Holiday Hours

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, and Thursday, December 25. 

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

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, December 16, 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

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

McKinley STEAM Academy Jazz Band Holiday Concert

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 11:00am - 11:30am
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

The McKinley STEAM Academy Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band will perform seasonal music in the library Commons. These groups are made up of 6th-8th grade students from curricular instrumental music classes.

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

Family Art Night

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

Join us for Family Art Night this winter! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with. Each program will be presented at Ladd and Downtown with the same materials.

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

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, December 18, 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 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

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers at the Ladd Library. 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

CANCELLED - Read to Dogs

Thursday, December 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.! 

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

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, December 19, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

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

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

Family Art Night

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

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

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

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, January 5, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

Family Art Night

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

Join us for Family Art Night this winter! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with. Each program will be presented at Ladd and Downtown with the same materials.

Upcoming
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

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, January 8, 2026 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 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, January 9, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers at the Downtown Library. 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

Saturday Story Time

Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Story time activities support early literacy and foster a love of reading. Participating in activities such as story time contributes to learning, social skills, and school readiness.

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

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, January 12, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

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

Family Art Night

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

Join us for Family Art Night this winter! 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 "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, January 15, 2026 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 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

CANCELLED - Read to Dogs

Thursday, January 15, 2026 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.! 

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

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, January 16, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers at the Downtown Library. 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

Community Crafting for Dolly

Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:00am - 12:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Drop by our crafts table to make a craft to honor Dolly Parton's 80th birthday. Crafts will be used to create a community display at Dolly's Birthday Party on Jan.

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

Dolly Parton’s Birthday Party

Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B, Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Adult

Join the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation as we celebrate Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday with a morning of family-friendly fun! The celebration features story times, activities, cookies, and a dance party. 

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

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles!