Celebrate National Library Week
April 7-13, the Cedar Rapids Public Library joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries lead their communities through the transformative services, programs and expertise they offer. April 7-13 is National Library Week, an annual celebration of the life-changing work of libraries, librarians and library workers. Libraries aren’t just places to borrow books… View more
Text Message Notifications are Here!
The Metro Library Network is excited to offer a new notification service: text messaging. Patrons are invited to update their contact information if they would like to begin receiving text message notifications when holds are available and when an item is overdue. Patrons are also able to sign up for email notifications as well, which… View more
12th Annual Out Loud! Author Series to Feature Three Nationally Recognized Authors
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series brings another solid set of authors to the metro area this summer for the 12th consecutive year. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Craig Johnson, Cristina Henríquez, and Jennifer Weiner on three Friday nights in June at the Hotel… View more
Mission Creek Festival
Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City is April 2-7th at various venues around town. The festival is mixture of literature, music and film. There will be several indie recording artists performing: Mitski – whose album ‘Be the Cowboy’ has gotten great press has sold out the Englert on Friday, April 5th, and Jenny Lewis, on… View more
Spring Programs 2019
Our spring issue of OPEN has hit shelves and it is full of programs and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Third Annual Community Cultural Celebration and Expo
Community organizations and cultural groups from across the area will come together to share what makes them unique and to increase awareness of the diversity we find around us. The third annual Community Cultural Celebration and Expo will be held at the Cedar Rapids Public Library from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, March… View more
The Binti trilogy made me fall in love with sci-fi all over again.
I appreciate sci-fi that takes me into a fantastical place and simultaneously reminds me of the wonders of the real world. From the beginning it was clear that this trilogy was going to do that for me. Set in a future with plenty of alien cultures and interactions, our protagonist Binti is a member of the… View more
Greg Pak’s Hulk is a SMASH of good story telling.
I’ve been a comic book fan for quite a while. I’ll read a whole series of trade paper backs by one writer on one character at a time. My ongoing adventure is with the writer Greg Pak and the Hulk. To the new reader, or to those following his cinematic interpretation in the Marvel movies, The… View more
Winter Reading Challenge 2019
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites everyone to warm up with a good book this January as part of the 2019 Winter Reading Challenge. Participants are asked to read 300 minutes between January 1 and 31 in order to win a color changing cup or campfire mug. Readers of all ages can visit CRLibrary.beanstack.org… View more
Staff Picks of 2018
As we wrap up another wonderful year at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, we would like to express our gratitude to our patrons, our volunteers, our community partners, and our donors for their endless support. You have walked with us on our mission to serve as a beacon of literacy to those in our community… View more
For All Families
Families come in all shapes and sizes and can experience so many changes from divorce to a new baby. This fall even the Library welcomed a new addition – the Family section – in the Downtown children’s library. This section is full of picture books featuring predominately human characters with different family structures. These families… View more
White Lights Holiday Music Series
The holiday season is in full swing at the Library and we have some delightful musical performances scheduled throughout December to get you in the spirit. The White Lights Holiday Series presents music in the Downtown Library Commons on Saturday afternoons. Each performance is free and open to all. December 1, 2 pm: Merry TubaChristmas!… View more
Food for Fines 2018
The Metro Library Network will accept non-perishable food items in lieu of fines for overdue materials from November 1-30, 2018. All food items will go to the HACAP Food Reservoir. Library patrons may bring one non-perishable item for each $1 owed for overdue library material. All three libraries will also accept food contributions from people… View more
Consumer Reports at the Library
Consumer Reports is one of the latest online resources available with your library card. Card holders can access the full online database of consumer reviews and research through the Library’s website: CRLibrary.org/resourcesservices. Consumer Reports is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to make a purchase, whether that is a new car, a mattress, or even… View more
Downloadable Audiobooks from the Library
Take your latest read with you anywhere you go using free downloadable audiobooks from the Cedar Rapids Public Library. The Library offers several ways in which you can access audiobooks to be downloaded directly to your mobile device. Overdrive offers access to a collection of popular audio and ebooks from amazing authors like from authors… View more
Imagination Library Delivers
It has been seven months since our Library Foundation launched Cedar Rapids’ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In that time, more than 3,800 children have enrolled in this early literacy program and 170 children have received the graduation book for their 5th birthday. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an early literacy program providing free, age-appropriate books… View more
Reality Bites Takes on Politics
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites the community to engage in discussions and dialogues about complex topics through a new series called “Reality Bites”. This participatory series involves learning, discussing, and sharing. “The program was designed to address salient issues in our community; like race, immigration, mental health, and politics,” said Victoria Fernandez, Patron… View more
An Update on Two-Way Conversions
Two-Way Conversions 7-27-18 5th Avenue SE downtown is now open to two-way traffic. The Union Pacific Railroad has completed the installation of new safety gates and crossing arms at the 4th Street railroad tracks on 5th Avenue. Work has also been completed on the underground storm sewer, pedestrian improvements, pavement restoration, and new pavement markings… View more
5th Avenue is Open
The Downtown Library is now accessible through 5th Avenue. The two-way conversion is complete on 5th Avenue and is nearly finished on 4th Avenue as well. Fifth street is still down to one lane accessible only from the 4th Avenue side for the time being. Thank you for your patience as we continue to monitor… View more
Hours Change Effective July 1
The Cedar Rapids Public Library will increase hours in both locations beginning Sunday, July 1, 2018. The Downtown Library will open from 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. The Ladd Library will open an hour earlier, at 8 am, on Monday-Thursday. “We are very happy to be able to increase hours at both locations… View more
June 26 Construction Update
Two-Way Conversions Update 6-26-18 Progress continues around the Downtown Library as we near July. The intersection at 5th Avenue and 5th Street should open by the end of this week, however traffic can’t cross the railroad tracks until new signals and lights are up. Once 5th Avenue partially opens, 5th Street will close through the… View more
Construction Update June 20
Two-Way Conversions Update from the City of Cedar Rapids 6-20-18 The Union Pacific Railroad continues to work on the installation of safety gates and crossing arms downtown. Gates and crossing arms on both sides of the roadway are necessary for two-way traffic flow. Below is a summary of the work currently taking place: 2nd Avenue… View more
Construction Continues Downtown
Construction continues on the two-way conversion project in downtown Cedar Rapids. Beginning Monday, June 11, the Downtown Library will not be accessible via 5th Avenue. Patrons can access the parking lot through the entrance on 5th Street, but we ask you to be mindful of the traffic and construction. Access is limited to one car… View more
2018 Summer Dare
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is daring YOU to connect with the community and keep learning all summer long. The 2018 Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is an inter-generational summer learning program that challenges the entire community to get out, explore, learn, connect, and, of course, read. “Participating in a… View more
Freegal Mixtapes
Mixtapes are an effervescent, emotionally-illusive, and joyful instrument of expression. Created by yourself they are a reflection of a curated collection that has its perennial go to songs, beats and rhythms that allow someone else to feel how you do, or the opposite, for you to feel how they do. They can also be a… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Board Approves Additional Hours Beginning July 1
April 6, 2018– The Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees voted on Thursday evening to approve additional hours for library access beginning July 1, 2018. The Downtown Library will be open on Sundays from 1 pm – 5 pm. The Ladd Library will be open an hour early on Monday-Thursday from 8 am –… View more
Linn County Master Gardeners Workshops in April
The Linn County Master Gardeners will present a series of workshops this April at the Ladd Library. These free workshops include information on a variety of spring gardening topics. Each program is at 6:30 pm and registration is not required. April 4: Raised Bed Gardening No space for a garden? You can plant enough vegetables… View more
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Cedar Rapids
March 7, 2018 – Cedar Rapids children can now begin to build their personal library thanks to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL). DPIL mails more than 1 million books each month to children around the world. The free program provides one book each month mailed directly to the… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Takes on Complex Issues with “Reality Bites” Series
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites the community to engage in discussions and dialogues about complex topics through a new series called “Reality Bites”. This participatory series involves learning, discussing, and sharing. “The program was designed to address salient issues in our community; like race, immigration, mental health and politics,” said Victoria Fernandez, Patron Services… View more
Black History Month
Cedar Rapids Public Library Honors Black History Month The Cedar Rapids Public Library, along with libraries across the country and Canada, come together in February to observe Black History Month. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is important to recognize how far we’ve come in the fight to achieve racial equity and just as… View more
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
Since my daughter was a very little girl we’ve read books together. In the early days this was easily accomplished. Bedtime stories and cuddling on the couch with picture books brought smiles all around. As she has gotten older this has become more of a challenge. We compete with schoolwork, screen time, and activities of… View more
Planning for the Future
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is seeking your input as we put together our next 3-5 year Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will define the priorities of the Library over the coming years and help to establish goals and allocate our resources accordingly. All members of the community are invited to attend a Public Input… View more
Automatic for the People Re-Issue
R.E.M. released a twenty fifth anniversary edition of Automatic for the People late October of 2017 (this means it was originally released in October of 1992) that comes with a live recording from the 40 Watt Club in Athens Georgia, as well as a twenty four page booklet that includes liner notes and interviews from… View more
Mid-Winter Renaissance Faire at the Downtown Library January 20
The Mid-Winter Renaissance Faire is back and better than ever at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on Saturday, January 20, from 10 am to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to attend the only indoor Renaissance Faire in Iowa. Be a spectator to live sword fights, have an audience with the king and queen, and interact… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Adds Film Streaming Service, Kanopy
The popular on-demand video streaming service Kanopy is now available for free through the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Cedar Rapids Public Library card holders can access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films on demand instantly by visiting https://crlibrary.kanopystreaming.com. Offering what the New York Times calls “a garden of cinematic delights,” Kanopy showcases more… View more
Linn County Master Gardeners
The Linn County Master Gardeners are presenting a series of classes in December at the Ladd Library. These classes are free and open to all! Each one is held at 6:30 pm in the Community Room at the Ladd Library. December 6: New Perennials 2017–Garden Catalogs are full of amazing perennials. Learn how to select… View more
Give Where Your Heart Is
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation makes a difference in our community and you can help! Tuesday, November 29 is #GivingTuesday, an opportunity to give where your heart is and support the local nonprofits who do great work in your community. The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation needs your support. They fund programming and services… View more
Fall for Garage Rock
If music genres and seasons pair well together like wine and cheese, then fall is garage rock season. Deep Scorpio skies call for fuzz tone effect peddles and leaves falling from trees recall amateurish lyrics that have more truth than practiced customer service greetings and little conversations. It’s the vehicle that allows us to understand… View more
Food for Fines 2017
The Metro Library Network will accept non-perishable food items in lieu of fines for overdue materials from November 1-30, 2017. All food items will go to the HACAP Food Reservoir. Library patrons may bring one non-perishable item for each $1 owed for overdue library material. All three libraries will also accept food contributions from people… View more
Vote Early at the Library
The Downtown Library will be a satellite voting location for the November 7 City Elections. Satellite voting will take place Wednesday, October 25, from Noon to 6 pm. Vote for City Council and Mayor races, and ballots will be available for all cities in Linn County. Forms will also be available to update voter registration…. View more
CRPL Recognized as Top Innovator by Urban Library Council
With funding around the United States and Canada constrained, libraries are leveraging the public’s investment by finding innovative approaches to strengthen their communities. The Urban Libraries Council recently recognized 10 libraries as “Top Innovators.” These libraries have proven themselves unfazed by the rough terrain and are providing their communities with essential resources through inventive programs…. View more
Celebrate the Freedom to Read September 24-30
The Cedar Rapids Public Library joins libraries across the country in bringing attention to the harms of censorship during Banned Books Week September 24-30. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This… View more
Resources and knowledge from your public library
In light of current events, the Metro Library Network has compiled a list of resources for awareness and knowledge. The public library is for everyone, everywhere. Libraries provide safe spaces for public dialogue and discourse, as well as equal access to information and resources. The very foundation of our democracy relies upon an educated and… View more
The Book of New Family Traditions
As a parent with a physical disability, I have always known there would be activities I could not do with my children. Anything that requires running, jumping, hopping, or kneeling and I’m left on the sidelines. This has only made me try harder to find things I can do with my family and make… View more
Back to School Resources from the Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library has so much to offer students and parents as we enter another school year. Our library materials are always a resource for students, whether you are looking for a book to check out or for online resources to do research; we have it all! Our online databases offer instant access… View more
Two-Way Conversion Updates
UPDATE January 2018 Construction has stopped for the winter. We will begin new communication on the changes once we have an update from the City of Cedar Rapids in the spring. UPDATE October 2017 The City of Cedar Rapids has begun construction on 4th and 5th Avenue downtown. This may impact access to parking… View more
New Partnership Works to Digitize Local News for Future Generations
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is partnering with The Gazette and Advantage Companies to digitize past issues of The Gazette from 1857 through the present day. “In the past we would have been totally reliant on an outside vendor to provide access to this important historical archive,” said Erin Horst, Materials Manager at the Cedar… View more
The Happiness of Pursuit
I think it is common for us, as human beings, to search for purpose and meaning in our time on earth. Psychologist Erik Erikson reminds us that, in the final stage of life, our task is to look back on our journey and contemplate our achievements. Those who see their lives as unproductive experience despair…. View more
Summer Dare Celebration July 29 in Greene Square
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to celebrate the end of the Summer Dare with our Summer Dare Celebration on Saturday, July 29, from 10 am to Noon in Greene Square. This community celebration is our final event in the 2017 Summer Dare, the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s intergenerational summer learning program. At 11… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Receives National Medal
The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew, along with renowned journalist and reporter, Cokie Roberts, presented the Cedar Rapids Public Library with the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service during a ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. this afternoon. For 23 years, the National… View more
Reading Into Success
Reading into Success is a local collaboration working to ensure children read proficiently by the end of third grade by leveraging the assets of the entire community. WHY DOES THIRD GRADE READING MATTER? After third grade an important shift happens in learning. The focus changes from teaching students to read to them having them read to learn…. View more
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
“Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here.” I rarely review just one book for Children’s books- not because there are few that are singularly amazing and stand alone. Rather there are so many books that it seems… View more
Road Trip Movie Mood
Summer is optimal road trip season – the weather’s warm, everything’s open, and if you had to sleep in your car you could. The best road trips are always those that plan themselves, they meander and go back to the two lane road. From this distance you can get a better view of individual lives that… View more
New in Children’s – June 2017
Inspired by the infamous rebuking of Senator Elizabeth Warren while reading the words of Coretta Scott King during the confirmation hearings of then-Senator Jeff Sessions, author Chelsea Clinton introduces 13 women in “She Persisted” who have shown persistence throughout American history. The women she chose to include this book are varied in race and career… View more
Beyond the headlines on life as a Syrian refugee
Last year I recommended Crossing the Sea: With Syrians on the Exodus to Europe by Wolfgang Bauer. As there, unfortunately, has been little positive change in the refugee crisis, it is still extremely topical, and I am suggesting two further titles to delve into this subject. The first one is called Stepping Stones: A Refugee… View more
2017 Summer Dare!
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is daring YOU to connect with the community and keep learning all summer long. The 2017 Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is an intergenerational summer learning program that challenges the entire community to explore it, move it, rhyme it, celebrate it, connect it, imagine it,… View more
Summer Dare Kick Off Party at Ladd Library June 4
2017 Summer Dare Brochure-SMThe Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to kick off summer learning with the Summer Dare Kick Off Party at the Ladd Library on Sunday, June 4, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Join us for face painting, the Jungle Bus (an inflatable experience for kids), carnival games, and fun with some… View more
Best of Book to Screen
Hulu’s adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is the latest example of fine literature being adapted for the small screen. In the past few years, dozens of successful books have turned into thoughtful, exciting, or fantastic screen versions of themselves. The Handmaid’s Tale, a streaming television event on Hulu, has already proven itself… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Wins National Medal
The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced the Cedar Rapids Public Library as one of 10 recipients of the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. For 23 years, the award has celebrated institutions that respond to societal… View more
We DARE You This Summer!
