June 23, 2025 – When you pick up your Summer Reading kit at the library this year (and we hope you do), it will come with a tote that says “Libraries are for Everyone.”
That’s not just a nice sentiment to put on a bag. It’s at the center of everything we do. No matter your age, background, abilities, beliefs, or economic situation, we want the library to be accessible to you, and we want you to feel welcome.
That means striving to make the library inviting with fun summer programs, from magic shows to live music. It means emphasizing literacy with the Summer Reading Challenge, creating access to technology in our Maker Spaces, and providing career and job help at the Opportunity Center.
It means planning programs for the youngest and oldest readers alike, from a Summer Reading Kick Off Party with our friends from Hovick Farm’s petting zoo to partnerships to provide events for older adults. It means taking the library out into the community through outreach – such as at the CR Pride and Juneteenth festivals – and story time in the parks.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. We don’t know what the future holds. But we know one thing, and it won’t change – the library is for everyone. We are your library, and we will be here for you.
- Dara Schmidt, Cedar Rapids Public Library Director
A version of this blog post was first published in the summer 2025 issue of the library's OPEN+ magazine.