The Cedar Rapids Public Library was honored to accept the Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize during a celebration held at the American Library Association’s LibLearnX Conference in New Orleans on Jan. 30. 

The Jerry Kline Community Impact prize, developed in partnership by Library Journal and the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation, was created in 2019 to recognize the public library as a vital community asset. It is awarded to one library each year to recognize that library’s impact in its community. 

The prize includes a $250,000 award for the library from the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation. The library was also featured on the November cover of Library Journal. 

“Cedar Rapids Public Library has made a huge impact through its close connections with civic leadership and community — exactly what this prize seeks to spotlight and honor,” said Jerry Kline, CEO of the Gerald M. Kline Family Foundation, when the award was announced in November. 

The recognition highlights initiatives like the library’s Mobile Technology Lab and community and civic partnerships that expand the library’s reach based on three strategic pillars of literacy, access, and inclusion. 

“We are a stronger library because of the relationships we have with our city and county leadership. We are a stronger community because of the support our nonprofits and library give each other. We’re grateful this award recognizes the value of those partnerships,” said Library Director Dara Schmidt.