Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2019) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types —… View more
This September the Cedar Rapids Public Library is joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time to remind parents, caregivers and students that a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning. A library card opens a world of infinite possibilities through resources… View more
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation announced that more than 5,000 children are actively enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This figure represents 55% of children ages 0 to 5 living in Cedar Rapids and puts the program on track to mail their 100,000th book by year-end. Any child under the age of five who… View more
The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites you to celebrate the end of the Summer Dare with our Summer Dare Circus Party on Saturday, July 27, from 10 am to Noon at the Downtown Library. This community celebration is our final event in the 2019 Summer Dare, the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s inter-generational summer learning program…. View more
The Cedar Rapids Public Library is now offering a new digital service called Hoopla, offering Cedar Rapids citizens access to downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, music, comics, movies, and television delivered directly to your device. “Hoopla offers access to a new library of digital content for our community,” said Dara Schmidt, Director of the Cedar Rapids Public… View more
The Ladd Library will open on Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm beginning July 1. The additional open hours come two years after budget cuts forced a reduction in service hours at both Cedar Rapids Public Library locations. “We are very excited to be able to offer additional hours for our community,” said Dara… View more
Teens ages 12 – 18 are DARED to register for free half-day camps at the Cedar Rapids Public Library as part of the 2019 Summer Dare. The 2019 Summer Dare is not your average summer reading program. It is an intergenerational summer learning program that challenges the entire community to get out, explore, learn, connect,… View more
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
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
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