News & Updates

Sept. 29, 2025 - The inaugural Cedar Rapids Storytelling Festival, a new event put on by local nonprofit TellersBridge and the Cedar Rapids Public Library, is coming to the Downtown Library Oct. 1-4.

Sept. 11, 2025 – The Downtown Library Urban Plaza will receive an update this fall through a project funded by the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation. Beginning Monday, Sept.

Sept. 11, 2025 – Everyone has a story – and we need to listen to each other’s stories.

Aug. 19, 2025 – The public is invited to be part of the Tiny Art project - and have their masterpieces displayed at the library and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.   

June 4, 2025 – Everyone is welcome at the library this summer – and everyone is welcome to join us for the Summer Reading Challenge. Summer reading is for kids and families – but it is also for everyone else! 

May 15, 2025 – The Summer Reading Challenge welcomes a series of big performances for kids to the library on Mondays throughout June and July. All performances are first-come, first-serve; wrist bands will be handed out one hour prior to each performance.  

March 26, 2025 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and Lion Bridge Brewing Company have partnered to release Library Lager, a specialty limited-release beer, in celebration of the Westside Library project and National Library Week.&nb

March 12, 2025 – The library's second annual Maker Fest is coming up at the Downtown Library on Wednesday, March 19, from 1-3 pm. This open house will feature an afternoon of hands-on, family-friendly STEAM activities with both the library and community partners.

March 6, 2025 – Drop into the Downtown Library on Wednesday, March 19, from 1-3 pm for the second annual Maker Fest.

Jan. 6, 2025 – Iowa author Katie Hopkins writes about Iowa history - and loves diving into the spooky and mysterious side of the state. She wrote "Iowa: Haunted Corridor" with her husband, Josh Hopkins, and on Thursday, Jan.

UPDATE: After the ice storm led to Merry TubaChristmas being cancelled at the Downtown Library on Dec. 14, the organizers have found a new date and location for this annual event.

Nov. 8, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library is a certified “Dementia Friendly Organization” by Dementia Friendly Iowa after staff underwent training to be “Dementia Friends.” 

Oct. 11, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library will host an Ask-A-Lawyer event Oct. 24-25, in partnership with the Linn County Bar Association, the State Library of Iowa, and the University of Iowa’s Law Library. 

Oct. 7, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library invites community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Westside Library on Friday, Oct. 18, at 10 am.

Aug. 30, 2024 – Welcoming Week in Cedar Rapids is Sept. 13-22, 2024, and the library is participating.

Welcoming Week fits under the City of Cedar Rapids “Welcome is Our Language” campaign, seeking to highlight and celebrate the diversity of the community.