da Vinci Library Quest
Leonardo da Vinci
Embark on a journey through the realms of art, science, and innovation with the da Vinci Library Quest! From April 8 to April 12, immerse yourself in the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci across eight library locations. Explore exhibits and engage in hands-on activities, collecting stamps for each location visited along the way. But remember, to qualify for the raffle drawing on Monday, April 15, at 1 p.m. on social media live stream, you must collect a minimum of five stamps and drop off your completed passport at any library service desk by 5 p.m. Friday, April 12. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover, learn, and win exciting prizes, including a Kindle Paperwhite(1), travel mugs(4), power banks(4), and Moleskine journals(6). Mark your calendars to join the quest! This event is open to anyone affiliated with the University of Iowa.
Dates: April 8-12 – All week!
Prizes: a Kindle Paperwhite(1), travel mugs(4), power banks(4), and Moleskine journals(6).
Rules for event:
- Receive a passport at any of the library locations.
- Stop by the different library locations to collect stamps to view various exhibits and participate in hands-on activities.
- To qualify for the first entry into the drawing, you need to collect a minimum of five stamps. After reaching the initial 5 stamps, you’ll earn one additional raffle entry for every extra stamp you collect. Good luck!
- Drop off completed raffles at any of the library locations service desk by 5 p.m. Friday, April 12.
- Raffle held on Monday, April 15, at 1 p.m. – live stream on Instagram
- There can only be one passport per person and each person can only win one prize.
Library Locations & Activities
Art Library
235 Art Building
All Week:
Visit the Art Library to take in the beauty of the Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings, drawings, and sculpture.
Thursday, April 11, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Buttons and Collage Making Event
Get inspired by da Vinci’s art and join in this collage and button making event.
Pomerantz Business Library
336 John Pappajohn Business Building
All Week:
Explore da Vinci’s entrepreneurial spirit and mindset that led to his many inventions and ideas that changed the world for the better.
Lichtenberger Engineering Library
2001 Seamans Center
All Week:
Discover da Vinci’s Ingenious Machines: From bridges and boats to flying contraptions, delve into the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci’s mechanical inventions
Tuesday, April 9, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Build Leonardo’s Self-Supporting Bridge
Discover the genius of Leonardo da Vinci by constructing your very own rendition of his invention: the self-supporting bridge, dubbed the “Bridge of Safety.” Unleash your creativity as you craft a miniature replica using only the provided popsicle sticks.
Hardin Library for the Health Sciences
600 Newton Rd
All Week:
Explore human anatomy featured in da Vinci’s anatomical drawings in 3D using the Hardin Library’s Anatomage Table.
Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
John Martin Rare Book Room da Vinci Materials
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest artists and scientists of the Italian Renaissance. Due to his anatomical studies, he is considered the founder of physiological anatomy. Stop by Hardin Library to leaf through printed editions of da Vinci’s most famous anatomical works, including Dell’Anatomia and Quaderni D’Anatomia.
Law Library
220 Boyd Law Building
All Week:
Steal away to the Law Library and learn about the theft, looting, and smuggling of art and artifacts. What really happens if you steal the Mona Lisa? Stamp your passport, grab some candy, and find out! While you’re at it, take a gander at some of the art within the Law Library and Boyd Law Building. The sculpture of Jean de Fiennes by Auguste Rodin will greet you as you come and go, be sure to give him a pat for good luck as you continue your Library Quest!
Main Library
125 W Washington St
All Week:
Decode the cypher to find the Mona Lisa! Stop by the service desk to receive your clues. A scrambled call number will be presented with a key to decipher and a clue as to its location/contents. Once deciphered it will guide you to a location in the stacks near relevant materials, where you will find a Mona Lisa cutout. Take a picture with Mona Lisa, return to the desk and show the picture for your stamp!
Wednesday, April 10–Friday, April 12 in Room 2012 Main Library
Puzzles and Media!
Room will be open whenever the building is open, drop in and work on one of two da Vinci puzzles! Enjoy da Vinci-related TV shows (da Vinci’s Demons, seasons 1 and 2, available at Main!) and films, playing in the background.
Special Collections:
3060 Main Library
All Week:
Check out replicas of da Vinci’s notebooks that use mirror writing, seeing the creative genius mind at work.
Rita Benton Music Library
1451 Voxman Music Building
All Week:
Explore mechanical instrument designs and curated playlists of High Renaissance bops.
Monday, April 8, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Community Build: Muscial Instruments
Help build mechanical instruments, in the spirit of da Vinci’s viola organista.
Sciences Library
120 Iowa Ave
All Week:
Chauncey, our gorilla mascot, will be hiding in the stacks. Take a selfie with him and bring to the desk. Plus, visit the exhibit to learn about da Vinci’s astronomical investigations and help with our community puzzle.
Monday, April 8, 12:30–3 p.m.
Solar Eclipse Watch Party
View the partial solar eclipse through our telescopes!