News : Renovations at the LaPorte City Library: Relocates to FFA Historical & Ag Museum

Renovations Commence

As of September 29, 2025, the Library is officially closed to the public. Library Staff

will operate out of the FFA Historical & Ag Museum. Thank you to the amazing staff

and understanding board of the Museum, who have graciously given Library Staff

plenty of space.

Reserve & Collect Materials

While you do not have access to the physical building, you can request and reserve

items using one of three methods: online using the catalog, over the phone, and via

email. To reserve items online, visit our website at www.lpcpubliclibrary.org and click

“Catalog” at the top of the screen. From here, log into your account using your Library

card number as the username and the last four digits of your phone number as the

password.

The best and fastest method to reserve items is using the online catalog or by

emailing us. If you are unable to login, please call or email Library Staff. To reserve

items via email, please email info@lpcpubliclibrary.org.

To reserve items over the phone, please call the Library’s number at 319-342-3025.

Please leave us a message with your full name along with information about the item

you would like to reserve. Our phone will be checked throughout the week.

Once your material is ready for pickup, you will receive an email, text, or phone

notification based on your preference. Materials will be available for pickup on

Thursdays and Friday, from 10am-5pm in the Museum. Should you need to collect

your items outside these hours, please email or call us, and we will coordinate a time

with you for a Tuesday or Wednesday evening pickup.

Services in the Museum

While Staff are working out of the Museum, we will not have items on displays, nor

will we be able to meet with you. The only core service we can provide is material

pickup. If you need assistance with notary public, technology help, homework help, or

another service, please email or call Library Staff. We may be able to schedule an

appointment for a specific time and day.

Though you will be able to drop into the Museum to collect your items, you will not

be able to browse the Museum. Library Staff will greet you at the door and collect your

items for you. However, the Museum is open, and you are welcome to visit after paying

the entrance fee. We appreciate your understanding.

Programs in the Museum

Library Staff are able to offer a limited number of programs in the Museum.

Programs include Preschool StoryTime on Mondays at 11am; Color, Craft, & Connect

on the third Tuesday of each month at 6pm; Novel Notions Book Club on the fourth

Tuesday of each month at 6pm; and Library Board Meetings on the second and fourth

Monday of each month at 6pm. In addition, Library Staff are hosting one special event

each month.

In October, we are brining back our Spooktacular StoryTime on Monday, October

27 at 11am. After reading a few stories in the Museum, kids will walk around

downtown, visiting business and collecting candy. We’ll end the event at Tootsie’s Ice

Cream.

In November, the Library is collaborating with the Museum to host author Jeff

Bremer, who published A New History of Iowa. Discover the history of all 99 counties in

Iowa, while Professor Bremer offers a deeper discussion of Black Hawk County. Visit

the Museum on Saturday, November 1 from 12-1pm. The Museum will provide some

light refreshments.

In December, the Museum will host Santa during the Home for the Holidays

festivities! Drop into the Museum from 9am-1pm for crafts in the basement. Then,

greet Santa at 12pm. Santa will be seated inside the Museum next to his sleigh from

12-1pm. Ensure you drop into the Museum and take a craft to go.

Since programs are led and managed by Library Staff, all programs are free of

charge.

Volunteer with Us

While Staff will be busy with processing materials, preparing programs for

reopening, and a myriad of other activities that have been backlogged for months and

even years, your assistance is greatly appreciated! We will need strong backs and arms

to help Library Staff move the physical book stacks twice.

Every book and every shelf will need to be moved from their current spots to the

center of the facility, which will allow contractors to paint the walls and replace the

carpet. Then, each book and stack will need to be moved back to their respective

locations inside the Library. We are tentatively asking for your help on October 13-15

from 10am-4pm. We will then need help in mid-November to move the stacks back.

Toward the end of the renovation project, we will need assistance with stickering

each and every item in the Library. As an estimate, we have 50,000 stickers to add to

items throughout the entire Library, and we could use your help.

Please visit our website or follow us on social media. We will post official calls for

help.

Follow Us for Details

To follow along with the renovation and to remain up-to-date with information,

please visit our website regularly. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram

@LaPorteCityPublicLibrary. We will post regular updates and photos of the

renovation’s progress. We’ll also post frequent lists of popular books that you can

reserve for pickup.

On behalf of the Library Board and Staff, thank you for your patience and

continued support of your public library. We are looking forward to hosting you in our

newly renovated facility in early 2026.

ACTIVITIES FOR OCTOBER

Monday, October 6 @ 11 AM | Preschool StoryTime @ the Museum

Wednesday, October 8 @ 6 PM | One Book, One Community Book Discussion @ the

Cedar Valley Arboretum

Monday, October 13 @ 11 AM | Preschool StoryTime @ the Museum

Monday, October 13 @ 6 PM | Library Board Meeting @ the Museum

Monday, October 20 @ 11 AM | Preschool StoryTime @ the Museum

Tuesday, October 21 @ 6 PM | Color, Craft, & Connect @ the Museum

Monday, October 27 @ 11 AM | Spooktacular StoryTime @ the Museum

Monday, October 27 @ 6 PM | Library Board Meeting @ the Museum

Tuesday, October 28 @ 6 PM | Novel Notions Book Club @ the Museum