When: Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 pm
Where: Aalfs Downtown Library

*The tour will start at the parking lot on the west side of the Aalfs Downtown Library.*
-All stops are within a few blocks of the library in a compact loop – total walking distance is about 3/4 of a mile.
-It is recommended that attendees wear walking shoes and dress for outdoor weather.

Can’t make it to this June 9th walk? The same walk will happen again on July 18th!

Two In-Person Sessions:
10 – 11 am at Morningside Branch Library
5 to 6 pm at the Aalfs Downtown Library (free parking in the evening)

June’s title is The Lilac People by Milo Todd.

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See and In Memoriam, a moving and deeply humane story about a trans man who must relinquish the freedoms of pre-war Berlin to survive first the Nazis and then the Allies, while protecting the ones he loves.

Can’t make it to the in-person meetings? Sign up to attend the Virtual Book Club via Zoom on June 10 from 12 noon to 1 pm – Get Registered Here!

• Sing and dance at the Family Karaoke Dance Party.
• Visit the Creation Stations to make wildflower seed bombs, grass people, and more with the Woodbury County Farm Bureau!
• Get moving by reading along the indoor Story Walk®.
• Go on a scavenger hunt and earn a prize!
• Decorate a flower to add to the Library’s garden mural.
• Plus, pick up your Summer Reading Starter Pack and get signed up for Beanstack, our online tool for keeping track of books and minutes read this summer!

What: Summer Reading Celebration
When: Thursday, June 4 from 2 – 4 pm
Where: Aalfs Downtown Library (529 Pierce St.)
Who: For All Ages!

Can’t make it to the kick-off event? Stop into any Library location all summer long to pick up your Summer Reading Starter Pack or get started right away online with Beanstack! Download the free Beanstack app for iOS or Android, or visit https://siouxcitylibrary.beanstack.org to create an account.

Arrive early to get a table and play as a team or on your own. Each round gives players a chance to win exciting book prizes. Food and beverage may be purchased from Buffalo Alice staff.

Where: Buffalo Alice (1022 4th Street)
When: Wednesday, June 3 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Who: Open to the Public — Free Admission (Buffalo Alice staff will be available if you wish to purchase food and drink)

Comfy clothes suggested. Chairs are also available. Free parking on weekends.

Where: Aalfs Downtown Library (529 Pierce Street)
When: Saturday, May 23
Who: Babies 0 – 12 months and their families

Comfy clothes suggested. Chairs are also available. Free parking on weekends.

Where: Aalfs Downtown Library (529 Pierce Street)
When: Saturday, May 16
Who: Babies 0 – 12 months and their families

When: Monday, May 11 at 5 pm
Where: Aalfs Downtown Library (529 Pierce St.)

Book Summary: After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from the author of the beloved bestseller The Life We Bury.

CLICK HERE to find the book in the Library catalog

For more information on the All Iowa Reads initiative: https://statelibraryofiowa.gov/programs/all-iowa-reads

Comfy clothes suggested. Chairs are also available. Free parking on weekends.

Where: Aalfs Downtown Library (529 Pierce Street)
When: Saturday, May 9
Who: Babies 0 – 12 months and their families

Two In-Person Sessions:
10 – 11 am at Morningside Branch Library
5 to 6 pm at the Aalfs Downtown Library (free parking in the evening)

May’s title is Tilt by Emma Pattee.

Set over the course of a single day, an electrifying debut novel from “a powerful new literary voice” (Vogue) following one woman’s journey across a transformed city, carrying the weight of her past and a fervent hope for the future.

Can’t make it to the in-person meetings? Sign up to attend the Virtual Book Club via Zoom on May 6 from 12 noon to 1 pm – Get Registered Here!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me over the past 8.5 years. I am especially grateful to those who value and use the Sioux City Public Library—and public libraries everywhere.

My time here has passed quickly, and I look forward to the next chapter of my life. My deepest appreciation goes to the incredible staff of the Sioux City Public Library. Many have been with me since my first day, and their dedication to both the Library and the community is truly unparalleled. I could not have done this work without them.

I would also like to thank the Library Board of Trustees for their continued support and collaboration with staff. In addition, I am grateful to the Friends of the Sioux City Public Library and the Sioux City Public Library Foundation for their ongoing commitment and generosity in helping the Library fulfill its mission.

Sioux City will always hold a special place in my heart.

With gratitude,

Helen Rigdon

Retiring Director