![A man holds a guitar and sings in front of a crowd of seated children.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-07/tom%20pease%20keepers_2.jpg?itok=9nAxLRIU)
Check These Out: Books Tom Pease Loves
July 15, 2024 – Musician and children's entertainer Tom Pease has been delighting Cedar Rapids children for more than 30 years with energetic songs and interactive performances.
![A logo says Cedar Rapids Public Library with green and red swoops.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-07/CRPL%20logo-high%20res.jpg?itok=QM1EXiwL)
Library Board of Trustees Elects New Officers, New Trustee
July 12, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees elected Monica Challenger as president and Jeremy Elges as vice president at the July 11 board meeting. The board also welcomed a new member, Ana McClain, along with reappointed members
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," with the library logo and three book covers: "Disability Visibility," "Sitting Pretty," and "I Live a Life Like Yours."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-07/Disability%20Awareness%20Month.png?itok=cpsc3fLS)
Check These Out: Memoirs and More for Disability Awareness Month
July 8, 2024 – July is Disability Pride Month, and Cedar Rapids Public Library Materials Librarian Allison Zordell curated this list of memoirs, histories, and more nonfiction to read this month and beyond.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "Amari and the Night Brothers," "Small Spaces," and "Alone."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-06/Check%20These%20Out%20Teacher%20Librarian%20Picks%20Middle%20Grade.png?itok=hC0E_vBP)
Check These Out: Summer Reading Picks by School Librarians: Middle Grade
July 1, 2024 – Looking for a great summer read? Cedar Rapids Community School District teacher librarians Roby Davis, Stephan Frischkorn, Jessica Zimmerman, Andrea Schoenbeck, Frank Scherman, and Michelle Kruse shared some of the books their students love.
![A graphic says "Staff Book Picks: Zoe, Shelver" with a photo of Zoe and three book covers: "Women Holding Things," "All Adults Here," and "If You Come to Earth."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-06/Check%20These%20Out%20Books%20Zoe%20Loves.png?itok=xaaiBLna)
Check These Out: Staff Book Picks with Zoe
June 24, 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.
![Cedar Rapids Public Library winter reading badge](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2022-11/mug%20design-final-adult-black.jpg?itok=cj4tiyHG)
Summer Camp for Adults at the Library
June 17, 2024 - At the library, we believe summer should be fun for everyone – adults and kids alike. That's why we're hosting an Adult Summer Camp series, with weekly nostalgia-themed programs beginning June 27.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," and three book covers: "Giraffe is Too Tall for this Book," "Big Bold Beautiful Me" and "I Eat Poop."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-06/Check%20These%20Out%20Teacher%20Librarian%20Picks%20for%20Kids%20%281%29.png?itok=AZ8jFVyg)
Check These Out: Summer Reading Picks by School Librarians: Kids
June 17, 2024 – Looking for a great summer read? Cedar Rapids Community School District teacher librarians Roby Davis, Stephan Frischkorn, Jessica Zimmerman, Andrea Schoenbeck, Frank Scherman, and Michelle Kruse shared some of the books their students love.
The "Why" Behind Summer Reading
June 10, 2024 – by Cedar Rapids Public Library Director Dara Schmidt
Summer is here, and that means the Summer Reading Challenge is underway at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
![A woman holding a guitar sings into a microphone.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-06/Amber%20Hansen.jpeg?itok=J3wFTn2E)
Check These Out: Books for My Students with Amber Hansen
June 10, 2024 – Amber Hansen is more than a singer-songwriter – she's also a music teacher at Prairie Hill Elementary in the College Community School District.
![Two women smile behind a table and a sign that says "Read With Pride" as a third woman approaches.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-05/Pride_030.jpg?itok=7Nd0ip9s)
Pride Month at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
June 3, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library welcomes everyone to the library this Pride Month and beyond. The library is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride with events and curated book lists.
![A graphic says "Check These Out" with book covers for "Are u ok?" "Mind Over Monsters" and "The Balanced Brain."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-05/Check%20These%20Out%20Mental%20Health%20Awareness%20Month.png?itok=0z8DTlw6)
Check These Out: Mental Health Awareness Month Resources
May 28, 2024 – May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and many organizations are raising awareness of the 988 Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
![Tiny art canvases hang on a gallery wall.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-05/tiny%20art%201.png?itok=-dHgjGfi)
Participate in the Tiny Art Project at the Library
Update, June 5 – The Downtown Library is out of Tiny Art Kits, but kits are still available at Ladd Library. You may also check with Marion or Hiawatha Public Library for kits.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "I Want You To Know We're Still Here," "The Best Strangers in the World," and "Lost & Found."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-05/Check%20These%20Out%20Jewish%20American%20Month.png?itok=ndPVMf1d)
Check These Out: Books to Read for Jewish American Heritage Month
May 20, 2024 – May is Jewish American Heritage Month, as proclaimed by President George W.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "All You Can Ever Know," "The Dream Builders," and "The Great Reclamation."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-04/Check%20These%20Out%20AAPI%20Heritage%20Month.png?itok=C4hgX4up)
Check These Out: Books to Read During Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 13, 2024 – May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, dedicated by Congress, which chose the month of May to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the Un
![A graphic says "Staff Book Picks: Jacob, Events Specialist" with a photo of Lexi and three book covers: "Into Thin Air," "The Gunslinger," and "Caps for Sale."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-04/Check%20These%20Out%20Books%20Jacob%20Loves%20%281%29.png?itok=zHwbpeuP)
Check These Out: Staff Book Picks with Jacob
May 6, 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.