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is daring YOU to connect with the community and keep learning all summer long. The 2017 Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is an intergenerational summer learning program that challenges the entire community to explore it, move it, rhyme it, celebrate it, connect it, imagine it,… View more
New in Children’s – May 2017
Finding an engaging and interesting story to read to younger children isn’t necessarily difficult. Finding an engaging and interesting story that can help with word recognition can be. By using repetition and rhyme to describe a colorful cast of characters build a robot, children will have the opportunity to repeat phrases and make predictions with… View more
Ready Steady Cook!
You remember being a child and desperately wanting to make your parents a delicious breakfast in bed. You head to the kitchen to gather the flour, sugar, chocolate chips, maple syrup and black beans. Then you hit the fridge and grab eggs, milk, ginger and orange juice. You set about making the greatest breakfast on… View more
National Volunteer Week
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is grateful to the many people who volunteer with us each year who make it possible for us to do so much. We celebrate them during National Volunteer Week, April 24-28, and all year long. Here are just a few stories from some of our amazing volunteers.
Metro Library Network Lends WiFi Hotspots
Update: Wifi Hotspots can now be checked out for 10 days. They can also be placed on hold. ### The Metro Library Network (MLN), a collaboration between the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public libraries, will begin lending wifi hotspots to library card holders on April 17. Library card holders can check the hotspots out… View more
Get your hands dirty!
Creepy Charlie has popped up along with the (often more desired) tulips and daffodils. The garden centers are stocking up on soil and mulch and some eager beavers have already started their indoor seeds. There is still plenty of time to start a garden and reap its benefits. If you’re thinking of taking control of… View more
Colorful Community
Each September, the Cedar Rapids Public Library celebrates Outside the Lines, a national movement to reintroduce libraries and library service to the community. In 2016, we invited our community to participate in Outside the Lines by submitting their original artwork as part of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Colorful Community coloring book. Download the Color… View more
National Library Week
April 9 – 16, the Cedar Rapids Public Library joins libraries in schools, campuses, and communities nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries are transforming their communities every day through the services and invaluable expertise they offer. April 9-15 is National Library Week, a time to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library… View more
Behold the Unicorn!
The unicorn is the official national animal of Scotland and this Sunday the tiny country will celebrate this mythical creature on National Unicorn Day! While you may think this is an odd choice of national animal, if you delve into Scottish and Medieval folklore a little, you will discover that the unicorn is synonymous with… View more
A River by Marc Martin
Since the dawn of civilization humans have understood the importance of rivers. They are integral parts of our communities; the veins pumping life into our towns and cities. Marc Martin in his book, A River depicts a young girl looking out of her window at a river below. Her bedroom is adorned with beautiful and… View more
Master Gardeners at the Library
It is springtime and that means it is time to get your hands in the dirt and your mind on planting! Lucky for us the Linn County Master Gardeners will be visiting the Library in April to give us tips and tricks to make our gardens blossom. Linn County Master Gardeners at Ladd Library 3750… View more
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series is thrilled to celebrate its tenth season in 2017 with a wonderful line up of authors. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Anne Perry, Kwame Alexander, and Debbie Macomber on three consecutive Friday nights in June at the Hotel… View more
Eve Rossi Thrillers by Stefanie Pintoff
I love character driven thrillers with a perfect sense of place. Tight plotting. Page turning. I read thrillers to transport myself. My love affair with (…the books of…) Harlan Coben, Lee Child, and David Baldacci is rooted in their characterizations of hero: Everyman against the world. Sinister sucks. These seasoned writers are tough to compete… View more
The CRPL Summer Dare Everywhere volunteers (Susy Jones, Sandy Steckler, Jeri Vincent, and Vicki Brubaker) are finalists for United Way’s Outstanding Group Volunteer Award. Summer Dare Everywhere Volunteers Last summer, the Cedar Rapids Public Library piloted a new summer reading outreach program, Summer Dare Everywhere, with the Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA. The program brought the library to youth… View more
Women’s History Month Music Spotlight
Ever since its expansion from Women’s History Week in the 1980’s March is known as Women’s History Month. During this time it’s appropriate to appreciate, recognize, and salute those ground breaking females that have blazed trails in front of all of us. As former President Carter said in 1980: “From the first settlers who came… View more
The Reality of Race
The Grace of Silence, by Michelle Norris Former NPR All Things Considered journalist Michelle Norris has a particularly elegant way of reporting. It is at once fluid, deep, articulate, enlightening and pensive. Her memoir is no different. The Grace of Silence is a book encompassing race in America and how it affects family ties, social… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library named National Medal for Museum and Library Service Finalist
The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in recognition of exceptional service to the community and for making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We are honored to share that Cedar Rapids… View more
New in Children’s – March 2017
Winner of the 2015 Newbery Medal for The Crossover, poet Kwame Alexander draws on rules of sports as the background for life lessons of hardship, perseverance, and focus. In The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life, he uses sports analogies (predominately basketball as you might imagine from the cover)… View more
Spring Break Gems
My kids were home this week so I had a legitimate reason to check out a whole stack of children’s books. Here are a couple that stood out… One Proud Penny, by Randy Siegel and Serge Bloch “Whatever you are, be a good one”. – Abraham Lincoln See a penny pick it up all day… View more
In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney
The only way for a woman, as for a man, to find herself, to know herself as a person, is by creative work of her own. There is no other way. ― Betty Friedan Each year on March 8th we gather to celebrate International Women’s Day. Through rallies, performances, networking events and more, we recognize… View more
Community Cultural Celebration and Expo March 18
All members of the community are invited to the first Community Cultural Celebration & Expo on Saturday, March 18, 2017, from 10 am-2 pm at the Downtown Library. Come to celebrate your own culture and enjoy learning about the many other cultures in our diverse community! The festivities will include: * Music, dance, performances &… View more
New in Children’s – February 2017
By this point, most know of the harrowing story of bravery of Nobel Prize-winning Malala Yousafzai. Taking the very real story of how a young girl in Pakistan was shot by the Taliban for fighting for young girls’ rights to an education and interpreting it for children is no easy feat but Raphaele Frier and… View more
Linn Area Reads 2017
The planning committee for the annual community-wide reading program known as Linn Area Reads has selected A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable by Dan Gable with Scott Schulte for the 2017 edition of the program. Linn Area Reads is a program of the Metro Library Network, which is made up of the… View more
So I Judged this Book by its Cover
Last month, I was the lucky recipient of a big, beautiful easel. For painting. For painting paintings! Having only produced a few dozen paintings over the course of my fifty plus years, I thought I’d try to actually learn how to do it. Enter Sam Piyasena and Beverly Philp’s Just Paint It! I’m an admittedly… View more
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
I went through a reading slump in the second half of 2016. Blame it on the siren song of social media. Blame it on the election. I couldn’t sit down and finish a book to save my life. I found other things to occupy my time. I cooked a lot. I started learning Polish. (Check… View more
Play, Sing, and Read!
Join us for a new story time program called Play, Sing, and Read! Held at 10 am each Wednesday morning at the Downtown Library, we will have a 20 minute play and socialization time followed by interactive stories and songs. A simple art or sensory activity will be provided each week. This program is designed… View more
You are the sum of your parts
It’s official! It’s 2017! You’ve started on that vision board. You have your Fitbit ready to measure your every move. But have you considered managing your microbiology? More and more, the tiny, non-human make-up of your body has become increasingly interesting to scientists. Microbiology plays an integral role in your life and your body is… View more
Top Books of 2016
It’s always interesting to learn what books are the most popular each year in our library collection. This year we have it broken out into a few different categories. What was your favorite book in 2016? Top 5 Children’s Titles: Fancy Nancy : Splendiferous Christmas Pokémon Adventures Pokémon Black and White Babymouse Pete the Cat… View more
Happy Birthday to Us!
Happy birthday to the Cedar Rapids Public Library! Celebrate 120 years of the Cedar Rapids Public Library in 2017. The community is invited to a birthday celebration from 10 am to Noon on January 14 at the Downtown Library. Enjoy activities and party games for families, capture your library memories in our story booth, and… View more
Bookish Arts and Crafts: Vision Boards
Are you ready to engage your creativity and imagination in an artful undertaking? When was the last time you called the right side of your brain forward on purpose? We meet 5:30-7:30 pm on the first Thursday of the month at the Downtown Library for hands-on recreational arts and crafts projects with bookish themes for… View more
Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Library!
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is ready to ring in the New Year with the entire family on December 31! Join us for the party of the year culminating in our big balloon drop at Noon. Our Noon Year’s Eve Celebration begins at 10 am at the Downtown Library. Make your very own New Year’s… View more
Too cold to play outside? READ!
Where Did They Go? a spotting book by Emily Barnoff Emily Barnoff’s new “seek and find” book for children takes us on a world tour searching the pages for a tree sloth, a bison, a tapir, and other rare animals. Children will see – quite literally – how hard it is to spot these creatures…. View more
Children’s book list for the holiday
Winter weather is creeping in and children are reveling in freshly fallen snow. What better time to get the hot cocoa going and curl up with them and a great book? CRPL has you covered. Below is a list of great reads for elementary aged children from the past year. These books are a perfect… View more
Mni Wiconi-Water is Life
How do we wake up and relate to other cultures? I was culturally slapped in the face (and literally slapped in the face) at a Pow-Wow at the Lac du Flambeau reservation in northern Wisconsin in 1991 when I was 15. I had been up there that summer to work for the Department of Natural Resources… View more
Digital Magazines Available for Download
The Cedar Rapids Public Library offers a variety of popular and specialty magazines for download to your device using a service called Zinio. There is no cost to use Zinio–all you need is your library card and pin! Discover your favorite magazines on your digital device. Zinio offers magazines for all types of interests, including… View more
Food for Fines
The Metro Library Network is partnering to support HACAP Food Reservoir this November through Food for Fines! Pay off your library fines with non-perishable food items between October 31 and November 30. Receive $1 off your overdue fines for each item you donate. Donations in exchange for your fines can be taken at any of… View more
Home by Harlan Coben
Home is a desperate mix of loyalty, pain, family and friendship. But it’s loyalty that takes center stage in Harlan Coben’s latest New York Times bestselling mystery. Home stars Myron Bolitar and his lifelong friend, Windsor Horne Lockwood III (aka “Win”). When Myron gets a call for help from Win, the man who never asks for anything, he… View more
Spark Your Interest at the Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library wants you to spark a new interest by checking out a new collection. Spark Kits are now available at the Downtown Library for checkout. Spark Kits are small circulating kits of crafts, activities, or projects. The first two kits available are “Adult Coloring Spark Kit” and “Learn to Crochet.” These… View more
Colorful Community Continues
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is embracing the popular adult coloring phenomenon and we need your help. We are compiling a local coloring book full of line drawings created by the people of our community that represents Cedar Rapids. We are asking you to submit your line drawing to us by October 4 to be… View more
Downtown Library Closed Through Monday, Ladd Library Open Extra Hours
The Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library will reopen on Monday, October 3, at 9 am, and resume normal library operations. The Library closed on Saturday, September 23 due to flood concerns. Safety of our patrons and our community remained the priority during the flood crisis, and the Downtown Library, while in no immediate danger, was… View more
Flood Information and Updates
UPDATE Sept 28, 1:46 pm The Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library will reopen on Monday, October 3, at 9 am, and resume normal library operations. The Library closed on Saturday, September 23 due to flood concerns. Safety of our patrons and our community remained the priority during the flood crisis, and the Downtown Library, while… View more
The Journey, by Francesca Sanna
Ref·u·gee Noun: refugee; plural noun: refugees; a person or persons who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. “Tens of thousands of refugees fled their homes”. According to the UN Refugee Agency there are 65.3 million people worldwide that have been forcibly displaced: fleeing from ethnic,… View more
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
I confess that most of the world apparently disagrees with my assessment of In a Dark, Dark Wood. It was an instant NYT bestseller, and just two months after it was published last summer, Reese Witherspoon’s production company bought the movie rights. Marketed heavily as a psychological thriller, again, I disagree. In a Dark, Dark… View more
Tell Us Your Story
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is looking for great stories and we want yours! Share your great library story with us by Sept 25 and be entered to win a $100 HyVee gift card. We want to know what the Library means to you: Why do you visit the Library? What services or resources do… View more
Townes Van Zandt: Be Here to Love Me
Be Here to Love Me is a new release biography DVD about the life and times of Townes Van Zandt. I’ve heard his name in passing for years: Emmy Lou Harris mentions him, Nancy Griffith wouldn’t have the song Tecumseh Valley (a personal favorite) without Van Zandt, and of course there would be no Pancho and… View more
New Young Adult Programs
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is partnering with Imagination Iowa, an initiative of NewBoCo, to provide a new series of programs called “Ctrl Alt Create” and “Ctrl Alt Connect” and “LaddWorks” at the Library. These programs, designed specifically for young adults, will use robotics, art, science, technology and so much more to spark imagination and… View more
Mother Goose on the Loose
Children are learning the basic skills necessary to read long before kindergarten. The Library’s early childhood program “Mother Goose on the Loose” teaches the basics through rhyme, repetition, song, and movement. Mother Goose on the Loose is a 30-minute nursery rhyme program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 30-minute playtime. The program begins in… View more
City Atlas: Travel the World with 30 City Maps, written by Georgia Cherry, illustrated by Martin Haake
“I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility.” – Jack Kerouac Before there were Google maps and GPS, there were Atlases. I remember as a child scouring over villages and towns; examining how cities oozed into suburbs and suburbs… View more
Library is Central Public Hub for Business Meetings, Training and Online Access
No longer the stodgier sort of Carnegie-era library, where you might have dropped in to borrow a book or two, and perhaps looked up stock information in a book, the Cedar Rapids Public Library today is busy hub for business, civic and social meetings. By busy, we mean people are using Library spaces by the… View more
Summer Sci-Fi Film Series
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to cool off from the warm August weather with the Second Annual Summer Sci-Fi Film Series.The free film series, hosted by Steven Marc Weiss, Professor of Theatre Arts at Coe College, will begin with a brief introduction to the films each night. This year the film series features… View more
Under the Big Black Sun
Sometimes I feel like my life is a research project that I started in my ‘tweens. It was at that time that I remember really paying attention to what was happening around me and in the summer of my sixth grade year a boy who was interested in my oldest sister started hanging around our… View more
Pied Piper Concerts: Brass
Join Orchestra Iowa’s talented chamber ensembles as they introduce preschool-aged children to the instruments of the orchestra! Focused on fun and learning, Pied Piper Concerts offer children the opportunity to enjoy an up-close and personal chamber concert absolutely FREE! Concerts will be held June 9 and 10 at 9:30 am, 10:15 am, and 11:00 am… View more
Get Your Summer Reading List from Local Experts at Book Boost June 9
Wondering what to read this summer? Hear local experts with The Gazette discuss which books should top your summer reading list during Book Boost on Thursday, June 9, at 6 pm at the Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library. Join Alison Gowans, Erin Jordan, and Scott Dochterman as they explain which books they are reading this… View more
Summer Dare Kick Off Party at Ladd Library June 5
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to kick off summer learning with the Summer Dare Kick Off Party at the Ladd Library on Sunday, June 5, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Join us for face painting, balloon animals, a bouncy castle, ice cream, music and fun with some special guests, and get registered… View more
Crossing the Sea: With Syrians on the Exodus to Europe
According to the most recent data by UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, almost 60 million people around the world have been forced from their home. Almost 20 million of those are refugees, of which nearly 5 million are from Syria where a civil war between Bashar al-Bassad’s government, Sunni rebel groups, ISIL and various… View more
School’s almost out for summer
Perhaps the kids are signed up for swim lessons, you’re road tripping to the Black Hills, or they’re pitching on the mound all summer. At any rate there will still be days when you need some great reads and ideas for things to keep their little hands occupied. CRPL has you covered! Below is a… View more
The Last Mile by David Baldacci
One of my favorite antiheroes, the improbable Amos Decker, is back. We met a few years ago in David Baldacci’s Memory Man, and I instantly fell in love with Amos’ exceptional brain. You see, he is gifted and cursed with hyperthymesia and synesthesia resulting from a helmet to helmet collision at his first professional football… View more
Fresh Music for Open Windows
It’s Friday, the weather is warm, time to load the car stereo with music and open the windows so everyone going by knows you’re not afraid of the weekend funk (dancing not smelling). I’ve three new music Cd’s available at the library that can help you fulfill those needs: I’ve got a soft spot for… View more
We Dare You! This Summer at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is daring YOU to connect with the community and keep learning all summer long. The 2016 Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is an intergenerational summer learning program that challenges the entire community to read it, picture it, move it, celebrate it, explore it, imagine it,… View more
Ketzel, the Cat who composed, by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Amy June Bates
Moshe Cotel is a composer who loves to listen to the sounds of the city. He listened outside himself and he listened inside himself, just as his teacher had taught him when he was a boy. When he was done listening, he would turn all those wonderful sounds into beautiful music. One day, after he… View more
Essay Forth
Essay = noun: /ˈesā/ A short piece of writing on a particular subject. The question: Can a literary form that that caused so much anxiety in my high school years find redemption in my dotage? Oh, the exercise in misery that was the high school essay. Did students really enjoy writing them? Did teachers really… View more
Books to Share With Your Preschoolers
Awake Beautiful Child Words by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrated by Gracia Lam What a wonderful ABC book! Awake Beautiful Child, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, is a mesmerizing walk through a child’s day. On each page, a three-word “ABC” description tells the reader about what’s pictured. It’s the illustrations that captivated me. There’s a crisp,… View more
Thank you for everything, Mo!
