News & Updates

May 1, 2024 – Library Journal named Meredith Crawford, Community Engagement Librarian at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, to its annual list of

April 29, 2024 – Cedar Rapids Public Library 2024 Artist in Residence Akwi Nji's work at the library has focused on the power of books, the written word, and the intersections of words, poet

April 22, 2024 – 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 five books they love. 

April 15, 2024 – April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Recognized by President Joe Biden for the first time in 2021, the month honors the history and heritage of 3.5 million Arab Americans.

April 9, 2024 – Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censor

April 7, 2024 – Ready, set, library! National Library Week is April 7–13, 2024, and the Cedar Rapids Public Library encourages everyone in the community to visit the library to explore all the library has to offer.

April 3, 2024 – Technology and creativity will meet at the Cedar Rapids Public Library with the Maker and Technology Fest, coming to the Downtown Library on Saturday, April 13, from 10 am-2 pm.

April 3, 2024 – April is National Poetry Month, and we're celebrating with this reading list of new poetry available at the library. These collections from a diverse array of voices were all published in the last two years.

March 18, 2024 – Darcy Doughtery Maulsby, author of "A Culinary History of Iowa" will bring her tales of Iowa history and food to the Downtown Library on March 30, 1-2 pm.

March 14, 2024 - Pi Day is celebrated every year on March 14, which in month-day format (3-14) represents the three digits of the value of π. Pi is the mathematical constant of the ratio of any circle's circumference divided by its diameter. 

March 13, 2024 – In honor of March Madness, we wanted to collect a list of sports stories to read in between games. Most of these are related to Iowa, with a few stories about women in sports, specifically basketball, in honor of Iowa's current star, Caitlin Clark.

March 6, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library has received funding from Humanities Iowa, a private non‐profit, to host a presentation called “Savor Iowa’s Culinary History” by author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby at the Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave.

March 4, 2024 – The theme for Women's History Month 2024 is "Women who Advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," and Materials Librarian Allison Zordell curated a list of nonfiction reflecting this theme.

Feb. 26, 2024 – The library has more than books – we also have Spark Kits. These kits are designed to help spark imagination and curiosity and to let people explore a new hobby without first needing to invest in supplies for it.

Feb. 21, 2024 – In honor of Black History Month, Cedar Rapids Public Library Materials Librarian Kim Martens-Tyo curated a list of books for children that celebrate Black history.