cir·cu·late, verb

Definition – to pass from place to place such as: to flow without obstruction; to go from group to group at a social gathering; to come into the hands of readers

Experience the many meanings of Circulate: Night at the Library, the premier event of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation as you circulate through the beautiful Central Library in Downtown Indianapolis. Join fellow lifelong learners to mingle, enjoy live music, and interact in this exclusive adults-only evening at the Library. In addition to getting to experience popular Library programs, you can make the rounds to multiple food stations and sip on literary-themed libations.

Circulate is the premiere fundraising event of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Tax dollars fund the Library’s primary operations including Library staffing, collection materials, and facility and technology maintenance. However, the majority of the Library’s programs and services patrons know and love are possible because of support from the Library Foundation. The Library Foundation raises more than $2 million a year for Library programs and services, thanks to the generosity of individuals, companies, and foundations.

Event Information

Save the Date!

Friday, May 9, 2025

Central Library: 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN

This year get ready for an evening "under the stars" at Central Library with an exciting mix of scheduled presentations and entertainment along with drop-in style activities to keep you moving throughout the night. Preview our entertainment below with a few more activities to be added soon!

Planetarium Show with Drake Planetarium Watch the night sky unfold with a custom immersive journey through space exploring stars, planets and the moon! Each show is set to music and lasts 15 minutes.

Dancing With the Stars with Giselle Trujillo Have you ever wanted to be a celestial body? Move through the Solar System and pretend to be a planet when you Dance with the Stars. Musician, dancer, and visual artist, Giselle Trujillo has interplanetary props and stellar costumes for you try on as you experience revolution (around the sun) together. Mimic the motions of a moon in its memorizing orbit. And don't forget to snap some pics of your new found star power.

Hip-Hop from another Dimension with Synergy His travels through time and space have landed him here to spread the message of love, community, and the future. In this workshop, Synergy will share his spoken word piece "Hip-Hop from Another Dimension", then inspire you to write your own Afro-Futurist poem. Participants will be try their hand at "Found Poetry" by finding words, phrases, and verses in classic Afro-Futurist texts. Then, the folks can share out their work at Synergy's open mic. The future is now with this fun and captivating poetry workshop.

All About the Moon - From Earth to the Moon and the Space In Between with Reed Steel Using Mime, Magic, and Massive Models, Reed Steele takes you on a trip from the Earth to the Moon with hands-on activities to capture your imagination. He will defy gravity in the "Astro-Nut" mime sketch and launch a few surprises as well.

Button Bar with Connection Club

Button up, book lovers! Connection Club is bringing a DIY flair to Circulate: Night at the Library with a Create-Your-Own Button Badge Station that’s perfect for readers, doodlers, and crafty souls alike. Swing by our table to make your very own 2.25" pin-back button! Choose from a mix of book-themed stickers, colorful papers, quirky collage elements, or hand-drawn doodles to create a badge that screams you. Feeling inspired? Grab the scissors and glue and dive in. Short on time? We’ll also have a selection of ready-to-wear buttons you can scoop up and sport right away. It’s playful, low-pressure, and designed for bookworms of all ages to get creative and take something fun home!

Banned Book Walks Take a stroll on our banned book walk and see if you are the lucky winner!

Animal Show & Tell with Hedgehog Hannah A crowd favorite, Hedgehog Hannah will be at Circulate again this year! See what cute, cuddly, maybe scaly creatures are hanging out in the Library!

Encyclopedia of Indianapolis Meet IndyPL staff members and learn about Indianapolis history utilizing our digital tools.

Silent Auction - opens one week before the event Browse and bid on a wide range of auction items. Auction closes at 8:30 p.m. and pick-up will start at 9:00 p.m.

Snacks and Bar Grab a bite to eat and a literary themed libation at our snack stations and bars. Last call is at 9:30 p.m.

Protocol the Band We are excited to have the band, Protocol, providing us with the music for tonight! Fun fact - one of the band members, Bruce, drives the Library's bookmobile!

Stay tuned for a few more exciting entertainment additions!

Thanks to Bhatta Boom Photo Booth, the go-to photo booth rental in Indianapolis, for capturing the fun at our 2024 event.

Thank you to our 2025 Silver Sponsors!

Michaela Graham and Scott Brody