If you have kids, teach kids, have seen kids pottering around, you will most likely be familiar with Mo Willem’s work. From “Knuffle Bunny” to “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” “That is not a Good Idea” to “Amanda and her Alligator,” this author is the bread and butter, the meat and potatoes, the… View more
I’m Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjork
Add Samuel Bjork to this list: Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom, and Stieg Larsson. All of these Scandinavian authors write delicious thrillers, and Samuel Bjork’s American debut, I’m Traveling Alone, assures him a spot among the greats. If you’ve never read Nordic Noir – yes, that’s a thing – let me… View more
H is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald
“I wanted to cut loose from the world, and I shared, too his desire to escape to the wild, a desire that can rip away all human softness and leave you stranded in a world of savage, courteous despair”.- Helen Macdonald on T.H. White’s need to train a goshawk. When her father passed away suddenly… View more
Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Fool Me Once is Harlan Coben’s ninth consecutive novel to reach #1 on the New York Times best seller list. Nine books in a row at #1. I mean, can you imagine that? Seriously. I almost got to brag once when I came in second in a middle school spelling bee. But I digress. In… View more
Prince: June 7, 1958-April 21, 2016
“All these non-singing, non-dancing, wish-I-had-me-some-clothes fools who tell me my albums suck. Why should I pay any attention to them?” -Prince I opened up the internet yesterday and gasped out loud. I understand that the last few months may have made celebrity death reactions a near cynical experience, I’m there with you on that level, but… View more
Get Cooking!
Spring is most definitely in the air! While the trees are blossoming and budding out, we’re prepping our veggie beds, cleaning off our grills and getting our yards ready for the season. I’m constantly looking for fresh ideas for new recipes that use simple, local, fresh ingredients and also taste amazing. Here are some cookbooks… View more
Nix that Nature deficit disorder!
The stats are in. Millennial children (those born after 2005) spend an average of 35 hours a week on media. That’s the equivalent to a French work week! Though there are positive aspects to TV- certain shows can teach your child information they may not otherwise be exposed to, there have, in recent years been… View more
Playtime with Poppy: Harold and the Purple Crayon
Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre will visit the Whipple Auditorium at the Downtown Library for a vignette from Washington High School’s upcoming production of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Kids will learn a dance from the show and create a brilliant suncatcher. Bring your imagination and a friend or two!
“Furiously Happy: a funny book about horrible things,” by Jenny Lawson
Life is a struggle. Sometimes just getting out of bed can be hard. Trying to justify to yourself that you are good enough merely for waking and running errands, while it may be a stretch, is completely necessary sometimes. Jenny Lawson is mentally ill. Sometimes, she admits that she sets the bar unabashedly low that… View more
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Ruta Sepetys’ most recent work Salt to Sea is a very well written historic novel– accurate in its description of time and place with mostly fictional characters that are based on real people’s lives and experiences. It illustrates the evacuation of East Prussia in January of 1945, a miserable winter towards the end of WWII when… View more
Journey, Quest and Return, by Aaron Becker
Aaron Becker’s first wordless picture book, Journey came out in August 2013 and received a Caldecott honor in 2014. There’s a scene in the book near the beginning where the main character, a young girl seemingly unmoved and bored by her life takes a red crayon, draws a door on her wall and ends up… View more
Creative Gardening Series: Planting for Pollinators!
Join the Linn County Master Gardeners and ISU Extension and Outreach as we present the 2016 Creative Gardening Series. This series meets three consecutive Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm in Whipple Auditorium at the Downtown Library and is free to all. April 7: What’s the Buzz? What’s Happening with Pollinators? Guest speaker is Dr. Donald… View more
Root to Stalk Cooking, by Tara Duggan
I remember once going to an Asian Farmer’s market when I lived in Sacramento excitedly and frantically throwing exotic looking fruits and vegetables into my basket. I had no idea what most of them were or how to prepare them and while I did make a few recipes, most of my market booty ended up… View more
Margo Price-Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
On March 25th this week Third Man Records, the labeled owned by Jack White, released Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, the debut album from Margo Price. It’s getting a lot of buzz this week among critics and Nashville music hawks, and for good reason. Margo Price is originally from Aledo, Illinois; for us in Cedar Rapids that… View more
When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi
“That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.” ― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass There are humans who conquer literature and humans who conquer science, but it is a rare human who can successfully master both. Paul Kalanithi is one such human. In… View more
Dowager Countess Approved
The sixth and final season of award-winning costume drama, Downton Abbey, has come and gone. For those of us following the adventures of the Crawley family, Sunday nights have become a bit of a lonely affair. Cast adrift and clutching our teacups, we must now sit back and wait for writer Julian Fellowes to pen… View more
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
“Books will help him clear the weeds and plant the seeds so he’ll succeed” – Lewis Henri Michaux Lewis Henri Michaux opened up The National Memorial African Bookstore in 1932 and it became an integral hub in Harlem for African Americans, drawing prominent figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Muhammed Ali, Eartha Kitt… View more
Youth Graphic Novel Round-Up
A growing trend in readership and publishing comes in the form of the graphic novel. Perhaps a connection with the film industries penchant for comic book superheros, readers are reaching out for bright colors, bold pictures, and quick interchanges of graphic novels. One should not assume that though the interactions between the characters are brief… View more
Timbaland: Emperor of Sound
With the recent passing of the producer for The Beatles, George Martin, there was a wave of Internet and radio stories describing the sound that Martin had crafted for The Beatles. As a consumer of music with an untrained ear it is irrelevant to wonder who creates what sound for what artist. That is, unless,… View more
Great Spring Break Reads
It’s Spring Break! Whether you’re going to Grandma’s and need some books for bedtime, heading to Florida and need an alternative to puzzles, dolls and TV on the road, having a stay-cation or you’re anywhere in between, here are some great kids reads to see you through… The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend- Dan… View more
Will Robie Series by David Baldacci
David Baldacci is the king of government conspiracy thrillers. From Absolute Power to The Camel Club to his latest series about government assassin Will Robie, Baldacci has always known how to keep his fans in suspense. The first Will Robie book, published in 2012, was The Innocent. It gave us a glimpse into this new… View more
Another News Post
Almarian blanco calmindon caves of androth demons dor-cúarthol drúedain of beleriand durin’s day (day) dírnaith dúnedain eldest galadriel hasufel haven of the swans house of hador hrívë irmo kin-strife lord of the rings mungo baggins máhanaxar númenórean sindarin ringlord rochirrim somath spies of the valar tuilérë valaraukar valinor woodmen. Amon rûdh arvedui last-king awakening of… View more
Latest News Post
Almarian blanco calmindon caves of androth demons dor-cúarthol drúedain of beleriand durin’s day (day) dírnaith dúnedain eldest galadriel hasufel haven of the swans house of hador hrívë irmo kin-strife lord of the rings mungo baggins máhanaxar númenórean sindarin ringlord rochirrim somath spies of the valar tuilérë valaraukar valinor woodmen. Amon rûdh arvedui last-king awakening of… View more
The Little Gardener, By Emily Hughes
Though snowflakes are still sporadically gracing our windshields as I look down at my feet I see them; little signs of a big change in the season. Tiny succulents are poking through my mulch as a precursor of the next big thing-Spring! Looking up the squirrels are more playful as they carefully scamper after one… View more
In Other Words, by Jhumpa Lahiri
After reading and being deeply engrossed in The Namesake and Pulitzer Prize winning novel Interpreter of Maladies, I was eager to learn more about the author in her new autobiography, In Other Words. Lahiri’s fiction is fluid, honest and highly insightful, so I was intrigued to read her first work of non-fiction. The themes in… View more
The Forest Feast
I highly recommend Erin Gleeson’s The Forest Feast, a collection of easy Vegetarian recipes. First of all, I like the background story: Erin Gleeson grew up on an orchard in Sonoma County, CA but moved to New York City as a young adult with an art major, initially drawn to food photography via a volunteering job at the… View more
Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies Mostly Mine (But Also My Mom’s Which I Know Sounds Weird)
“Once I commit to something, I commit-at least until I quit, which can happen at any time” –Michael Ian Black I know Michael Ian Black best from his time as a cultural commentator on the long running ‘I love the —‘series on VH1; his dry, crass observations held up a brief relatable mirror into the… View more
My Pen, by Christopher Myers
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ― Albert Einstein In a world of Common Core, filling in the correct bubbles and being data-driven in schools, there is a sparkling shimmer of magic and solace in a glorious piece of blank paper and a pen. The beginning of this completely black… View more
Orchestra Iowa Presents Pied Piper Concerts at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
The sounds of woodwind instruments will fill the Whipple Auditorium at the downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library the first week of March. The talented woodwind musicians from Orchestra Iowa will present a special chamber concert just for children and families on Thursday, March 3, and Friday, March 4. “Chamber music concerts like this are the… View more
A Man Called Ove
A Man Called Ove is the first novel by Swedish blogger and author Fredrik Backman, and what a great uplifting read it is! Ove is a 59-year old grumpy, lonely man who thrives on routine and principles, and who gets extremely bent out of shape when he encounters people who don’t. Needless to say, he… View more
Mr. Squirrel and the Moon- By Sebastian Meschenmoser
A father and son sit together and enjoy a little respite in the afternoon sun when their cart loses a wheel of cheese which is sent careening down the hill, up a tree and onto a branch where it rests until squirrel wakes to find it. Convinced the wheel of cheese is the moon, and… View more
The Princess and The Pony, by Kate Beaton
Princess Pinecone is not your average Princess. With dreams of being a warrior, she has been disappointed to find that on previous birthdays, while waiting for a horse that is strong and fit for battle, her parents have instead bestowed countless cozy sweaters. The latest one displaying the words “special girl” across her chest… View more
Movies: Oldies but Goodies
By the time February arrives in Iowa, cabin fever runs amuck. This week’s bitter cold temperatures prompted the following recommendations from some of the Cedar Rapids Public Library staff. Since you’ll probably stay inside this week, some of us think you should watch a DVD or Blu-ray that’s truly worth your time. Sarah’s pick is… View more
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Library!
