News & Updates

Jan. 5, 2026 – Legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton's 80th birthday is Jan. 19, and the Cedar Rapids Library Foundation is celebrating with a family-friendly birthday party at the Downtown Library.

Jan. 2, 2026 – A new year is here, and many people are setting resolutions and embracing fresh starts. From self-help to food to fitness, here are a few recently published books that might help on a resolution journey.

Dec. 23, 2025 – As 2025 draws to a close, we're looking back on the most popular books of the year at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. In several categories, here's what was borrowed most often.

Dec. 22, 2025 — The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation is excited to announce a major gift for the new westside library project from the Robert & Elizabeth Allsop Charitable Trust.

Dec. 16, 2025 – It is a truth universally acknowledged that a beloved book in the public domain must be in want of a retelling.

Dec. 11, 2025 – The holidays are a time to indulge in Hallmark Channel-style movies – and in their literary counterparts, aka holiday-themed romance novels. Some are heartwarming and some are silly – "A Mannequin for Christmas"?

Dec. 3, 2025 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library is made possible by our incredible staff. And we are staffed by book lovers. To celebrate the people who keep our library running, we're highlighting different staff members and books they love.

Dec. 1, 2025 – The holiday season is here, and the library has programs to help you embrace the spirit of the season.

Dec. 1, 2025 – The Metro Library Network – which includes the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha public libraries – will be discontinuing CloudLibrary beginning Jan. 1.  

Nov. 26, 2025 – Every December, the Commons of the Downtown Library is filled with tubas – nearly 100 of them – for the annual Merry TubaChristmas concert. Well, tubas, sousaphones, baritones, and euphoniums – the brass section is well represented.

Nov. 24, 2025 – The holiday season is here, and that means a season of cooking, sharing meals, and celebrating with loved ones. So we decided to highlight 10 cookbooks that came out this year to help you find a little inspiration.

Nov. 19, 2025 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library is made possible by our incredible staff. And we are staffed by book lovers. To celebrate the people who keep our library running, we're highlighting different staff members and books they love.

Nov. 13, 2025 – Murder mysteries are one of the most popular genres of books - and many put books themselves at the center of story.

Nov. 5, 2025 – November is Native American Heritage Month. We've curated a list of recently published books by and about the diverse Native peoples in the United States.

Nov. 4, 2025 — The Herbert Hoover Presidential Foundation is bringing history to life at the Cedar Rapids Public Library with the traveling exhibit Hoover on the Road.