Library Closed for Staff Training

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for an all-staff training day. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Event List

Featured Events

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Library Branch
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

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 "Adult" group

Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees

Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Conference Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Other
Age Group:
Adult
Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees:

The Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees meets the first Thursday of each month at 4 pm for their regular meeting. The meetings will rotate between the Downtown Libra...

This event is in the "Adult" group

Tango Práctica

Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Adult

Join us weekly for Tango Práctica (practice), where you will learn the basic steps of tango and grow your skills in an encouraging, welcoming group. No partner required. Smooth-soled shoes recommended. 

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

Laser-Cut DIY Dice Towers

Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Maker Room and Technology
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us to make Dice Towers that have been cut out using our laser cutters! Materials will be provided to paint and customize your tower.

Registration is required. 

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

After School Decompression Session

Monday, January 12, 2026 at 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
School Age

Need a space to hang out and decompress after a busy day at school? We'll have comfy lo-fi music and a rotating series of stations with passive activities like coloring pages, puzzles, a reading corner, and more!

Cancelled
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 "Babies & Toddlers" group

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

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, January 14, 2026 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
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

Cedar Rapids Chess Club

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 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, 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 "Teen" group

Teen Steam

Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Union at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Teen

Join us every other Thursday for various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, & math) projects. 

This event is in the "Adult" group

Tango Práctica

Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities
Age Group:
Adult

Join us weekly for Tango Práctica (practice), where you will learn the basic steps of tango and grow your skills in an encouraging, welcoming group. No partner required. Smooth-soled shoes recommended. 

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. 

Library Closed

All Day
Downtown Library, Ladd Library, Offsite

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library are closed. Please explore our digital resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and more at CRLibrary.org.

Closing

Library Closed

All Day
Downtown Library, Ladd Library, Offsite

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library are closed. Please explore our digital resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and more at CRLibrary.org.

Closing
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! 

This event is in the "Teen" group

Teen Maker Club

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Technology Classroom at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Maker Room and Technology
Age Group:
Teen

Teens will learn skills related to our Maker Spaces and equipment, such as the 3D Printer, laser cutters, sewing, and an introduction to basic designs using computer software. This club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

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, January 21, 2026 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
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 "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group

Family Art Night

Wednesday, January 21, 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.