Visit either location of the Cedar Rapids Public Library on Saturday, February 13 to take part in our Valentine’s Day celebrations. The Downtown Library will be home to a life-sized Candyland experience from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Queen Frostine, Gramma Nutt, and Plumpy Princess Lolly will greet you as you travel through the Peppermint… View more
Linn Area Reads 2016: The Book Thief
The planning committee for the annual community-wide reading program known as Linn Area Reads has selected The Book Thief by author Markus Zusak for the 2016 edition of the program. Linn Area Reads is a program of the Metro Library Network, which is made up of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha Public Libraries. All… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Announces Launchpads
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is excited to announce the release of a new tablet designed to meet the needs of its youngest customers: Launchpads. Launchpads are made possible by the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation with a grant from ITC Holdings Corp. Launchpads, a kid-friendly tablet designed for libraries to lend, come preloaded with… View more
Mystery Monday: Agatha Christie
Today I have visions of tea, scones and arsenic dancing in my head. While scouring the stacks at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, I discovered that we have an incredible selection of Agatha Christie novels. For a mystery lover, this is a treasure indeed. Dame Agatha Christie, the doyenne of the proper English murder mystery,… View more
The Art of Freedom: Teaching the Humanities to the Poor
The world we live in requires solutions. This is something one comes to realize as an adult; simply talking about issues or social problems are nary an answer to tangible change. How do we recognize that we are capable as humans of directing the energy that flows through society, how do we find importance in… View more
SENG* Guided Discussion Group for Parents Starts Feb 1 at the Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library
The SENG & Guided Discussion Group for Parents has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. *** Parenting is a difficult yet highly important job. Understanding our children is fundamental to supporting them and parenting effectively. There can be unique challenges and nuances involved in parenting gifted children. Their parents often express feeling isolated and… View more
MLK Day Kick-Off and Public Employment Job Fair
Join the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission and the Cedar Rapids Public Library as we kick off the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday an MLK Day Kick-Off and Public Employment Job Fair. Visit the Downtown Library on Sunday, January 17, starting at 2pm to view a special screening of the 2015 movie “Selma”…. View more
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story by Dan Harris
Dan Harris, current co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and co-anchor of the weekend edition of “Good Morning America,” has worked with ABC News since 2000 and has become a regular fixture on the channel’s various news programs. Following a long stint covering war in Baghdad in 2003, he returned stateside suffering symptoms he did not… View more
The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz
Lisbeth Salander, the brilliant and fierce heroine of the Millennium Series, recently returned to international bestseller lists in The Girl in the Spider’s Web. Salander fans know that Stieg Larsson, the author of the original Millennium Trilogy – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked… View more
Make the Cedar Rapids Public Library Your New Year’s Resolution
The Cedar Rapids Public Library wants you to make us your New Year’s Resolution for 2016! This is one resolution you can actually keep. Stop by either the Downtown or Ladd Library during the month of January and pick up library punch card. Each card has six tasks; one for each of the first six… View more
Cleopatra: A Life
I picture myself at age eight, in a stiff wooden church pew, the family in a row starting with my slumped over father at the aisle, and ending with myself daydreaming. I see a heaven up in the clouds with blue sky and gold everywhere and there’s the gates that look a lot like a… View more
The Immortal Nicholas
The Immortal Nicholas is a novel by television host and political commentator Glenn Beck. It is a fable that aims at retelling the Santa Claus story in a way that guides people away from the commercial Kris Kringle and toward the spirituality and altruism of the man, Saint Nicholas. The main character is a simple… View more
A Book Journey
The New York Public Library recently followed a copy of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” through their library system, recording in detail the odyssey it took from when a patron put it on hold to when it was checked out. We thought this was a really wonderful idea, and while our library system is exponentially smaller than… View more
Pink Floyd Studio Albums Available on Freegal January 1
Pink Floyd released the ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ LP in March of 1973. It was on the Billboard charts for fourteen consecutive years after that date. The LP holds the record as the longest time spent on the charts. According to Billboard, the album still sells an estimated 8-9,000 copies a week and it… View more
Children’s Adventures in Coding at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is thrilled to offer a new four-week program designed to introduce kids ages 5-7 years of age and their adults to early coding skills based on the book Hello Ruby. Hello Ruby is a book designed to be a whimsical way to learn about technology, computing and coding. The four-week… View more
The Haunted Season by G. M. Malliet
One of the mystery series that I have looked forward to reading is the Max Tudor Mystery series by G.M.Malliet. The Haunted Season is the fifth book in the Max Tudor Mystery series. It is always interesting to see how she ties in seemingly unrelated story threads at the end. Max Tudor is a handsome… View more
Timmy Failure: Greatness Inside!
My 82-year-old father picked up one of the three books on my living room table and chuckled, “Timmy Failure!” I explained I had chosen to read this book series for middle readers for my Children’s Resources class at the University of Iowa. While the rest of us chatted, he continued to read, and to chuckle… View more
The One-Year Challenge
New Year’s Eve is a few weeks away and the pressure is on to come up with a resolution that will dazzle. In anticipation of this, I am reading books written by people who have embarked on a one-year challenge and recorded their experience. As consistency is not my strong suit – I am neither… View more
The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book
Growing up in Germany, I was unfamiliar with pie until I came to the U.S. Germany embraces sweets and desserts, boasts bakeries and confectionary shops, is home to many different cakes and cookies, tarts and tortes. But PIE is not to be found. Upon my move across the Atlantic I was quickly intrigued by the… View more
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl
Remember the nineties? I do, I graduated from high school in 1993, a year that was marked by a stiff rise in what had recently been labeled ‘grunge’ music. Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ was released in 1991 and had taken over MTV along with Sonic Youth, Stone Temple Pilots, and Pearl Jam. Movies like ‘Singles’ the… View more
Setting the Table: The Tranforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer
Last month the reference librarians at the Library were assigned to read Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer. Since I sit in on the meetings of this group, I also read it. My expectations were similar to other books on customer service: good ideas, but pretty dry reading…. View more
New Books to Read Aloud
There’s nothing like reading aloud as a family on a long winter night, and some of our favorite children’s book authors have new books to take the chill right out of the brisk Iowa air. Here are a few of my favorite new children’s books that are suitable for the whole family…. View more
Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn
Daisy Dalrymple is an independent woman who earns her living as a freelance writer. Times are hard in the 1920s. Over 700,000 young men have been killed in the war with many others wounded in body and mind. As she takes on her freelance writing assignments around the country, she stumbles upon murder. This leads… View more
Reckless: My Life as a Pretender
I always wanted to be a rocker chick. I can still see the ones I knew in my youth, the black bottomed tennis shoes, feathered hair, and jean jackets loaded with patches from various shows. Joan Jett seemed like she had the world figured out, and Lita Ford looked like she could tear your head… View more
Early Childhood Literacy at the Library
Learning to read or write doesn’t start with the first day of school. Developing language and literacy skills starts at birth. Parents are a child’s first teacher and those early years are instrumental in how a child will perform later in life. The Cedar Rapids Public Library offers a variety of resources for parents and… View more
When in Doubt, Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list. ~ Susan Sontag As we journey into the month of November, I acknowledge that this is not prime travel season. But, if your goal is to make memories all over the world, why not start thinking about your next trip? The Cedar Rapids Public Library has… View more
Make Me: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Dear Reacher, I’m sure I’ve told you before, but, dang it Reacher, you’re adorable. Some people think that men who are 6’5” tall and built like refrigerators don’t want to be called adorable (or cute, as I often remark during college football games), but I mean it most sincerely. And let’s face it – I’m… View more
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
The question we get asked most often the week before Halloween is, “Do you have any scary movies?” Oh yes, my friend, we most certainly do. We have your standard scary movie fare – the Friday the 13th series, the Halloween movies, the Scream tetralogy. All excellent choices. But we’ve dug a little deeper into… View more
Vote November 3
On Tuesday, November 3, 2015, voters will be asked to vote on a special 27 cent levy to provide funding for the Cedar Rapids Public Library. The Library Board of Trustees determined that the library needed to find a sustainable source of funding to maintain service at current levels. While the demand for library services… View more
Erica Jong: Fear of Dying – A Review
Yes, yes, I’m a big boring fan of feminist literature. There’s a part of me that could have been a gender studies major in college, but I wasn’t, I was an English major who got way into Virginia Woolf. It surprised me too. On the canon of what to read when it comes to women’s… View more
Mystery Monday: The Gentle Art of Murder by Jeanne M. Dams
I have always loved mysteries, especially series mysteries. You can get to know and like a character even if they sometimes frustrate you with their obtuseness or naiveté. Such is not the case with Dorothy Martin in The Gentle Art of Murder by Jeanne M. Dams. Dorothy is an older woman, a retired teacher married… View more
Healthy Child Screening Day at the Ladd Library
Children aged 6 months to 6 years can receive FREE hearing, vision, dental and developmental health screenings on Tuesday, October 27, from 10 am to 2 pm. There will also be community resources available to provide information about health, insurance and nutrition programs. All families are invited to join us.
Write On!
It is with the utmost excitement that I announce, “NaNoWriMo is upon us!” What is NaNoWriMo, you ask? It is only the Mount Everest of writing experiences. The Ironman of novel construction. The Iditarod for aspiring authors. If you hope to one day be a writer, it is something you must attempt at least once… View more
Americanah by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie
Born and raised on a different continent, I am always interested in reading about immigration stories , specifically what compelled them to come this far, did their preconceived notions hold true to reality and did “their” American dream become fulfilled. Americanah was a wonderful surprise as it is so much more than merely a tale… View more
Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb
Enter the world of Todd Aaron, longtime resident of Payton Living Center, autistic fifty-something hero and heartbreaker, narrator of Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb. To say that reading Best Boy is to enter Todd’s world is gross understatement. Todd has much to say. He will tell you about his lovely mother, long gone now, who… View more
Becoming Beekman
Many of my favorite books are stories of transformation. They are about people who begin a journey one way and emerge at the end completely altered. Through tests and trials, hardships and happy coincidences, they discover their true selves and a new way of living. The story of the Beekman Boys is just such a… View more
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
There’s a narrative in history and in literature that relinquishes the soul of a bored woman. The woman who has settled into marriage, kids, and finds herself uninteresting. When my husband was in the Army and deployed to Iraq it was in the faces of the young women left behind. For a woman in her… View more
Mystery Mondays: Kate White
You may know Kate White as the wildly successful editor-and-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. For fourteen years she sat at the helm of this behemoth of a women’s magazine. In 2012, at the top of her game, White passed the torch having increased monthly circulation by 700,000 readers and reached a pinnacle of over three million… View more
Ode to the Scholastic Book Club
“Good morning, class. Your Scholastic book order has arrived.” Were there ever words more magical than these? If you were a young scholar, post-1948, chances are you received a Scholastic order form at school each month. You’d take it home and mark the fifty books you most wanted to purchase. From there, your parents made… View more
Mystery Mondays: Henning Mankell
Today we mark the passing of Swedish crime novelist Henning Mankell, who succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 67. Mankell is best known as the creator of the Kurt Wallander series set in the tiny hamlet of Ystad. Wallander is an intelligent but brooding detective who makes for a gritty hero. Alcoholic, overweight,… View more
C’mon, Get Happy!
How important is happiness to the average human being? How much of a difference does it make, really? Is it overrated or, as Aristotle once said, is happiness “the meaning and purpose of life?” Studies show that happy people earn more money, are less likely to get sick, and are more successful in relationships than… View more
It was a dark and stormy night…
The thrills and chills of the Halloween season are upon us and they aren’t only for the little ones. This is the time of year that a book-lover pulls out a spooky novel, crawls under the covers and white-knuckles it until the clock strikes midnight. (Are those footsteps you hear out in the hall? They… View more
John Adams, the Complete Mini-Series, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, producers
When HBO’s mini-series John Adams dominated Hollywood’s award season several years ago, I put the show on my to-watch list and forgot about it. I’m reminded of my initial interest in it nearly every time I work – patrons regularly borrow the DVDs – I see them coming and going like New York Times Bestsellers…. View more
Audiobooks Straight to Your Device
Road trips can be great fun if the driver is armed with all the right tools: good snacks, good company, and a good audiobook! The Cedar Rapids Public Library has audiobooks on CD for checkout in our libraries, as well as downloadable audiobooks that can loaded onto your phone or other device anytime. OneClick Digital… View more
Some Other Town by Elizabeth Collison
If you are an Iowan and love literature, chances are you experience a thrill when you come across a book written by a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. While its alumni are numerous and diverse, I would argue that over the years the Workshop has developed a distinctive brand. That of meticulously-crafted literature and… View more
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss
Did you know that each year food companies use 5 billion pounds of salt, or that scientists in the food industry have used brain scans to determine that our brains respond to sugar in much the same way they respond to cocaine, or that one in every three adults and one in five children are… View more
Free Garden Programs at Ladd Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) will host free garden classes presented by the Linn County Master Gardeners (LCMG) at the Ladd Library beginning August 31. New Perennials for 2015 August 31, 6:30 pm, presented by Deb Walser, LCMG Every year the garden catalogs are full of NEW amazing perennials. How do we select the… View more
Take the Stage
The Cedar Rapids Public Library loves partnering with local experts to educate our community on everything from gardening to music! We are very excited to partner with local theatre group RHCR and their talented cast of “Disney’s Cinderella Kids” on a new series of theatre programs called Take the Stage! This Saturday, parents of children… View more
Gummy Bears Should Not Be Organic (and other opinions I can’t back up with facts) by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor.
I came upon this book while roving through the new adult non-fiction on the second floor and picked it up because of the giant gummy teddy on the front (it was almost break time and I was looking forward to a sugar fix and this seemed to at least temporarily appease my cravings). I immediately… View more
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
If you are on the lookout for a quick and entertaining, yet well-written summer read, I’ve found one for you in The Rosie Project. The Rosie Project is the debut novel of Australian author-cum-IT consultant, Graeme Simsion. It focuses on routine-laden genetics professor, Don Tillman, who has decided he is ready for marriage. He hopes… View more
Library Clubs Offer Various Opportunities to Participate
Whether you are learning the nuances of chess, love to get deep into a game of Scrabble, or are looking for fellow readers, the Cedar Rapids Public Library has a club for you! The Library offers a variety of clubs and each one is open to anyone who would like to participate. Chess Club: Meets each… View more
Unspeakable and Other Subjects of Discussion by Meghan Daum
Do you know who Meghan Daum is? If you do, you are one step ahead of me. She wrote a previous collection of essays titled ‘My Misspent Youth’ and if I had seen that title I guarantee I would have pulled it off the shelf based on curiosity alone. As it is, the title I… View more
Summer Learning at the Cedar Rapids Public Library Can Help Prevent Summer Slide
Studies show that over the summer months, when students are not in school, they can lose as much as two months’ worth of grade level equivalency. A study by the National Summer Learning Association confirms that teachers spend a significant amount of time re-teaching material due to summer learning loss. The Cedar Rapids Public Library… View more
Daredevil created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett for Marvel
Yes. Daredevil is on Netflix. And it’s a great show. But Daredevil, like so many other great characters, was in print before he was on film. The graphic novels, comic books, and other incarnations, has been around for over 50 years. The thing is, the character, created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett for Marvel,… View more
Piper Kerman
Piper Kerman will finish the Out Loud! Author Series on Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. t the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Kerman is the author of the best-selling memoir Orange is the New Black, which was adapted into a critically-acclaimed TV series of the same name. The memoir chronicles what the author calls her… View more
Rainbow Rowell
Rainbow Rowell will continue the Out Loud! Author Series on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Rowell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fangirl, Eleanor & Park, and Attachments. Her latest book, Landline, received the Goodreads Choice Award for best fiction in 2014. Her work spans the… View more
Maureen Corrigan
Maureen Corrigan will open this year’s Out Loud! Author Series on Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Corrigan is one of America’s most trusted and loved book critics. For more than 20 years, Corrigan has been the book critic for NPR’s Fresh Air. She is also a columnist for… View more
We Dare You! This Summer at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) is daring YOU to take summer reading to a whole new level in 2015! The CRPL Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is a newly designed twist on conventional summer reading programs that challenges the entire community to read it, picture it, celebrate it, move… View more
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars is one of those books people really love or really hate. Written by National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart, the book tells the story of the beautiful and rich Sinclair family. Each summer, they go to their private island where they take boat trips and buy fudge. Everything is… View more
Movies, Movies, Movies!
