Program Registration
SUMMER 2026 REGISTRATION
Several of our Summer programs require registration. To register, simply click the links below the descriptions.
All Ages Programming
Bilingual Bingo!
Join us for a Back-to-School themed Bingo game in Spanish! Instead of numbers, there will be images. This program will be conducted in Spanish and English.
¡Acompáñenos a jugar al Bingo en español con temática de regreso a clases! En lugar de números, habrá imágenes. Este programa se llevará a cabo en español e inglés..
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level/ Sala de reuniones de la Biblioteca Pública Ida, en el nivel inferior.
* Registration is Required! Space is limited! / ¡Es necesario registrarse! ¡El cupo es limitado!
DIY Chia Creatures
- Monday June 8th, 2026 @ 10:00 A.M.
- Monday June 8th, 2026 @ 4:00 P.M.
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Hair Flair
Monday, August 17th at 6pm
Each patron needs to be registered separately.
Kids with Kids Farm Tour
Plant a Seed Bingo!
Plant a Seed, Read… and get ready to yell BINGO! This special BINGO game uses pictures instead of numbers, so even our youngest players can participate. Registration is Required.
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Roots, Readers, and Real Food
Tuesday, June 16th at 6pm
We are excited to bring Farmers Rising to the library with our Roots, Readers, and Real Food program. Come compare and contrast farmers VS. food factories with us in this library food lab with the experts from Farmers Rising!
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Seeds and Scenes Photo Contest
Celebrate the beauty of agriculture and the magic of growth in our all ages photography contest. Participants are invited to capture creative and eye-catching photos that highlight crops, gardens, farming scenes, planting, or the process of growth. We are looking for original photographs with no filters or AI generated images, allowing nature to shine on its own. To keep the focus on agriculture, photos should not include people.
Submissions will be accepted until July 25, and online voting will begin on Monday, July 27. Voting link will be available on Facebook, Instagram, in-person QR code or computer at the library.
If you do not have a GMAIL account, feel free to send your picture to daisym@idapubliclibrary.org
One entry per person
Entries will be grouped into Youth, Tween/Teen, and Adult categories.
Winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 4th.
Whether it is a close up of a sprouting seedling or a wide view of a thriving field, we invite you to share how you capture the story of growth through your lens.
Summer Safety and Self Defense Skills
- Familes; Monday June 15 at 5:30 pm
- Adults 18 and up ONLY; Monday , June 29 at 5:30 pm
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level*Registration is required. Space is Limited!Each adult or family member participating must register separately.*This program is FREE!* Preference will be given to Adult Ida Public Library Card Holders due to space restrictions.* If you later find that you are unable to attend, please call Ida Public Library at (815) 544-3838 to give others on the waitlist the opportunity to attend.Thank you!
U.S. Landmarks Bingo
Drop-in for U.S. Landmarks Bingo! Bingo winners will have their pick from a treasure trove of America 250 themed prizes.
- July 7, 2026 @ 1:00 P.M.
- July 7, 2026 @ 2:00 P.M.
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Youth Programming
Builders Club
- June 17th
- July 8th
- August 12th
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
Each child must be registered separately.
Club Next-Summer 2026
4th Tuesday of the Month at 3:30PM
Join us for Club Next! Each month will be a different theme where we will have games, crafting materials, Chromebooks, Nintendo Switch Games, and activities for you to do while you hang out at the library. This program is designated for youth (2nd-5th grade). Registration Required.
Monthly Themes:
- June 23rd – Pokemon
- July 28th – Under the Sea
- August 25th – Space
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Cool Bean Take Home Kits
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the Lower level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Create and Chill Take Home Kits
Teens (Ages 14-16)
Attention all teens! We have a crafty kit just for you! Each kit includes all the materials and easy-to-follow instructions needed for a unique DIY craft project.
Kits are available the second week of each month!
- June 8th-13th Paint Your Own Bookmarks
- July 13th-18th Paint A Firework Keychain
- August 10th-15th Back to School Picture Frame
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the lower level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Free Build Fridays
- June 5th
- July 3rd
- August 7th
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Each child must be registered separately.
Jory John Story Times
Come grow with us as we follow the journey of The Bad Seed and discover how even the “bad” seeds can grow and change! We’ll read the story, talk about growth mindset and then do a craft.
