!

Monthly Recurring Events

Your Perry Public Library offers a variety of monthly activities. Be sure to check the activity descriptions for registration requirements, library closures, and more!

Monthly Book Club: Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders – Tuesday, October 20^th, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Join us for a discussion of one of the New York Times’ 100 Best Books of the 21^st Century, Lincoln in the Bardo. The novel weaves the historical with the supernatural to ask the timeless question, “How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end?”  Anyone interested in participating in the Book Club is welcome to come. This is a free activity, and no registration is required.

There will be no Paper Crafting with Kathy Class or Monthly Card Makers Swap this month because our crafters are engaged with the Friends of the Library Crafting with Friends Fundraiser in October.

Saturday Crafternoons – Saturday, October 17^th, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Are you looking for a quiet, community space to craft? Then, we have the perfect Saturday event for you! The Perry Public Library welcomes crafters and do-it-yourselfers to our dedicated makerspace following Paper Crafting with Kathy. You bring your ideas and supplies, and we’ll supply the crafting space. Saturday Crafternoons last from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the Library Community Room and offer a free community space to work on projects in a comfortable environment. Plan your next work session for Saturday, October 17^th at the library. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and everyone is invited. No reservations and no charge! For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.

Monthly Adult Craft Club: DIY Pumpkin Vase with Floral Arrangement – Monday, October 26^th, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

This month, Trista will demonstrate how to create a beautiful fall centerpiece using a faux pumpkin and fall florals. Supplies and instruction are provided free of charge, but space is limited, and registration is required by Monday, October 19^th. To register, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on our Events Calendar, call the library at 515-465-3569, or speak with a librarian.

Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit: DIY Farmhouse Sunflower

This month, learn how to transform a mason jar lid into a decorative sunflower! Adult patrons can bring home one Free Adult Grab and Go Adult Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This craft kit includes materials and instructions to create one DIY Farmhouse Sunflower. This kit is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last.

Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit: DIY Fall Rainbow

Welcome fall with a macramé rainbow craft. Teens, ages 12 to 18, are invited to come to the library to pick up a Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit! This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Fall Rainbow. Teen patrons can bring home one Free Grab and Go Teen Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This kit is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last.

Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit: DIY Folded Paper Pumpkin

Discover how to create a 3D pumpkin with paper folding this October.  Kids up to age 11 are invited to come to the library to pick up a Free Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit. This month’s kit includes supplies to make your own DIY Folded Paper Pumpkin. Kids can bring home one Free Grab and Go Kids Craft Kit from the Perry Public Library. This kit is free, courtesy of the Perry Public Library, and available while supplies last.

October Special Events

Be sure to mark your calendars for these special events happening at your Perry Public Library in October!

Perry Public Library Tiny Art Show Kits Available Beginning Thursday, October 1^st 

Patrons of all ages are invited to showcase their artistic talents in our Tiny Art Show, November 9th to November 15^th! The theme this year is A Few of My Favorite Things. Participants can pick up a take-and-make Tiny Art kit containing a 4”x4” canvas, acrylic paints, and brushes at the Perry Public Library beginning Thursday, October 1st (while supplies last). Patrons are invited to create an art piece using supplies from the kit and/or incorporate their own materials to create a tiny masterpiece (no larger than a 4-inch cube). Tiny Art will be displayed at the library, on the library’s website, and in social media posts. Please return artwork to Perry Public Library by Monday, November 2, 2026 to be included in the Tiny Art Show. One entry per artist.

Friends of the Perry Public Library Annual Ask and Volunteer Drive – Launches October 1^st

The Friends of the Perry Public Library Annual Ask and Volunteer Drive launches this October!

Annual Fall Shred Event – Saturday, October 10^th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

We will be hosting our Annual Fall Shred Event for the public. The shredder truck will be located in the library’s south parking lot, accessible by car from Railroad Street. This event is an opportunity for area residents to dispose of outdated personal documents, free of charge, safely and securely. This is a free service, but donations are always welcome!

Quarterly Classics Book Club – Tuesday, October 13^th, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The Quarterly Classics Book Club will read the debut novel of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison this October. The Bluest Eye is described as, “a powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity that asks questions about race, class, and gender with characteristic subtlety and grace.”  Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, October 13^th, from 6 pm to 7 pm. New and returning participants are invited to join us for an engaging discussion in a historic atmosphere at the Carnegie Library Museum. You can check out a copy of The Bluest Eye from the library or purchase a copy in advance. For more information, go to www.perry.lib.ia.us, visit the library, or call 515-465-3569.

Friends of Libraries Week – October 18^th to October 24^th

 Join the Friends of the Perry Public Library as they celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week! They’ll have fun all week on their Facebook page with trivia and giveaways. The Friends of the Perry Public Library is a volunteer organization that supports and enhances the library and its services to the Perry community through fundraising and volunteerism. Visit www.perry.lib.ia.us and click on the “Friends” link for more information.

Crafting with Friends of the Perry Public Library FUNdraiser – Saturday, October 24^th, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Join the Friends of the Perry Public Library for a delightful day of creativity and camaraderie at their 12-hour crafting event! Unleash your inner artist and dedicate a full day to your favorite craft, whether it’s scrapbooking, knitting, jewelry making, or anything in between! This is a fantastic opportunity to work on your projects, connect with fellow crafters, and most importantly, support a wonderful cause. All proceeds from this FUNdraiser will directly benefit the Perry Public Library, helping them to continue providing valuable resources and programs to our community. Registration is $50 per person, and registration forms are available online at www.perry.lib.ia.us or at the library. For more information, please contact Misty VonBehren at misty.vonbehren@perryia.org or Kathy Miller at friendsoftheperrypubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Visit the Perry Public Library at the Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Walk in Downtown Perry – Friday, October 30^th, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Put on your costumes and join us for the free Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Walk in Downtown Perry on Friday, October 30^th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Be sure to stop by the North Entrance of the Perry Public Library for Halloween fun!