Here are just a few of the best movies released on DVD and Blu-ray this month that the Metro Library Network has purchased. Remember to check the Media Boxes at the Ladd and Downtown libraries first for hot new releases! Still Alice Julianne Moore gives a mesmerizing performance as Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed… View more
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
All the Light We Cannot See is one of only a handful of books I’ve read that I didn’t want to end. I loved this book. Anthony Doerr sees the world as a scientist, but feels it as a poet. He knows about everything—radios, diamonds, mollusks, birds, flowers, locks, guns—but he also writes a line… View more
Notable Children’s Books
The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: a birder’s journal by Sallie Wolf Sallie Wolf has written a sweet little children’s book that will help your kids (and you!) identify birds and their unique behaviors. Line drawings and water colors share the page with short poems and other insights. This non-fiction treat is ideal for a… View more
Rent music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
On this day in 1996, Rent opened at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway. On the final night of dress rehearsal, one day before the show opened, Jonathon Larson, Rent’s composer and librettist, died. He had worked on Rent for seven years. There are just not enough adjectives to describe the gut-wrenching musical performances that played… View more
The Death of Caesar by Barry Strauss
I love to work in the non-fiction section of the library. Wait, let me widen that statement, I love to work in the library, but the non-fiction area calls a siren song to me. Recently, while actively roving the floor, I spied a new book titled The Death of Caesar by Barry Strauss. I did… View more
The Nesting Place: it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful by Myquillyn Smith
Need help reclaiming your home this spring? The Nesting Place is a slightly different take on ‘the decorating book’, in that the focus is on creating personalized spaces using meaningful objects, rather than following a color and space formula to achieve “style”. Myquillin Smith, author of the popular Nesting Place blog, shares her refreshing perspective… View more
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
“Attachments” is lovely. It takes place at newspaper towards the end of 1999 with the Y2K “crisis” in full swing. Beth is funny, engaging, writes for the entertainment section, and has been dating a local rock star for nine years. Her best friend Jennifer is delightful, witty, works as a copy editor, and has a… View more
Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch
What? A children’s book by Jane Lynch? Yes! Jane Lynch, the scene stealing, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress who plays bully Sue Sylvester on TV’s Glee, has written a children’s book about a bully. Marlene – playground tyrant and queen of mean – struts and swaggers all over town until a child finally stands… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library wins AIA/ALA Library Building Award
The Cedar Rapids Public Library, designed by OPN Architects, has been named one of six recipients of the 2015 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards. Biennually, representatives from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA) gather to encourage and recognize excellence in the architectural design of libraries. The Cedar Rapids Public Library,… View more
Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian
The fifth and final book in the Percy Jackson series was, as you might imagine, an adventure of mythical proportions. It begins with Percy and Co. waging yet another battle against Luke/Kronos, one that ends in a stalemate sending Percy into the depths of the ocean. Being the son of Poseidon and all, this is… View more
YOU Out Loud!
Submit your video and tell us why YOU should be the one to introduce one of our Out Loud! Authors this summer: Maureen Corrigan, Rainbow Rowell, or Piper Kerman. The rules are simple. You must be a valid library card holder in the Metro Library Network (consisting of Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries). Your… View more
Out Loud! Author Series to Feature Corrigan, Rowell, and Kerman in 2015
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series is thrilled to present three outstanding authors in 2015. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Maureen Corrigan, Rainbow Rowell, and Piper Kerman in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Maureen Corrigan will open this year’s series on… View more
The Mickey Bolitar Series by Harlan Coben
The Mickey Bolitar detective series for Young Adults is a great set of page-turners by New York Times Bestselling author Harlan Coben. The series, Shelter, Seconds Away and Found, is character and plot driven – strong spinoffs of Coben’s wildly successful Myron Bolitar series. Each of the first two books stands alone, while providing great… View more
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Simply the best read aloud book to come out in ten years, The Book With No Pictures is a must read for anyone with children. Written by one of the great comedic writers working today, B.J. Novak (The Office) turns reading to your kids into an event. The Book With No Pictures lives up to… View more
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
“Hollow City” picks up where “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” left off with Jacob, now a part of the 1940s world of Peculiar Children and discovering his own peculiarity. Their time loop however has been discovered and attacked by the dreaded Hollows and Wights, neither of which should be physically capable of entering the… View more
Readaloudathon
On the first Wednesday of March every year, World Read Aloud Day calls global attention to the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories. The Cedar Rapids Public Library celebrates this each year with a Readaloudathon on March 4 at the downtown library. Readers will begin reading stories out loud at 9 am, when the… View more
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Despite being a relative newcomer to the magical world of fantasy, Ransom Riggs makes a darn good introduction. The first in the “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” series begins with Jacob Portman, a rather uninterested and uncommitted average teenager in Florida who is, well, bored. He’s bored of his life as it is and… View more
10 From 26: The ABC Family Reading Program
The cold weather means a lot more time for indoor activities! The Library wants to help you read and play together with “10 From 26: The ABC Family Reading Program.” This inter-generational reading program is designed to get you and your little one’s reading together! Visit the Library and check out a bag of 10 family-friendly… View more
STEM Festival February 24
The downtown Cedar Rapid Public Library will be buzzing on Tuesday for the STEM Fair from 4 – 8 pm. Over 40 exhibitors and community presenters will be on hand demonstrating STEM technology and careers. Representatives from Rockwell Collins, Iowa BIG Academy, the City of Cedar Rapids, and so many more organizations will be on… View more
Linn Area Reads Announces 2015 Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The planning committee for the annual community reading program known as Linn Area Reads has selected One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by author Ken Kesey for the 2015 edition of the program. Linn Area Reads is a program of the Metro Library Network, which is made up of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha… View more
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens
The sequel to The Emerald Atlas picks up nine months later with Kate, Michael, and Emma back in their rather disagreeable Baltimore orphanage where Dr. Pym leaves them after mysteriously leaving on Christmas Eve. When monsters interrupt the uppity orphanage director’s party, the trio make their hasty exit through time and space. Or rather, Michael… View more
ALA Announces 2015 Youth Media Award Winners
Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) announces the winners of the most prestigious youth book, video and audio book awards during its annual mid-winter conference. The winners for 2015 were announced today. Look for these and past award winners at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. A list of all the 2015 award winners follows:… View more
February is Teen Fitness Month
The Cedar Rapids Public Library will celebrate Teen Fitness Month in February with free and fun exercise programs. Throughout the month, teens will be able to participate in any of the three sessions: Boot Camp Tai Chi Kick Boxing Each class is taught by a trained professional. Registration is required and a waiver must be… View more
Free + Legal = Freegal
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is excited to share Freegal® with our library card holders. Freegal is a free music service from the library. All you need is your library card number and PIN and you can access to nearly 8 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists, and over 15,000 music videos…. View more
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
Let me start by saying this is one of those books that I thought I should read. It had been on my goodread’s “want to read” list because everyone I knew loved it, but the subject matter – family drama – isn’t my usual fare. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is a novel about… View more
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
It seems you can’t turn a corner without running into a post-apocalyptic teen dystopia but I read “The Maze Runner” nonetheless and really did enjoy the story. It features a young teen boy, Thomas, who awakes inside a rising elevator. When it opens, he discovers he is trapped in a new and unfamiliar world surrounded… View more
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Kate, Michael, and Emma are sibling who have been tossed from orphanage to orphanage, something found terribly wrong with them at each one. Kate, the oldest, is left with the task of trying to mother her siblings; Michael, studious and obsessed with dwarves; and Emma, the youngest and a fighter. Eventually the three are shipped… View more
Most Popular Books of 2014
This is the time of year when top ten lists are all over the news and we have one of our very own to share. We’ve done the research and here are the top ten books checked out from the Cedar Rapids Public Library in 2014. Sycamore Row by John Grisham Gone Girl by Gillian… View more
Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham
Third wave feminism has found a leader in Lena Dunham. Her book, Not That Kind of Girl (published this year by Random House), is an all-lady look at what it is to come of age during times that seemingly should be further along. If you’re already a fan of her HBO hit Girls or even… View more
The Flea by Laurie Cohen, illustrated by Marjorie Beal
I was immediately drawn to the cover of The Flea because I don’t recall ever seeing such an adorable, minimalist interpretation of a parasite. The story begins with our protagonist (the flea) showing us exactly how teeny he is (1mm) but as we turn the page, we see him moving from lofty to loftier vantage… View more
It’s Holiday Movie Time!
Tis the season! We’ve got your favorite December movies, from White Christmas to The Polar Express, so hurry in and check them out for a few days so you can come back and get some more. Here are just a few of our staff movie recommendations. They’re all available through the Metro Library Network. Home… View more
Enjoy the Holiday Season With Help from Your Library
The holiday season is a time of family, fun, and the highly anticipated winter break for school-age kids and families! The Cedar Rapids Public Library wants to help you make the most of this holiday season with fun programs, good company, and great reads! Kick off the holidays right with the festivities on December 6!… View more
Essentials of Slow Cooking by Denis Kelly
There’s nothing like coming home from work on a chilly day to a house filled with the yummy smell of pot roast. Having dinner ready to eat when I get home from work is a gift I love to give myself, and as the days get shorter, I find myself using my slow cooker regularly. … View more
On With the Show
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is always excited to share our space with entertaining music and theatre performances, especially when they are brought to us by local partners. This month we have several opportunities to check out the amazing performances happening in Cedar Rapids. Join us Saturday, November 8, for two fun-filled opportunities: 10:30 am–Playtime… View more
Flora and the Flamingo, by Molly Idle
I’ve always found it to be pretty amazing that flamingos sleep with one leg in the air. I mean, the sheer knobby kneed-to-body ratio makes it quite the feat! Flora and the Flamingo is not, however, a tale about a flamingo’s knobby knees, but rather is a wonderfully illustrated and delicate attempt to show a… View more
Pie by Sarah Weeks
The Iowa Children’s Choice Award books this year cover a wide array of interests and are certainly catered to very different youth audiences. “Pie” by Sarah Weeks is more of a general audience pleasing book without a direct theme and could easily be enjoyed by multiple groups. It features Alice Anderson, a young gal whose… View more
The Dinner by Herman Koch (translated by Sam Garrett)
Dutch author Herman Koch structures the entire plot of The Dinner around a sophisticated five course meal shared by two brothers and their wives. These men don’t like each other. At all. But their fifteen year-old sons are friends, and it is the boys who the parents have met to discuss. You see, the boys,… View more
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Kids love books about animals. Adults love books about animals. We all love books about animals, especially about animals who overcome obstacles. “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate is the 2013 Newbery Award winner and well-deserving of such an honor. It is told from the perspective of Ivan, a silverback gorilla taken from… View more
The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation by Thom Rainer and Jess Rainer
The Millennials are coming! The Millennials are coming! Over 78 million young adults will be entering the workforce and shaping the cultural habits of this country over the next 10 years. Are the older citizens prepared for this new generation? I have heard my generation described as “lazy”, “the boomerang generation”, “narcissistic”, and “trophy kids”…. View more
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
It seems that young adult literature has reached new peaks of popularity – YA books are being sold to movie studios and adults everywhere are browsing teen reading lists. “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman certainly falls into both of those categories. Adults are (im)patiently waiting for their turn on the hold list for a… View more
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronin-Mills
“Beautiful Music for Ugly Children” is a young adult novel and the winner of the Stonewall Award, an award given to books who stand out for their representation of LGBTQ characters and their handling of such sensitive subjects. “Beautiful Music” is specifically about Gabe, born Liz, and his transition from female to male and the… View more
Doll Bones by Holly Black
A coworker of mine was very enthusiastic about Holly Black’s work thus far, specifically mentioning “Doll Bones” so I popped over to Overdrive and checked out the audio version read by Nick Podehl. The story, if anything, is about imagination. Zach, Poppy, and Alice are in middle school now and everyone around them is getting… View more
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
“Flora and Ulysses” by Kate DiCamillo is very worthy of its 2014 Newbery Medal and would be a welcome addition to anyone’s personal library though we are thankful to have several copies of it available in our very own Metro Library Network. The story is wonderfully imaginative following one Flora Belle Buckman, a young, self-described… View more
#battleofthebanned
Did you know that there are hundreds of attempts to ban books each year in the United States? The Cedar Rapids Public Library is proud to participate in Banned Books Week, September 21 – 27, a national movement to remind Americans of the importance of preventing censorship and ensuring the freedom to read. This year,… View more
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Are you brave? Do value peace? How about being completely honest? Or is being intelligent more your style? Or do you value others happiness above your own? If you fit into one of these categories, then you will fit into the society presented in Divergent. If you don’t fit into just one then you may… View more
Learn a New Language Anywhere
The Cedar Rapids Public Library has a wonderful program called “Pronunciator” that provides card holders with instant access to the world’s largest language-learning service. Choose from over 80 languages and learn from your computer, tablet or even your smart phone! Pronunciator features speech recognition, so you can test your pronunciation in real time; scored quizzes… View more
Out Loud! Author Series Concludes July 18 with Elizabeth Berg
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series will conclude this Friday night at 7 pm with bestselling author Elizabeth Berg presented at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries previously presented Sarah Vowell and Wally Berg to capacity audiences. Elizabeth Berg, one of America’s… View more
Out Loud! Author Series Continues July 11 with Wally Lamb
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series will continue this Friday night at 7 pm with bestselling author Wally Lamb presented at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will also present Elizabeth Berg in a free event July 18. Wally Lamb is the… View more
More Than This by Patrick Ness
More Than This, by award-winning author Patrick Ness, is a fast-paced and philosophical story of life, death, and the meaning we find in each other. Ness begins his new novel with a death, the death of its main character, Seth, to be more specific. After Seth dies from drowning, he wakes up alone outside his… View more
YOU Out Loud!