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Jory John Take Home Kits
- Wednesday, July 22nd – The Bad Seed
- Wednesday, August 5th – The Good Egg
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the lower level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Popsicles and Playtime
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Seed Paper Making
Each patron needs to be registered separately.
Story Sprouts
Join us on Wednesday mornings on the lower level in the meeting room for Story Sprouts! This weekly program is perfect for your preschool-age (3-5 years old) reader to engage in stories, activities, and crafts!
Wednesdays at 10:30AM
Due to our Summer Reading Program, we will have different programs on the following dates:
- June 10th – Plant a Seed, Read BINGO! (Requires Seperate Registration) (All Ages)
- June 17th – Gardening with the Farm Bureau (Requires Seperate Registration) (Ages K-5th Grade)
- June 24th – Storytime in the Garden (Requires Seperate Registration) (Pre K+)
- July 15th – Storytime in the Garden (Requires Seperate Registration) (Pre K+)
- July 29th – Popsicles & Playtime (Requires Seperate Registration) (All Ages)
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Story Time in the Garden
- Wednesday, June 24th at 10:30am
- Wednesday, July 15th at 10:30am
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Summer Sun Take Home Kits
Crafting from the comfort of your own home with our Adult Take Home Kits. Crafting is a great way to relieve stress and feel accomplished after a long day. Sign up and give it a try!
Available the first week of each month:
- June 1st – 6th – Celebrate Father’s Day With Us
- June 29th – July 4th – Come Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary With Us
- August 3rd – 8th – Fun at the Fair
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the lower level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Tiny Tales/Open Play
Thursdays at 10:30AM
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
Tiny Tales is for Ida’s tiniest readers to socialize and engage in early literacy! Tiny Tales Story Time is designed for babies from newborn to 2 years and their caregiver(s)! This story time happens on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.
Bring your little one to Open Play with us! On the first, third, and, occasionally, the fifth Thursday of the month at 10:30am to socialize, play, and learn!
Each child needs to be registered separately.
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Tiny Trowel Time
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Winnebago/Boone Farm Bureau
- Gardening: Wednesday, June 17th at 10:30am
- Worms: Friday, July 10th at 10:30AM
Each child needs to be registered separately.
Youth and Teen Paint and Sip
Join us for a fun and creative Paint & Sip program designed for teens ages 8-12 and 13-16! Participants will get to paint adorable farm animal scenes while enjoying a tasty “dirty soda” treat. It’s the perfect mix of art, relaxation, and a little fizzy fun—no experience needed, just bring your imagination.
- July 6th @ 1:00-2:00 p.m. (age range 8-12)
- July 6th @ 2:30-3:30 p.m. (age range 13-16)
Young Adult Programming (Ages 17-21)
Young Adult Craft Nights
This program is for Young Adults, Ages 17-21.
Available the second Thursday of each month at 6pm:
- June 11th – Upcycled Planters
Come join us to make eco-friendly upcycled planters from cans and bottles! We will provide the recyclable containers and supplies to decorate, and then you can come and create a planter to hold and show off your beautiful plants
- July 9th – Paint & Sip
Participants will get to paint adorable farm animal scenes while enjoying a tasty “dirty soda” treat. It’s the perfect mix of art, relaxation, and a little fizzy fun—no experience needed, just bring your imagination.
- August 13th – Decorative Stepping Stones
Come into the library to make your very own decorative stepping stone and create a beautiful decoration that compliments plants in your garden or pathway! Show off your DIY skills and watch as the concrete you poured solidifies around the pattern you made!
Young Adult Take Home Kits
We know how busy you are so this spring we will be featuring take-home craft kits to encourage your creativity and lessen your stress levels. You just register, pick up the kit, and have fun crafting.
This program is for Young Adults, Ages 17-21.
Available the second week of each month:
- June 8th -13th – Decorate Your Own Wooden Plant Marker
- July 13th -18th – Air Dry Clay Plants or Flowers
- August 10th – 15th – Bottlecap Floral Magnets
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the upper level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Adult Programming
Adult Craft Nights
First Tuesday of every month at 6:00PM
Let’s get Crafty!
