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

A portrait of Jane Austen.

Jane Austen Birthday Tea Party & Trivia

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities

Age Group:

Teen, Adult
maker spaces words over a gear

Holiday Express Maker Hours

Friday, December 19, 2025 at 9:30am - 12:30pm
Maker Spaces at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Maker Room and Technology

Age Group:

Adult
The characters of the Fellowship of the Rings look at the camera as Ringwraiths gallop below them.

"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" Movie & Costume Contest

Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
Characters from "The Two Towers" stare into the distance in front of the tower of Sauron.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" Movie & Craft

Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
Frodo holds up the Ring while Aragorn brandishes a sword, with other characters between them

"The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" Movie & Craft

Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 12:30pm - 4:00pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs, Other

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family LEGO Challenge Night

Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Family Programs, Games and Activities

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
Dolly Parton's Birthday Party written with an illustration of red and green balloons.

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
Filters
Age Group
Program Type
Dolly Parton's Birthday Party written with an illustration of red and green balloons.

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. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

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! 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

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. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, January 22, 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.

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts With Tanager

Thursday, January 22, 2026 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. 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, January 23, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd 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. 

Illustration of animal puppets with the words "Story Time."

Saturday Story Time: PJs & Hot Cocoa

Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Come in your coziest PJs, snuggle up with your favorite stuffy or blanket, and settle in for some winter reads, followed by hot cocoa, cookies, and coloring.

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, January 26, 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! 

image of blocks and the words children's program

After School Decompression Session

Monday, January 26, 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
book club words over pic of a book

Steeped in Books

Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
UnConference Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading
Age Group:
Adult

Bring your favorite mug and enjoy a cuppa while discussing books with fellow readers at our new book club.

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, January 27, 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! 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, January 28, 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. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, January 29, 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.

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd 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. 

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, January 30, 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. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, February 2, 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! 

image of blocks and the words children's program

After School Decompression Session

Monday, February 2, 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
image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, February 3, 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! 

book club words over pic of a book

Between the Covers Book Club

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:00am
UnConference Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading
Age Group:
Adult

The Between the Covers book group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10 am. If you enjoy reading and good conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, then this is the book group for you. Anyone is welcome.

Discussion books for fall:

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, February 4, 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. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, February 5, 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.

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, February 6, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd 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. 

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, February 6, 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. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, February 9, 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!