Submit your video and tell us why YOU should be the one to introduce one of our Out Loud! Authors this summer: Sarah Vowell, Wally Lamb, or Elizabeth Berg. Your video should make a compelling case for why you should be the one to introduce one of our three 2014 Out Loud! Series Authors—Sarah Vowell, Wally… View more
Summer Reading Starts June 1
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) kicks off the annual Summer Reading Program on Sunday, June 1. Programs are available for babies (0-36 months), children (age 3 through 11), young adults (ages 12-17) and adults (ages 18 and up). Registration begins June 1 and the program runs through July 25. Register online at www.crlibrary.org beginning… View more
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is a retelling of the age old fairy tale of Cinderella with a futuristic twist. In this version, New Beijing is threatened by a number of calamities, including plague and an inevitable war between Earth and the Moon kingdom, Luna. Cinder, a cyborg, is living life as a mechanic with her two stepsisters and… View more
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes is a psychological thriller that follows a young woman, Cathy, who was attacked by her ex-boyfriend, Lee. As she tries to deal with the aftermath from the attack and nearly being killed, she develops PTSD and OCD. The novel is split between the present and the past when… View more
GIRL SCOUT DAY AT THE LIBRARY
The Cedar Rapids Public Library and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art are partnering to offer badge-earning opportunities to local Girl Scouts. In April, fifty Junior Scouts and their leaders gathered in Whipple auditorium to earn their Scribe writing badge and their Jeweler badge. We have invited two of our 4th and 5th grade participants to serve as guest bloggers and share some of the details of their experience.
Modern Rustic by Emily Henson and Joanna Simmons
Another GREAT decorating book! I don’t usually pick up any book with the word “rustic” in the title, but I’m trying to get out of my reading comfort zone, so I started with Modern Rustic. It turned out to be a great choice. Surprising new ways to pair rustic stone fireplaces with unexpected elements provide… View more
Quick Changes edited by Barbara King
Spring has finally arrived, so I’m geared up to do a little spring cleaning – or at least read about it. House Beautiful has a new book called Quick Changes: Fresh Looks for Every Room, and it’s a great little decorating book. My favorite “fresh looks” are from the chapter called Punch It Up! The… View more
Author Jennifer Wilson to Read at CRPL to Conclude Linn Area Reads 2014
Jennifer Wilson, author of the Linn Area Reads 2014 selection “Running Away to Home: Our Family’s Journey to Croatia in Search of Who We Are, Where We Came From, and What Really Matters,” will read from her work on Saturday, March 29, at 3 pm in Whipple Auditorium at the downtown library. Wilson is an… View more
Linn Area Reads Selects “Running Away to Home” for 2014
he planning committee for the annual community reading program known as Linn Area Reads has selected Running Away to Home: Our Family’s Journey to Croatia in Search of Who We Are, Where We Came From, and What Really Matters by author Jennifer Wilson for the 2014 edition of the program. Linn Area Reads is a program of… View more
Babe (1995)
I saw the Blu-ray of Babe on a library shelf a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t help saying “awwww”. Fortunately, all of my colleagues know I seldom contain my enthusiasm when I really like something, so my little outburst of nostalgia went relatively unnoticed. I have great memories of watching this movie with my… View more
Super Bowl 101
We all know who we’ll be cheering for this Sunday when the Broncos play the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVII. I just hope it’s a good game: not as many penalties and injuries as we’ve seen during the playoffs, and a beautiful Hail Mary ending. I really don’t ask for much. Except when it comes… View more
Hot Reads for Cold Nights
Looking for something to read for the Adult Winter Reading Program? Check out my list of bestsellers and top picks for the season! Click on the book cover for more information and availability. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. “The story follows Hetty “Handful” Grimke, a Charleston slave, and Sarah, the daughter of… View more
World Read Aloud Day 2014
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is gearing up to participate in the third annual World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, March 5. This event, sponsored by LitWorld, calls attention to the importance of literacy as a human right. Literacy is one of the keys to intellectual curiosity, of course, but it’s also fundamental to emotional wellness,… View more
New Books at CRPL and Online Book Clubs
If you’re looking for an easy way to keep up with new books at the library, we have some great monthly newsletters with the newest titles! Available through our website, you can sign up to get free newsletters on new books at the library sent straight to your email inbox. Looking for more? You can… View more
One Book Two Book Children’s Literature Festival
The third annual One Book Two Book Children’s Literature Festival, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature and sponsored by the Pearson Foundation, will be held Jan. 17-19, 2014.
Press Cafe Offers Drive-Up Access
The weather outside is frightful, but the drive-up at Press Cafe downtown gives you easy access to hot beverages (and food!) without ever leaving your vehicle. Press Cafe, located on first floor of the downtown library, features a full menu of great coffee drinks as well as tea and soda. They make fresh pastries daily,… View more
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
If you haven’t read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, I highly recommend it as a goodness jump-start for 2014. The story is told from the perspective of a wonderful mutt named Enzo, who believes the Mongolian legend that dogs will be reincarnated in their next life as a human if… View more
Employ U
Are you hunting for the perfect job in 2014? Have you been looking but haven’t found the right thing? Or are you back in the market for work after being laid off? The Cedar Rapids Public Library is thrilled to partner with RuffaloCODY to provide a free series of classes for job hunters called Employ… View more
Best Books of 2013
The new year is upon us and for many people that means deciding what books to put on their to-read list. Getting recommendations from those who read for a living (and no, this time I don’t mean librarians!) is always a great way to find something new to read. Gazette reviewers Rob Cline, Laura Farmer… View more
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
So, the basic premise of this book is: wife finds letter to be opened only in the event of her husband’s death, wife reads letter, lives are ruined. And, here’s the thing – it’s a great read. There’s plenty of suspense leading up to the discovery of the husband’s secret, and the secret is not… View more
The Virtual Library is Always Open
The library will be closed for the holiday on Nov. 28 and 29 but you can still check out eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, and music through our eLibrary! Have a tablet like an iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Kindle Fire, or Nook Tablet/HD? You can download apps directly to your device! Click here to look at the… View more
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Finished this book a week or so ago. NPR loves it (and I love NPR). The New York Times loves it. Vanity Fair talked to the author. The Guardian talked about the stink Kwan is making concerning stereotypes. There are so many book reviews about how everyone loves it so I had to check it out…. View more
Bully Seminar Held Sunday at Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is honored to be the host for a Bully Seminar on Sunday, November 10, from 1 pm to 4 pm, presented by the Girl Scouts of East Central Iowa and Western Illinois. The seminar will consist of a special showing of the documentary BULLY followed by a forum with guest… View more
Hannibal Season One
The first episode of this series was so disturbing that I wasn’t sure I could keep watching it. I’m glad I stuck with it. It is outrageously scary and horrifying but extremely well acted and produced. The series follows famous fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter years before The Silence of the Lambs. The real hero of… View more
Here’s a must-read for Halloween from the children’s library. Nightmares come and go, but after reading Go Away, Big Green Monster by Caldecott winner Ed Emberly, your child’s nightmares just may go away forever. The ingenious construction of this book “builds” a monster’s face as children turn the pages: first the yellow eyes, next… View more
Peter and the Wolf
Director Suzi Tempteton’s short film, Peter & the Wolf, is an imaginative new take on Sergei Prokofiev’s famous composition and children’s story. Using stop frame animation, Templeton succeeds at creating a visually stunning retelling of this well-known tale about a boy and his adventures with a duck, bird, cat, and wolf. Although no words are… View more
Thank You Cedar Rapids
We’ve had a fabulous time the past few weeks welcoming old friends and new to the beautiful new downtown library. Thousands have visited, checked out books, used the public access computers, played, gathered and appreciated. What a delight to serve as a community gathering place for book clubs, board meetings, story times, lunch dates, and… View more
On the Road on DVD or Blu-Ray
On the Road by Jack Kerouac has often been thought of as a book that couldn’t and shouldn’t be filmed. So much would be lost in translation to the screen that it wouldn’t be worth doing. The original story only has a very loose plot. Sal Paradiso is an aspiring writer looking for experiences to… View more
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
What a fascinating book. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff is based on the life of Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young, then president of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. A clearly well researched novel, Ebershoff provides a thorough historical perspective on the beginnings and ends of polygamy… View more
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
“In this cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum, Agatha Award winner Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters. Old fans and new readers will become enthralled with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience.” This is such a… View more
July 30 Construction Update
The new downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library is inching closer and closer to Grand Opening Day–August 24! The finishing touches are happening throughout the building and books are on shelves and ready to be checked out. Odds are good that when you check out an item from the new library you will be the first… View more
I Scream, Ice Cream: A Book of Wordles by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Great title, right? This new read-together-as-a-family book will have all of you bending your brains solving wordles. These little puzzles are word phrases with absolutely nothing in common – except for the fact that they sound the same. In I Scream, Ice Cream, readers guess alternative meanings of words with pictures (“me, cloud”) before turning… View more
July 5 Construction Update
Progress continues on the downtown library and the timeline until opening is getting shorter. This month we see furniture arrive, shelves going up, and in a couple of weeks we will have books! Six semi-trucks will bring the new opening day collection of materials (books, movies, music) to the new library mid-July. These books and… View more
it’s raining…again….
We might as well face it, it’s gonna rain forever. As far as I’m concerned, at this point, the one redeeming value in more summer storms is the chance to watch some “must see” movies. At the top of my list are the best picture Oscar nominees that I missed in the theater, a list… View more
Jane Milosch presents “Paley and Public Art”
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is honored to present contemporary American craft expert Jane Milosch at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance on July 11 at noon. She will discuss Albert Paley’s recent commission Regeneration, 2012-13, for the Cedar Rapids Public Library, in the context of other public art commissions by Paley, including his Portal Gates, 1974, commissioned… View more
June 17 Construction Update
The weather is getting warmer and along with the sunshine comes dreams of the new library and grand opening day–August 24! The staff are getting ready for the big move to the new building. Right now, our IT Department is taking computers into the new library and getting them ready for use. They have over… View more
The Red House by Mark Haddon
Mark Haddon’s books, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and A Spot of Bother, are among my favorites. So when I heard he’d written another novel about weird families, I was delighted, to say the least. Sadly, The Red House just didn’t live up to my expectations. The plot centers on… View more
May 20 Downtown Library Construction Update
The downtown library construction site continues to make progress as the crew works on completing the spaces and prepping the building for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Shelving, technology, furniture will all begin to appear on site in June.
Take Part in the Big Library Read May 15 – June 1
An unprecedented event starts today, May 15, as libraries around the world read the same ebook through a program called Big Library Read. Library card holders can access a digital copy of Michael Malone’s The Four Corners of the Sky for free via OverDrive between May 15 and June 1. When libraries purchase ebooks it… View more
3M eBooks
We’ve added a new eBook service called 3M Cloud Library to the Cedar Rapids Public Library webpage! It features a streamlined downloading process, easier browsing, and a new selection of titles to choose from. Have a tablet? Just download the app from your app store and get started right away. Click here for details! Detailed… View more
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben’s standalone thrillers are compulsively readable. Great characters. Unpredictable plots. I’ve read every one of his standalones, but I’ve never picked up one of the Myron Bolitar mysteries until a few weeks ago. I made the rookie mistake of thinking that since the character of Myron Bolitar was once a professional basketball player, the… View more
Pew Study Finds Parents Feel Libraries are Very Important for Children
A report released on May 1 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that the vast majority of parents with children under 18 feel libraries are very important. In fact, 94% of the parents surveyed felt that libraries are important for children and 79% describe them as “very important.” Nearly every parent in… View more
Downtown Library Construction Update April 23
The new downtown library continues to make progress as we head deeper into spring and hopefully toward warmer weather. The interior is taking shape as drywall continues to be completed throughout the building, light fixtures are installed and functional, and flooring and wall treatments are being completed. Take a look at the latest images and… View more
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne LaMott
I am an Anne LaMott fan. Her (largely autobiographical) books are always meaty and honest. I read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, many years ago expecting another gushy treatise on letting creativity flow. Not so. Anne LaMott is funny. Witty, even. And oh, so honest. Then I read Traveling Mercies: Some… View more
Downtown Library Construction Update
Construction on the new downtown library continues to progress and each of the spaces is starting to look more finished. Installation of lighting fixtures, painting and laying carpet all add to the feeling of excitement as we get closer to opening day, August 24.
The Painted Veil
Prior to viewing director John Curran’s 2006 version of The Painted Veil, one might expect a typical romance full of clichés and predictability. This film, however, is anything but that. As the story unfolds, one is given an honest and captivating look into the minds and hearts of distant lovers. Based on the novel by… View more
Out Loud! Author Series Features Patchett, Flynn and Lehane
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series will present three of the most famous names in fiction this June. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Ann Patchett, Gillian Flynn, and Dennis Lehane in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Patchett, an alumna of the… View more
Save the Date!
The new Cedar Rapids Public Library will open to the public on Saturday, August 24, 2013. The public is invited to participate in a grand opening celebration, including an interactive ribbon-cutting, special programs and events, refreshments and more throughout the day. Stay tuned to our website in coming months for more information. Construction continues inside… View more
Books about Books
Check out some of these books about books! The bookshelves of famous authors, discussing books & all the pretty ways books can be lined up on shelves! My Ideal Bookshelf by Jane Mount Judging a Book by Its Lover by Lauren Leto Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell Bookshelf by Alex Johnson… View more
New quarterly author event débuts with bestselling author Max Allan Collins
The Metro Library Network, which is made up of the Hiawatha, Marion and Cedar Rapids Public Libraries, is excited to introduce The Salon Series, a quarterly author event hosted at and sponsored by Campbell-Steele Gallery in Marion, Iowa. The first author to be presented in the series is New York Times bestselling author and creator… View more
100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life by Jonathan Adler
What a fun book! Jonathan Adler has created a tribute to his unique mixture of pop and mid-century modern design aesthetic with his new book, 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life. Vibrant photos of happy houses kept me up late more than once – I loved soaking up the details. Furniture and accessories like… View more
Downtown Library Construction Update
As the construction of the new downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library continues we look to spring as a season of renewal and of complicated Iowa weather. Fortunately, most of the work taking place at the Library takes place indoors. Work on the footing for the skywalk connecting the Library with the parking ramp next door… View more
Ladd Library Love
The Ladd Library is open and the community is celebrating the first week in the new space. The staff worked long and hard to make sure the space was ready for the public on Saturday, February 23. The response has been wonderful. We still have many things to improve and make more user-friendly, but overall… View more
Ladd Library Opens Saturday, February 23
The new Ladd Library at 3750 Williams Blvd. SW will open on Saturday, February 23, at 10:00 am. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held inside the new library at 10:00 am. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and celebrate this special day. The Ladd Library is named for Marilyn Ladd, a life-long Cedar… View more
Help the Cedar Rapids Public Library Move
Two weeks from today the Cedar Rapids Public Library will begin the move to its new permanent west side branch, called the Ladd Library, at 3750 Williams Blvd SW. The move will mean closing the west branch February 18 through 22. The Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting will be on Saturday, February 23, at… View more
Children’s Award Winners
The winner of the Newbery Award (best children’s literature) 2013 is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Read her response (stunned belief) here. The winner of the Caldecott Award (best picture book) is This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. Check out both books at your local library!
