Many students take full advantage of all that Iowa City has to offer. Throughout the year major writers, artists, poets, historians, scientists, and others speak or perform in University venues or read at local bookstores. Downtown Iowa City boasts restaurants and shopping opportunities for every taste and budget. In the summers, Iowa City sponsors the Summer of the Arts which includes: the Iowa Arts Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, Friday Night Concert Series, and Free Movie Series. Iowa City frequently appears high on best places to live listings. The nearby countryside, state parks, Lake McBride, and the Iowa River provide many opportunities for walking, biking, and boating.

The Iowa City  area includes Coralville, North Liberty , Solon , and other small towns with a total population of about 100,000. Twenty miles to the north is Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, home to the Eastern Iowa Airport and a population of about 120,000. See what the Iowa City area has to offer.

The University both provides and attracts a wide variety of cultural opportunities, Big Ten athletic events, and a number of business endeavors resulting from scientific and educational research that originated at Iowa.

Students at Iowa enjoy a challenging program. Incoming students will find a friendly environment, where students are willing to collaborate with others.

All SLIS students are encouraged to participate in the Iowa chapter  of the American Library Association. The Library and Information Science Student Organization (LISSO) provides students with the opportunity to hear guest lectures, interact with faculty outside of the classroom setting, participate in presentations within and outside of the school, and share experiences from conferences and internships.