- Tuesday, June 2nd – Garden Book Bricks
- Tuesday, July 7th – Tea Cup Fairy Gardens
- Tuesday, August 4th – Beaded Plants
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is Required! Space is limited!
Adult Take Home Kits
Crafting from the comfort of your own home with our Adult Take Home Kits. Crafting is a great way to relieve stress and feel accomplished after a long day. Sign up and give it a try!
Kits can be picked up on the first week of each month!
- June 1st – 6th – Decoupage Garden Rocks
- July 6th – 11th – Flower Frogs
- August 3rd – 8th – DIY Flower Baskets
These Take Home Kits are for Adults Only!
*Registration Required. One registration form per person.
Kits are available for pick up at the upper level circulation desk.
Thank you!
Bring Your Own Book Club
Last Monday of the month – 3 pm
- June 29th
- July 27th
- August 31st
Chair Exercise for Adults
Join us for chair exercise! This workout session is perfect for individuals of all different ages, stages, and physical ability. The stretching and breathing in these yoga-inspired moves will help increase flexibility, mobility, and calming of the mind.
Every Week: Tuesdays at 10am AND/OR Thursdays at 3pm
We will not have any sessions June 9th & June 11th due to Summer Reading Kick Off Events.
Ida After Dark Book Club
- June 10th
- July 8th
- August 12th
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
* Registration is required. Space is limited!
Flavor Bombs and Compound Butters
Mystery Book Club
- June 29th
- July 27th
- August 31st
Do you love a good mystery? Each month we will meet to give our thoughts and choose next month’s read. Books will be available to check out at the upper level circulation desk.
Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club
June 29-Voyage of the Damned/Frances White
July 27:Song of Achilles/Madeline Miller
Aug 31: Double Feature! Two short novellas, about 300 pages total: Automatic Noodle/Annalee Newitz; The River has Roots/Amal El-Mohtar
Escape into another world with us on the last Monday of every month (most of the time) at 6:30pm, as we discuss a different Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel. Whether or not that world is any better than our own is for you to decide. Books will be available to check out at the upper level circulation desk.
* Registration is required. Space is limited!
Senior Take Home Kits
Crafting from the comfort of your own home with our Senior Take Home Kits. Crafting is a great way to relieve stress and feel accomplished after a long day. Sign up and give it a try!
Kits can be picked up on the 15th through the end of each month!
- June 15th Hanging Birds
- July 15th Popsicle Stick Flags
- August 15th Sea Shell crabs
Please register for one kit only. Pick up available May 15th. ID will need to be presented for pickup.
This program is for Senior 65 and up Only
String Thing
Last Wednesday of the month at 6:00PM
It’s a STRING THING hangout! Attention all string addicts-bring your latest string projects and hang out with other string addicts once a month while you work on your projects and chat. Knitting, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, or whatever your string thing is, you are sure to find like-minded stringers to socialize with.
- June 24th
- July 29th
- August 26th
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
True Crime Book Club
3rd Thursday of the Month – 6pm
- June 18th
- July 16th
- August 20th
Ida Public Library Meeting Room on the Lower Level
Are you a True Crime junkie? If so, join our book club! Every month we will get together to discuss a True Crime book & share our thoughts on the case! Books will be available to check out at the upper level circulation desk
Ages 18 and over
University of Illinois Home Preservation Watch Parties
Join the Illinois Extension Office for an expert-led webinar watch party on safely preserving foods at home. Learn the basics of food dehydration, including recommended methods, proper storage, and tips for preserving fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more.
Monday, June 1st – Making Jams & Jellies
Join a free, step-by-step webinar watch party on making jams and jellies at home. Learn the basics of safely preserving flavorful spreads using fruit, sugar, pectin, and simple kitchen tools, including how to balance ingredients for a proper set. The event also features on-site dial-gauge pressure canner lid testing. You may arrive at 5:30 to have your pressure canning lids tested beforehand.
Monday, July 20th – Canning Foods
Learn the essentials of safely preserving foods at home during this expert-led webinar watch party hosted by the Illinois Extension Office. Participants will gain step-by-step guidance on pressure canning using dial gauge canners, including safe food preservation practices, equipment use, and processing techniques. Dial gauge pressure canner testing will also be available to help ensure your equipment is operating accurately and safely.
Monday, August 24th – Dehydrating Foods
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