The End is Near: Ladd Library Construction Continues
The Ladd Library, located at 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, is starting to look more and more like a library. One of the most highly anticipated features of this new permanent branch began installation this week–windows. The amount of natural light in this former retail space will be a wonderful addition for both our customers and… View more
Gillian Flynn
Let’s talk about Gillian Flynn. A lot of people have been putting her books on hold because of all the hype. Some people have been putting them on hold because they hear the hype and see the name Flynn and think instead of a man named Vince Flynn. But no, her name is… View more
Downtown Library Construction Update
The snow and cold weather are not hindering progress on the new downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library.
New E-Reader?
Did you just get a new e-reader or tablet? Get your eBooks for free through the Cedar Rapids Public Library Overdrive page! Don’t know how to download eBooks? No problem. We’ve got directions for you. Our Overdrive selection has new titles added all the time, so keep checking back! We also have several upcoming classes… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Holds Free eReader Classes
If you are one of the many American’s who received an ereader or tablet computer as a gift during the holiday season, the Cedar Rapids Public Library is offering a series of classes to help you get started on downloading ebooks from the library. “Learning to use a new device can be difficult for many… View more
Writers & their Books
From the new book, Unpacking my Shelves: writers & their books, we see short interviews with famous authors about what their most favorite books mean to them complete with pictures of their library shelves! Jonathan Lethem, author of Chronic City and Motherless Brooklyn. Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story one of the… View more
Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
Three adult siblings are called home to Emlyn Springs, Nebraska, to bury their father. Although they’ve already lost their mother, Hope, the three struggle to make sense of death – because Hope was, literally, lost when she disappeared without a trace during a tornado over thirty years ago. The siblings not only live with pain,… View more
Downtown Library Construction Update
As construction continues at the new downtown library, we see more and more of the spaces taking shape. The children’s programming room has been drywalled and is ready for the next step. The white paneling on the south side of the building has begun to be installed. This swill pearl paneling is a stark contrast… View more
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
A richly realized novel set in Victorian times. You follow the prostitute Sugar as she tries to rise above her circumstances through her association with Mr. William Rackham, the rich perfumier who takes an interest in her as his mistress. As you journey through this book, you will meet a cast of other characters like… View more
A Jobs Lab Success Story
Mark Vogel was unemployed and seeking work. Three months ago he started coming to the Jobs Lab on Monday mornings from 9 – noon at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. A librarian by the name of Nancy helped him set up an email account, redo his resume, and learn how to apply for jobs online. Thanks to her help, he had three separate interviews with local companies and successfully landed a job.
Book Vending Machine: “The Biblio-Mat”
Check this out! “The Biblio-Mat is a random book dispenser built by Craig Small (thejuggernaut.ca) for The Monkey’s Paw, an idiosyncratic antiquarian bookshop in Toronto. Biblio-Mat books cost two dollars. When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion.” Read more about it here.
WONDER by R.J. Palacio
If you haven’t heard about this book then read on, because it is amazing and everyone should read it. Auggie Pullman, fifth grader, was born with a facial deformity. “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse,” he says when describing his looks to the reader. He has never been to public school but he is about… View more
Zinio Magazines
We have an exciting new service available at the CRPL eLibrary called Zinio Magazines. You can read over one hundred magazines from your computer or mobile device. All you need is your library card number and PIN, and a little patience for setting it up. Like all of our free digital offerings, it takes a… View more
America’s Facebook Generation is Reading Strong
If you’re in-between the ages of 18 – 34 there’s a 50/50 chance you checked Facebook this morning immediately after waking up. That and many other statistics at Digital Buzz make me wonder if people in their 20s read books anymore. I know I do, but I’m a librarian. It’s part of my job description…. View more
Festive Books for Children
Not sure what to get the kids in your life this holiday season? Along with toys and clothes why not pick up a great book they can read over and over. Here are some lists of great books to choose from! You can also come to the library and pick them up for the holiday… View more
Doc Martin (TV/DVD)
If you’re looking for something fun to watch over the holidays, I highly recommend Doc Martin, a BBC television comedy/drama series. The show centers around Dr. Martin Ellingham’s new career as a GP in the fictional town of Portwenn, a job he applied for after developing an unfortunate aversion to blood while a surgeon. Martin… View more
Tablet and E-Reader Reviews
Tablets and e-readers are looking like one of the biggest gifts of the season. So which one should you get? What are you going to use it for? That makes a big difference. If you only want to read books, maybe a black and white e-reader would be better for you. If you want it… View more
Library Construction Projects Continue to Progress
Two libraries are under construction in our city and progress on both sites continues to move at a dramatic pace. The new downtown library has been fully enclosed for winter and temporary heat has been installed so that work can continue during the coldest months of the year. On the west side of town, the… View more
Books of the Year
It’s that magical time of year again when everyone is putting out their picks for the best books of the year. Check out these lists from Publisher’s Weekly, Amazon, and NPR.
Horizons and Cedar Rapids Public Library Present Santa For Seniors
‘Tis the season for sharing as Horizons, A Family Service Alliance and the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) team up to provide gifts to home-bound older adults.
West Side Story Continues
In early 2013, the permanent west side library branch will open in a former Target building on Williams Boulevard, across the street from Westdale Mall. This space is currently under construction to make it into a beautiful and efficient space for the residents of the city’s west side. Features of the new library include an… View more
Celebrating Progress in Cedar Rapids
This is a big weekend of grand openings and celebrations in our city! Today we celebrate the renovation and re-opening of the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Cedar Rapids. The Paramount Theatre was another victim of the devastating floods of 2008 and four years of painstaking detail work has gone into the renovation project which… View more
Banned Books Week: To Kill a Mockingbird
Scout. Jem. Dill. Atticus. Boo Radley. Even now – 52 years after the publication of Harper’s Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird – these names warm readers’ souls everywhere as they beckon us back to a tiny town in the 1930’s American South – Maycomb, Alabama. When I read the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel in junior… View more
Banned Book Week Continues: the Grapes of Wrath
Our founding fathers protected our free speech knowing that a healthy, strong society must have a free exchange of ideas. Banning books is a fear-based exercise which tries [grapes of wrath] to block this exchange by suppressing words that might inspire or enlighten. When I come across a book that has been banned, I immediately want to read it to find out what it is that someone else thinks I shouldn’t know. That is why banning a book will never work .
The Grapes of Wrath
Our founding fathers protected our free speech knowing that a healthy, strong society must have a free exchange of ideas. Banning books is a fear-based exercise which tries to block this exchange by suppressing words that might inspire or enlighten. When I come across a book that has been banned, I immediately want to read it to find out what it is that someone else thinks I shouldn’t know. That is why banning a book will never work .
Banned Book Week Continues: Harry Potter
Visit our book blog for regular updates and book recommendations: www.crbookconnection.com. “He’ll be famous – a legend… there will be books written about Harry – every child in our world will know his name!” Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone There are books written about Harry Potter. He is famous. And I’m sure… View more
Harry Potter
“He’ll be famous – a legend… there will be books written about Harry – every child in our world will know his name!” Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Banned Books Week: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
In the near future, the United States Government is overthrown by a conservative religious organization called Sons of Jacob and they establish the Republic of Gilead. The theocratic society views women as “undesirables” and an element that must be controlled. Women’s financial assets are frozen, they are removed from their jobs and ultimately taken from… View more
Banned Book Week 2012
For the past thirty years, at the end of September, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom holds Banned Book Week celebrating the [beware_med] freedom to read. Banned Book Week is an opportunity to bring communities together: librarians, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all kinds, and remember the importance of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unpopular.
Banned Books Week 2012
For the past thirty years, at the end of September, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom holds Banned Book Week celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Book Week is an opportunity to bring communities together: librarians, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all kinds, and remember the importance of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unpopular.
Daring Adventures in Paint
Daring Adventures in Paint by Mati Rose McDonough is a quirky, inspirational “how to” book for artists. Normally, when I check out a book like this, I skip most of the text. But I found McDonough’s prose charming and easy to digest. There’s no pretentious artsy lingo, just simple directions with lovely pictures. McDonough explains… View more
Broken Harbor
Tana French’s fourth book in her Dublin Murder Squad series, Broken Harbor, now follows Detective Frank “Scorcher” Kennedy as he investigates a mysterious family murder in a quiet suburban village outside of Dublin, Ireland destroyed by the recession. Scorcher is also dealing with flashback memories of the death of his mother and a younger sister… View more
Show your card and be rewarded!
The Metro Library Network, consisting of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion Public Libraries, is partnering with local businesses in September to celebrate National Library Card Month. Metro Library Network card holders can show their library card at participating businesses and receive a special discount September 1 – 30. The discounts consist of a variety… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Partners with Community Organizations to Promote Literacy in Preparation for Inside Out with Tony Hawk
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is partnering with local volunteers and seven non-profit organizations to reach reluctant readers through the Revolution(ary) Readers program. This program is a part of the Inside Out with Tony Hawk event held on Friday, September 7. Throughout the week of August 24, community volunteers distributed 200 copies of books from… View more
First Pallet of Books
Along with the destruction of the main library building, the loss of two-thirds of the collection in the flood of 2008 was tremendously devastating to the staff of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. While the building construction project continues to progress, the collection development team at the CRPL have been working for months to develop the opening day collection.
The Innocent by David Baldacci
David Baldacci’s newest book reminds readers why he has been the king of “conspiracy in high places” thrillers since he wrote Absolute Power in 1996. The Innocent stars Will Robie, government assassin who stoically follows orders – until he’s ordered to kill a midlevel Washington bureaucrat with two young sons. Something’s off with this assignment,… View more
Latest Cedar Rapids Public Library Construction Update
Construction continues on the new Cedar Rapids Public Library and the progress is evident to passersby
Adult Summer Reading Program Prize Winner
The Adult Summer Reading Program “Choose Your Adventure” was a big hit this year at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Almost 650 adults participated in the program which required participants to read three books to be eligible for a CRPL tumbler and entered to win a Barnes and Noble Nook eReader.
Update on the Cedar Rapids Public Library Construction Project
Progress continues on the new Cedar Rapids Public Library as construction crews work to enclose the building before winter. Take a look at the latest images below. Remember to visit the blog regularly for updates on construction and all the great things happening at the Cedar Rapids Public Library!
J. Edgar
J. Edgar, AFI’s 2012 Best Picture winner, is a darkly compelling biopic of the strange and powerful leader of the FBI for almost fifty years – J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) When Hoover began his career at the FBI, evidence from crime scenes was thrown away and most professionals thought fingerprinting was hocus pocus. To… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library presents Inside Out with Tony Hawk
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is proud to present Inside Out with Tony Hawk Friday, September 7, at 7:30 pm, at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Hawk is the most recognized action-sports figure in the world, a respected business man and philanthropist. He is also the author of two bestselling books and the brand behind the young… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Project Update
Our latest project update from the good people at Ryan Companies is posted here. Please check out the construction progress here and as always be sure to visit the webcam for time-lapse images and regular updates. 120720 CR Public Library Project Update
Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees Elects New Officers
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees has a new president and vice president, elected at their July 12 board meeting. Susan McDermott is the new president; Joe Lock is the new vice president. “We are very excited to have Susan in place to lead the Library Board through the next chapter in our… View more
TONIGHT: Out Loud! Author Series wraps up 2012 edition with science scribe Sam Kean
The final event of the 2012 edition of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series will feature bestselling science writer Sam Kean. The presentation, which is free and open to the public with no tickets required, will take place on Friday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The Out… View more
Award-winning duo to perform in Cedar Rapids Public Library on Sunday, July 15th
Boston-based acoustic duo “Sweet Wednesday” will be performing at the Cedar Rapids Public Library at 2 pm on Sunday, July 15th, sharing exciting songs from their new CD “Escaping From the Pale Moonlight”.
Author Jill Hathaway to Read at Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is pleased to present author Jill Hathaway on Saturday, July 14, at 3:00 pm. Hathaway, an Iowa native and author of the book Slide will read from her book, answer audience questions, and discuss her current project. Light refreshments will be provided and all attendees are eligible to win a… View more
New Library Construction Update
Progress on the new Cedar Rapids Public Library continues. Highlights include: Concrete floor slab pours continues Structural steel erection continues Structural steel fireproofing is ongoing Exterior wall framing has commenced Above ceiling mechanical rough-ins have started Here is a brief update with images from the construction manager Ryan Companies.
Out Loud! Author Series presents bestselling thriller writer James Rollins
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author series will present bestselling thriller writer James Rollins on Sunday, July 1, at 1 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The event is free and open to the public with no tickets required. The Out Loud! Author Series is a program of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and… View more
Award-winning duo to perform in Cedar Rapids Public Library on Sunday, July 15th
Boston-based acoustic duo “Sweet Wednesday” will be performing at the Cedar Rapids Public Library at 2 pm on Sunday, July 15th, sharing exciting songs from their new CD “Escaping From the Pale Moonlight”. Sweet Wednesday is on a national tour in support of the new CD, which has been garnering rave reviews in No Depression,… View more
Out Loud! Author Series presents YA paranormal writer Wendy Delsol
Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author series will present Wendy Delsol, author of [Frost by Wendy Delsol] the “Stork” trilogy for young adults, on Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center.
Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee Gathers Donations for the Cedar Rapids Public Library
During the week of April 22 through 29, customers at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee Food Store celebrated spring with many gifts to the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s West Side Story campaign to establish a permanent, vibrant branch on the west side of Cedar Rapids. The theme of the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee’s annual springtime party promotion… View more
Out Loud! Author Series presents comics creator, scholar A. David Lewis on June 8
A. David Lewis will discuss the role of religion and the religious in comics and graphic novels on Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The presentation is part of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series
Construction Continues on the New Downtown Library
Construction continues on the new downtown library project. In the month since our Groundbreaking Celebration the building has been starting to take shape. Steel has been erected and the first floor slab has been poured.
