A letter to our patrons, from Cedar Rapids Public Library Director Dara Schmidt: The CDC has come out with new guidelines to say people who are vaccinated do not need to wear masks or social distance. This is exciting news, and we are so excited to welcome more people to the Library with no restrictions! While we wish we… View more
The Opportunity Center at Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The free clinic will be Thursday, May 27, 9 am to 5 pm. It is a walk-in clinic, open to anyone ages 18 or older, with no appointment required. It is for the one dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine…. View more
Look for the van all summer long, four days a week: Mondays, except July 5, 1:30-3:30 pm, Jacolyn Park, 198 Jacolyn Dr. NW Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, Hayes Park, 1924 D St. SW Wednesdays, 4:30-6:30 pm, Cleveland Park, 1600 8th Ave. SW Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, Greene Square, 400 4th Ave. SE The Library’s new Mobile Technology… View more
The Cedar Rapids Public Library now has laptop kits available for patrons to borrow and take home from the Downtown and Ladd Libraries. The kits are part of an effort to expand internet and computer access for patrons, a need highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to offer options for patrons who prefer home access… View more
When Dona Ditri walks into the Library, she said she feels like she’s home. “The Library is my happy place, and I just love it. The people, the staff, are so friendly and appreciative,” she said. “And now that the patrons are allowed back in, I love helping them.” As a volunteer on the Holds… View more
April is National Poetry Month, and Librarian Kim Martens-Tyo gathered this list of recommended titles that are currently part of the Library’s collection or are on-order. All were published in 2020 or 2021, and they represent a diverse range of voices and poetry styles, from a collection documenting African American poetic history (African American Poetry:… View more
The Urban Dreams Cedar Rapids Food Pantry opens at the Ladd Library on April 15 at 9 am. Regular operating hours will be Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm. Walk-ins are welcome. Masks and physical distancing are required. This article is from the spring edition of OPEN+ magazine, available at the Library and… View more
Lata D’Mello, Co-Director of Programs at Monsoon Asian and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity, spoke with Librarian Meredith Crawford for the latest installment of the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s Read Woke discussion series highlighting organizations and books that center marginalized groups. The conversation followed the March 16 shooting in Atlanta that killed eight, including six women… View more
April 4-10 is National Library Week, and this year’s theme from the American Library Association is “Welcome to your library.” Though the Cedar Rapids Public Library closed its doors in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, staff worked hard to pivot and find ways to keep welcoming patrons through digital services, curbside hold pickup,… View more
One year ago, on March 16, 2020, the Cedar Rapids Public Library shut our doors in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, staff has worked hard to find ways to safely serve our patrons and the Cedar Rapids community. The Library started curbside hold pick ups and virtual programming to keep reaching patrons at… View more