What's Happening at Your Library

Join us for our Death & Dying Series in August. Whether you're curious about what a funeral home director does on a day-to-day basis, the different aspects of grief, or want to learn more about end-of-life care, there's something for everyone. Each event will feature a different speaker.

Q&A with a Funeral Home Director

August 2 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Meeting Room AB

Ben Reiff of Reiff Family Center Funeral Home and Crematory will discuss what his job entails, what death can mean for families, and common questions he receives from families.

Book-a-Holic Book Club

August 8 | Virtually at 6 pm

We will be reading "Smoke Gets in Your eyes: and Other Lessons From the Crematory" by Caitlin Dough. 

To participate, email Anderson at landerson@waterloopubliclibrary.org at least one day before the event. She will send you the virtual meeting details.

Final Hours

August 9 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Meeting Room AB

Sara Davis, of Cedar Valley Hospice, will be here to discuss the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of death.

Honoring Choices

August 16 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Meeting Room AB

Kortni Huibregtse, Cedar Valley Hospice Link Social Worker, will talk about the importance of making healthcare decisions today in the event you become seriously ill and unable to speak. She will also cover terms such as "advance directives", "living will", "durable power of attorney for healthcare", and share resources for completing advance directives.

Grief & Loss

August 23 | 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Meeting Room AB

Heather Peiffer, Cedar Valley Hospice Grief Team Lead, will discuss the dynamics of grief and loss, as well as the bereavement of the dying person and their family.

August 5

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Meeting Room AB

Join us on the first Friday of the month to catch a new release (or classic film) on the big screen. Popcorn and soda provided free of charge. Sponsored by Friends of the Waterloo Public Library.

August's movie is "Belfast" (2021).

August 23

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Conference Room

Board game enthusiasts wanted! Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to the world of board games, stop by to play old classics or new favorites, or bring your own to show the group. We will also have our growing list of games for patrons to check out on hand! "Shall we play a game?"

Starting September 1

10:30 am - 11 am | Storytime Corner

We are getting back to our regularly scheduled Storytimes!

Monday: Mother Goose Storytime (infant to two years)

Tuesday: Preschool Storytime (three-five years)

Wednesday: Preschool Storytime (three-five years)

Thursday: Terrific Twos Storytime (two year olds)

Saturday: Family Storytime (all ages)

Starting September 26

6:30 pm - 7 pm | Storytime corner

Can't make it to any daytime storytimes? Join us for a family storytime on the fourth Monday evening of the month through March 27!

Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday starting September 6

5 pm - 7 pm | Virtual via Discord

Introducing WPL's very first writing club! If you're an aspiring writer who needs a safe and constructive place to receive feedback on your work, this is the perfect forum for you. Every first and third Tuesday beginning in September, registered club members will submit writing pieces to Seth at sthill@waterloopubliclibrary.org where they will then be distributed to the group for discussion. This is not a genre-specific writing club, all genres are welcome! 

September 6 | 10 am - 11:30 am | Meeting Room AB

A picture is worth a thousand words, but recorded memories are priceless. If writing a memoir is on your bucket list, now is the time to do it! Iowa author and freelance writer Jacquie McTaggart is coming to WPL to teach an everyone-is-capable memoir writing class, where she will walk participants through the process step by step. The class will meet on Tuesdays starting September 6, from 10am - 11:30am, and will last six weeks. 

This free 8-week seminar teaches the individual "how to retire" financially AND psychologically as they embrace the next stage of their life. The information discussed includes pensions like IPERS, investing wisely and efficiently with an eye toward taxes and withdrawal strategies, the 4% rule, Social Security strategies, the ins and outs of insurance to include Medicare, what to do with the home, and much, much more. Financial freedom to follow! No registration is required.

Wednesdays | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Meeting Room AB

September 20 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm | Meeting Room AB

Join us for a joy-sparking event! If you're familiar with organizing consultant and author Marie Kondo, this is the event for you. Participants will learn the philosophy behind the KonMari Method and discover what it means to live a life that Sparks Joy. In addition, there will be a folding demonstration using the famous KonMari vertical folding technique. Prior to the event, you will receive additional information via email. Registration is required.

The Friends of the Waterloo Public Library $5-a-Bag Book Sale brings you the best deal in town. If you love books, this sale is for you!

We supply the bags; you fill them up!

Please note, the basement will be closed the Monday following this sale, so Friends have the opportunity to tidy up. All proceeds benefit library events and programming.