Times are strange right now. Because of the corona virus, all of a sudden we are practicing Social Distancing- a term that most of us have probably never heard of before. We’ve also kicked up our personal hygiene by three notches, namely by washing our hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Not five… View more
Kanopy is a streaming service you can access from the comfort of your couch. To access simply go to our website (crlibrary.org,) click on the resources and services tab and select Kanopy. From there you’ll have access to thousands of movies and documentaries the New York Times referred to as “a garden of cinematic delights”…. View more
Hoopla is an online resource you can use from the comfort of your couch. To use it, simply go to the Cedar Rapids Public Library website (crlibrary.org), click on Resources and Services and select Hoopla. Once there you’ll be prompted for your library card. Log in as a Cedar Rapids or Marion resident. You’re now… View more
With our community working hard to stay home and healthy, it might be difficult to figure out what to read next! Check out this Childrens Fiction Series List and start a new series for yourself or as a family read aloud. This list includes the series name as well as the first title in the series to… View more
What’s All the Hoopla?- Elementary Edition Hoopla is an online resource you can use from the comfort of your couch. To use it, simply go to the Cedar Rapids Public Library website (crlibrary.org), click on Resources and Services and select Hoopla. Once there you’ll be prompted for your library card. Log in as a Cedar… View more
I have just finished the latest Erik Larson book The Splendid and the Vile. It’s about the first year in Winston Churchill’s premiership. That year coincided with the London Blitz where German bombers pelted London and other British cities with bombs for weeks. I really like Larson’s works. He brings history alive and presents things in… View more
Libraries across the country are transforming how they serve their communities. New programs pop up to meet current trends; new platforms are developed to support emerging technologies; and new materials are added to library collections. The Cedar Rapids Public Library has a very special collection of items called Spark Kits, which are specifically designed to… View more
Ladies, gentleman, and non binary friends- I have news. Winter is here. We can deny it all we want, but we know it is just around the corner. This time it is not playing by any rules either. I don’t think I have ever before seen fall leaves on top of winter snow. Have you?… View more
With the holidays fast approaching, there are a number of great new book selections to get you in the spirit. The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They… View more
If you’re a manicure aficionado, you’ve probably heard of a nail polish company called OPI. (In fact, you’re probably wearing one of their colors right now.) Lincoln Park After Dark and Let Me Bayou a Drink are just two of the whimsically-named polishes this company has produced over the years. If you know OPI, then it’s time… View more