Cedar Rapids Public Library Summer Reading Begins June 1
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) kicks off the annual Summer Reading Program June 1. Programs are available for children (pre-school through grade 5), young adults (grades 6-12) and adults. Registration begins June 1 and the program runs through July 27. Register online at www.crlibrary.org or visit the Library to get started.
Speak Up! Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program
Students in 6th – 12th grades are invited to participate in Toastmasters Youth Leadership, a 9-week program that gives students the opportunity to practice presentation skills by preparing speeches and giving impromptu speeches.
Heft by Liz Moore
There are times when books leave you feeling heartbroken that they are over. This was the case with “Heft” by Liz Moore. In “Heft” we meet the severely obese Arthur Opp, a former professor who hasn’t left his home for over a decade. Arthur’s struggle with his weight and the shame of it keep him inside and it takes the chance phone call from an old friend to shake things up.
New eBooks!
We’ve just added about 200 new eBooks to our Overdrive collection! Here’s a sampling of our newest titles, just click on the picture to read the description. Hurry before they’re all gone!
CRPL Wins Honorable Mention “Best of Show” and Communicator Award for 2011 Annual Report
The Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) 2011 Annual Report has been awarded honorable mention in the 2012 American Library Association (ALA) “Best of Show” competition. This annual competition recognizes outstanding library public relations materials; winners are selected based on content, originality, design, format and effectiveness. “Our panel of judges was very impressed with their work,”… View more
Deaf Poets Society: One Woman Show Presented to Benefit CRPL
Actress Nancy Margulies will perform her one-woman show “Deaf Poets Society” on Wednesday, May 23, at 7 pm, at Coe College’s Hickok Hall. Tickets are $10 each and benefit the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Out Loud! and Linn Area Reads present ‘Righteous Porkchop’ author Hahn Niman
Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of the 2012 Linn Area Reads selection “Righteous [Righteous Porkchop by Nicolette Hahn Niman] Porkchop,” will give a presentation on Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The presentation is part of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series.
Love My Library Essay Contest Winner Announced
Sixteen year old Bailey Zaputil of Cedar Rapids has been selected as the winner of the “Love My Library” Essay Contest held by the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone is the Oscar nominated drama based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell. The story follows a teenage girl named Ree in the search for her missing father. Ree and her family live in a remote part of the Ozarks, surrounded by a tight-knit community of meth cookers and dealers. Ree’s father has offered… View more
Cutie Pies by Dani Cone
The title tells it all in this fabulous cookbook: single serving, yummy looking pie. The book begins with interchangeable versions of pie crust, and then takes on the fillers and toppings. You can bake your treats in piejars (mini mason jars) or create cutie pies, petits or piepops. Fillings from apple-cheddar-rosemary to berry black bottom… View more
Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers
Are you tired of vampires who are either sparkly, sexy, or wearing leather pants? Yeah, I am too. Here’s the antidote. Hide Me Among the Graves is a gritty gothic horror novel starring the Rossetti family, the famous British painters and poets. The plot is pretty wild and complex, with a colorful cast of characters…. View more
Out Loud! Author Series continues with acclaimed fiction writer Kevin Brockmeier
Kevin Brockmeier will be featured during the second event of the 2012 edition of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series. Brockmeier will appear at the Hotel at Kirkwood Centeron Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m.
If Jack’s In Love
“If Jack’s In Love” by Stephen Wetta is a very pleasant surprise. This first novel by Wetta is set in the late 1960’s, the summer when Jack turns 13. Something terrible has happened in Jack’s small town–a popular boy has gone missing–as Jack’s older brother is the only suspect. To make matters worse, Jack is… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Groundbreaking Celebration Saturday, May 5
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites the community to a special Groundbreaking Celebration at the site of the new downtown library on Saturday, May 5, from 10 am to Noon. A brief program will be held at 10 am, followed by activities and refreshments for the whole family to enjoy. “Literacy and lifelong learning are… View more
Cedar Rapids
We all heard about the movie Cedar Rapids when it appeared in theaters in February, 2011. But I, for one, didn’t make the time to see it until recently. I’m glad I finally decided to sit down and watch it. Ed Helms stars as naïve, idealistic insurance agent Tim Lippe, who is sent to a… View more
My Library
This commercial will begin airing on local OnMedia cable beginning April 16. Let us know what you think! A big thanks to DeNovo Alternative Marketing and their “Video Dude” Arsalan for the great work. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Mhksr9be4]
2012 Out Loud! Author Series kicks off with Do Over! author Robin Hemley
This year’s edition of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series gets underway on Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. with Robin Hemley, a writer of both fiction and non-fiction and the director of the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program. The event—which is free and open to the public with no tickets required—will take… View more
Love My Library Essay Contest
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is holding an essay contest in anticipation of the new library groundbreaking celebration on May 5. The essay contest, entitled “Love my Library” is open to all 6 – 12 grade students in the Cedar Rapids metro area.
Why aren’t there more ebooks?
The Jefferson County Library Cooperative (Alabama) recently shared a special web page they designed to help answer questions they were receiving from the public regarding ebook availability. They did an excellent job of posting links to specific publishers who are unwilling to work with libraries as well as providing information on why libraries don’t have… View more
We have Harry Potter eBooks!
You’ve probably heard by now that the entire Harry Potter series is available now in eBook form but you may not have heard that you can also check them out for free from Cedar Rapids Public Library. Relive the magic and start from the beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Just click on… View more
Share Your Story
The staff who work at the Cedar Rapids Public Library are passionate advocates for literacy and lifelong learning. Each day, hundreds of people visit the Library and use the resources available to assist them with finding a job, researching a school project, or accessing the latest materials. Library staff work hard every day to provide the public with assistance to meet all of their unique needs.
Groundbreaking Set for May 5
The public is invited to attend a special Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Cedar Rapids Public Library from 10 am to Noon on Saturday, May 5. The entire family is invited to take part in this community celebration. A brief program will be held at 10:00 am, followed by refreshments, activities, crafts and prizes. More… View more
The Hunter by John Lescroart
The Hunter is another great standalone thriller by John Lescroart. One of Lescroart’s dynamic, recurring characters, San Francisco private investigator Wyatt Hunt, stars in a very private story about family and identity. The Hunter begins with Hunt receiving a cryptic text about the biological parents who abandoned him: “How did ur mother die?” We quickly… View more
New eBooks for March
Take a look at the newest March releases! Just click on the picture to check availability and browse the rest of the new titles.
Cedar Rapids Public Library
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNV1aSA5nGY&w=420&h=315]
World Read Aloud Day
Wednesday, March 7, is World Read Aloud Day, an opportunity for the world to come together to raise their voices and celebrate the power of words. More than 793 million people are illiterate in the world today. World Read Aloud Day is a chance for kids, parents, educators, caregivers, and families to advocate for the… View more
Sherlock
Sherlock is a smart modern retelling of the classic Doyle stories about the brilliant Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Fans of the original stories won’t be disappointed, this series is like a love letter to the devoted but it is still exciting and accessible to anyone who hasn’t read them. You might miss some jokes… View more
Biggest season of Out Loud! Author Series features Marc Brown, seven other events
Fiction, nonfiction, comics, and books for young people will all be featured during the 2012 edition of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series.
‘Righteous Porkchop’ is 2012 selection for Linn Area Reads program
An acclaimed investigation into the conditions and effects of factory farms has been selected as the 2012 title for the community reading program known as Linn Area Reads. “Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms” by Nicolette Hahn Niman will be the centerpiece of this year’s programming. Linn Area Reads is a program of the Metro Library Network, which is made up of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha Public Libraries.
CRPL Foundation Wins National Fundraising Award
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation is the winner of the prestigious Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award. The award is presented annually to a library organization for exhibiting meritorious achievement in carrying out a project to secure new funding resources for a public or academic library.
Every Child Ready to Read
The Cedar Rapids Public Library has always focused on children’s literacy and preparing children for school. Now they are pushing that mission even further by implementing tools from the Every Child Ready to Read program developed by the Public Library Association (PLA) and the Association for Library Service to Young Children (ALSC).
781.65: Jazz in the Stacks at the Cedar Rapids Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to attend a swinging songbook of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart with the Dennis McPartland Quintet in 781.65: Jazz in the Stacks. This free musical performance will be held on Friday, February 10, at the Cedar Rapids Public Library West, Seuss Room. Performances are held at 7:00 pm… View more
Portlandia Season 1
“Portlandia” is a sketch comedy show created by Carrie Brownstein and Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen. The sketches mostly poke fun at the ultra-liberal, politically correct hipster culture in Portland, Oregon and while they sometimes wildly exaggerate, they are often comically accurate. The comedy is incisive but manages to stay good-natured. It’s clear that Fred… View more
Cedar Rapids Public Library Seeks Submissions for Public Art
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Public Art Task Force is seeking qualifications from artists for two projects associated with the new downtown library. Opportunities exist for artists to create a sculpture for the Urban Plaza, as well as a southern exterior art installation.
New eBooks for Snowy Weekends!
Don’t feel like driving out to the library this weekend? No problem, just visit us at our virtual branch and checkout the latest titles!
Cedar Rapids Public Library Annual Report
Each year, the Cedar Rapids Public Library presents the City Council and the community with an annual report. The goal of the annual report is to share information such as the annual Library operating budget, some valuable statistics, and highlight some of the successes from throughout the fiscal year. The Library presented the Annual Report to the City Council at last night’s meeting and is very excited to share it with the public online now. We hope you will enjoy the unique format and share it with your friends and family.
Cedar Rapids Public Library Seeks Public Input on West Side Branch
The Cedar Rapids Public Library board is asking for the public’s input on the selection of a permanent location for the west-side library branch.
Library eBooks from CRPL
Our reference staff has created these easy to follow instructions for using your new e-Reader with the Library!
Library eBooks from CRPL
Did you get an eReader as a gift this year? We have a growing collection of fiction, young adult, non fiction, and children’s books for you to choose from. Follow our easy directions below for your type of eReader. If you don’t see your eReader on the list, follow the directions for the Nook and… View more
CRPL Offers Free E-Reader Classes
Did you get a new e-reader this holiday season? The Cedar Rapids Public Library has hundreds of ebooks available to card holders. Attend one of our upcoming Library E-Book Informational Sessions and learn how easy it is to access our titles for your new device!
Library Ebooks Quick Start Guide
Did you receive an ereader as a gift this year? Downloading ebooks from the Cedar Rapids Public Library is easier than ever. Follow these helpful guidelines or visit the help section of the OverDrive site for more information.
Selective Demolition and Site Preparation Continue at New Library Site
Progress continues at the future site of the new downtown library. Crews are working to selectively remove and recycle everything that can be salvaged. Up to 94% of the building will be diverted from the landfill and recycled.
Holiday Hours at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
The Cedar Rapids Public Library will observe the holiday season with special hours. The Cedar Rapids Library will close both locations at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 23. Both locations will be closed Saturday, December 24; Sunday, December 25; and Monday, December 26. Both locations will be closed Saturday, December 31; Sunday, January 1; and… View more
Read it First!
Going to a movie over the holidays? Read the book first! We have a great selection of print, eBooks, and eAudiobooks of the season’s hottest book-to-movie adaptations. Click on the picture of the book to go to Overdrive, our collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks. Or check the catalog for the print copies! eBooks: … View more
CRPL to host blood drive December 21
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is partnering with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center to host a blood drive Wednesday, December 21, from 10 am – 2 pm, at the CRPL West.
Recycling and Reusing a Major Focus of New Library Site Preparation
Demolition of the former TrueNorth building will soon be underway on the site located on the 400 block of 4th Avenue SE in preparation for the construction of the new Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Goodreads Choice Awards 2011
Goodreads has just announced the winners of their Goodreads Choice Awards. Here are some of the winners: Divergent by Veronica Roth- Favorite book of 2011 IQ84 by Haruki Murakami- Best Fiction A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin- Best Fantasy Bossypants by Tina Fey- Best Humor Browse the nominees and see… View more
Barnes & Noble Book Fair to Benefit Out Loud! Author Series
The Metro Library Network is partnering with the Cedar Rapids Barnes & Noble on a book fair Saturday, December 3 to support the annual Out Loud Author Series. Make a purchase at the store December 3 and mention Out Loud! to the cashier. A portion of the sale will be donated to the Out Loud Author Series.
Cedar Rapids Public Library Enters Next Phase of Library Project
The next step in the new library project is now underway. Sections of fence are slated to go this week around the new library’s site, located at 421 4th Avenue SE.
Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Since a nifty trailer for the long awaited movie, The Hunger Games, just went viral, I thought it was time I found out what all the fuss was about. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the first of the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy for young adults. It begins like nearly every post-apocalyptic novel. The… View more
New eBook Titles
Check out our newest eBook titles available for your Kindle, nook, and iPad.
Penguin suspends library ebooks, cites security reasons
One of the six largest publishing companies in the country, Penguin Group, announced yesterday it is suspending ebook lending through libraries and won’t allow libraries to loan ebooks for the Amazon Kindle.
We Honor our Veterans Friday
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites veterans, family and friends to an Open House from 11 am to 1 pm at CRPL West on Friday, November 11.
open studio: arts and crafts for grown-ups
Arts and crafts aren’t just for kids! The Cedar Rapids Public Library offers a monthly arts and crafts program called “open studio” on the first Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8 pm. Open studio is designed specifically for adults (participants must be 14 to attend). Each month a different project is presented for up to… View more
Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Celebrate 40 Years
The Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library this month celebrate 40 years of service in the community. For the past 40 years, the Friends have committed countless hours and dollars to their mission: The Friends supports the Cedar Rapids Public Library services and programs, promotes literacy through outreach programs that encourage and enhance reading throughout the community and conducts fundraising activities to assist with library and outreach projects.
Spooky Staff Picks
Jeff- Them! – A classic 1950’s horror movie involving giant mutated ants attacking the Southwest. Dixie- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, True Blood, and the Halloween movie series with Michael Myers. Renee- Rot and Ruin and Dust and Decay are fun zombie thrillers by Jonathan Maberry. Curtis- The Last Sin Eater– A dark dramatic… View more
Shaun of the Dead
Join Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Bill Nighy as they battle zombies! Simon Pegg stars as everyman Shaun who we find is a little down on his luck when we meet him. After his community experiences a zombie outbreak, Shaun must step up to the plate as never before as he tries to save the… View more
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Historian is different from the vampire novels coming out over the last few years, don’t look for any paranormal romance here. As the title suggests, it is much more of a historical novel than anything else. The story follows three generations of historians trying to unravel a mystery that leads them to uncovering the… View more