Library Closed for Labor Day Holiday

Both locations of the library will be closed on Sunday, August 31, and Monday, September 1.

Event List

Featured Events

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Library Branch

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This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Tiny Art Workshop

Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

You’re invited to make a Tiny Art masterpiece to be displayed at the library and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.   

Register
Registration Required
This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Read to Dogs

Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Trained, certified therapy dogs provide companionship to emerging readers as they earn a free library book and bookmark. Everyone is welcome to read to the dogs. Stay for a performance at 7 p.m.! 

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Friends of the Library Farmers Market Book Sale

Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 7:30am - 12:00pm
Urban Plaza at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Book Sale, Books and Reading
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Purchase new and gently used books from the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library during Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers Markets. Browse the books on the Urban Plaza in front of the Fourth Avenue doors of the Downtown Library.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Saturday Story Time: Tiny Artists

Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Kids are invited to listen to stories about creating art and then make a Tiny Art piece of their own for our Tiny Art Show! Supplies are limited for this event and are available at a first come, first served basis.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group

School's Out: Tiny Art Workshop

Monday, September 22, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen

Kids and teens are invited to make a Tiny Art masterpiece to be displayed at the library and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.   

Upcoming
Registration Required
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Family Art Night: Ink Art

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Join us for Family Art Night this fall! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with.

Upcoming
Registration Required
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time that is designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Incredible Bats!

Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs, Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Kim White from Incredible Bats will be visiting for a special informative program on bats! Learn about and interact with bats and other animals from around the world.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Expressive Arts With Tanager

Friday, September 26, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies, Early Learning, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers. This program is geared to pre-K to second graders. 

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Llama Encounter with Prairie Patch Farm

Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Have you ever wanted to learn more about llamas and alpacas? Prairie Patch Farm will bring two llamas (or alpacas) for attendees to learn about and meet! 

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs, Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us for Dungeons & Dragons, the world renowned table top role-playing game. Our tables meet weekly for adventure and excitement. Handbooks (2014) and dice are provided.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time that is designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Tiny Art Gallery Opening at Ladd Library

Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Come to the Tiny Grand Opening at Ladd Library from 5:30-6 pm and see all of the amazing art you and your neighbors made! Tiny refreshments provided.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Tiny Art Gallery Opening Downtown

Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Come to the Tiny Grand Opening at Ladd Library from 5:30-6 pm and see all of the amazing art you and your neighbors made! Tiny refreshments provided.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

The Littlest Mermaid - A Children's Opera, with the Cedar Rapids Opera

Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Adult

This charming English adaptation of the Czech opera Rusalka, composed by Dvořák, offers a happy ending for the mermaid Rusalka and her prince. This is the CRO's Season 28 children's outreach opera.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Family Art Night: Watercolor

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Join us for Family Art Night this fall! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with.

Upcoming
Registration Required
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs, Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us for Dungeons & Dragons, the world renowned table top role-playing game. Our tables meet weekly for adventure and excitement. Handbooks (2014) and dice are provided.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time that is designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Expressive Arts With Tanager

Friday, October 10, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies, Early Learning, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers. This program is geared to pre-K to second graders. 

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Civil Rights Commission Pop-Up

Friday, October 10, 2025 at 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Other
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission on the second Fridays of the month to participate in an activity to celebrate our community.

Cancelled
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Family Art Night: Watercolor

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Join us for Family Art Night this fall! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with.

Upcoming
Registration Required