James Kennedy Public Library

Welcome to the James Kennedy Public Library! The library is your one stop source for all of your informational needs. We have a large selection of books, audiobooks, magazines (both print and digital), newspapers, DVDs, console games, and downloadable music and movies available to be checked out by our library card holders. Here you will also find electronic resources, news, information about our Creation Station and Library of Things, and a calendar of upcoming library events!

Check out these upcoming special events!

Sep 18

Virtual S.T.E.A.M. Fun Fridays with Bouncing Balls

Sep 18, 2020

Children and families are invited to tune in to the library’s Facebook page every Friday to discover and create something new using supplies you have at home. This week library staff member Shannon will show you how to make Bouncing Balls using simple household ingredients.

Sep 18

Virtual Bad Movie Night

Sep 18, 2020, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Join us on Zoom each month for a fun time of watching terrible movies together but apart! Each participant will log on to Kanopy from home to watch the chosen movie. At the same time they will log on to our Zoom room so participants can see each other and chat during the movie (and make fun of the movie). For this event we will be watching, Death Bed: The Bed that Eats People (77 minutes, Not Rated but contains graphic violence). Interested participants will need access to Kanopy (the free streaming service for full service patrons) and will need to download Zoom on their computer or Smart device. If interested, please email Paul at Pzurawski@dyersville.lib.ia.us by 4:00 pm the day of the event in order to receive the link to the Zoom room that we will chat in. This program is open to all ages but movie selections will most likely be PG-13 or R.

Sep 19

Building Creativity One Block at a Time: a LEGO® program

Sep 19, 2020, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Make a LEGO® creation at home, take a picture, and tag both the library AND DuTrac Community Credit Union on social media to be entered for a chance to win a LEGO® set! This month’s theme is “Stuck at Home.” Pictures of creations must be posted between 9:00am-5:00 pm on September 19. This LEGO® program is part of a monthly LEGO® building block program at the library sponsored by DuTrac Community Credit Union.

Sep 21

Virtual JKPL Writing Group

Sep 21, 2020, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

This monthly writing group is for writers of all types whether it be poetry, memoir, fiction, or nonfiction. New members are welcome to join at any time! This group meets virtually over Zoom. If you have not previously participated, please email aboeckenstedt@dyersville.lib.ia.us by 4:00 pm the day of the meeting so an invitation can be emailed to you to join the discussion. If you do not have an email address or a device to participate on, please call and talk with Ann about an alternative way to participate.

Sep 23

Dubuque County Hands-On and At-Home Horticultural Program Series #2

Sep 23, 2020

The Dubuque County ISU Extension and Outreach Office has created an educational Hands-On and At-Home Horticulture Series and is partnering with the James Kennedy Public Library to bring these activities to you. This three-part series includes an educational kit for each activity that can be completed from the safety of your home at the direction of a YouTube video. Each kit in the series can be picked up from the JKPL on the available date. All kits need to be picked up within 24 hours of the release date as they contain live plant material. All activities require pre-registration. These kits are designed for adults but should be appropriate for those in high school. Children in 4^th to 8^th grade should be able to complete the kits and understand the concepts with parental help.

This session will help introduce you to the many plant reproduction techniques that the horticulture industry uses to reproduce the plants we find in the garden center. This kit will also cover some of the special processes used to get seeds to sprout and why some of your most troublesome weeds reproduce so easily. Registration deadline is September 17.

Sep 24

Facebook Live Storytime with Miss Kim

Sep 24, 2020, 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM

Join Miss Kim for fun story times and activities live on Facebook on Thursdays in September. We will have take-home crafts each week available for pick up. Some will be edible. All storytimes will be hosted on the library’s Facebook page.

Sep 25

Virtual S.T.E.A.M. Fun Fridays with Ice Cream

Sep 25, 2020

Children and families are invited to tune in to the library’s Facebook page every Friday to discover and create something new using supplies you have at home. This week library staff member Shannon will showcase our Ice Cream Maker that is available to check out with the Library of Things.

Sep 25

Virtual Game Night with "HiveMind"

Sep 25, 2020, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Join us for this monthly gaming event where everyone will play the game Hivemind. To participate, you must have a Discord account. Please message staff member Paul at Pzurawski@dyersville.lib.ia.us by 2:00 pm the day of the program in order to receive the server invite. All ages and skill levels welcome. New players are welcome at any time.

Sep 27

Banned Books Week: Censorship is a Dead End

Sep 27, 2020 – Oct 3, 2020

Join us September 27-October 3 for Banned Books Week! The 2020 theme is Censorship is a Dead End. Find Your Freedom to Read. Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

To celebrate, library staff will be sharing videos on our social media about their favorite banned book. We are also hosting a Banned Book Guessing Game. Every day during Banned Books Week, a video will be posted to the library’s social media where 1-2 sentences from one banned book will be read. These sentences will also be posted on a display inside the library. It will be a different book each day. Can you guess what the book title is from the sentences read? Submit your guesses on our social media, or in-person at the library, for entry into a drawing for a book related prize. One guess per day, per person, please.

Dubuque County has been labeled a Yellow Zone for COVID-19 cases. For the safety of our staff and patrons, the Library is open to the public BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

We are continuing to offer curbside service!

The James Kennedy Public Library Board of Trustees is seeking three candidates to serve on the Library Board starting July 1, 2020!

James Kennedy Public Library