![A graphic says "Check These Out" with book covers for "An Ordinary Life," "I Love My People," and "Above Ground."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-04/Check%20These%20Out%20New%20Poetry.png?itok=xEgcbCnB)
Check These Out: New Poetry for National Poetry Month
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.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers: "The Miracle Season," "Fight Team Fight," and "Maynard 8 Miles."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-02/Check%20These%20Out%20Sports%20Stories%20for%20March%20Madness.png?itok=Vf3TvYdX)
Check These Out: Sports Stories for March Madness
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.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers: "The Beauty in Breaking," "Legacy," and "Life on Other Planets."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-02/Check%20These%20Out%20Women%27s%20History%20Month.png?itok=tE6recXX)
Check These Out: Women's History Month: DEI
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.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and photos of equipment for resistance exercises, HIIT training, needle felting, and pickleball.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-02/Check%20These%20Out%20Spark%20Kits%20%281%29.png?itok=bajbBC8d)
Check These Out: Spark Kits
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.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers: "An American Story," "You Are My Pride," and "Justice Rising."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-02/Black%20History%20Month%20kids%20books.png?itok=9i__8vw7)
Check These Out: Children's Books for Black History Month
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.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "Part of Your World," "The Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel," and "Neon Gods."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-02/Check%20These%20Out%20Romance.png?itok=YBCS1uyu)
Check These Out: Valentine's Day Reads
Feb. 12, 2024 – Romance has long been one of the most popular genres of literature, and recent offerings feature a diverse array of characters and settings, from Regency England to Ancient Greece and even contemporary Iowa.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers: "A Marvellous Light," "Iron Flame," and "The Hurricane Wars."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-01/Check%20These%20Out%20Romantasy.png?itok=uMkB2VS2)
Check These Out: Romantasy
Feb. 5, 2024 – In honor of Valentine's Day, Materials Librarian Allison Zordell put together a list of books in the quickly growing and wildly popular "romantasy" genre.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers, one in Chinese, one in Swahili, and one in Spanish.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-01/Check%20These%20Out%20Multilingual%20Collections.png?itok=BcozsfNJ)
Check These Out: Multilingual Collections
Jan. 23, 2024 – When patrons visit the Downtown Library, they may notice new shelves in the center of the second floor with books in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, Swahili, Chinese, Nepali, and more.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "The Bear and the Nightingale," "Legends & Lattes," and "The Only Purple House in Town."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-01/Check%20These%20Out%20Cozy%20Winter%20Reads.png?itok=Bk9WOCzG)
Check These Out: Cozy Winter Reads
Jan. 17, 2024 – Snowstorms and freezing temperatures have us wanting to just curl up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book. So we asked library staff for their book recommendations for books to read when you need to feel cozy on a cold winter day.
![A graphic is a green circle with a hand holding a plant and the words "In our community."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-01/COMMUNITY-49.png?itok=uCkcQaw4)
Resources After Tragedies in the News
Jan. 5, 2024 – After any tragedy, it can be hard to know where to turn or how to talk to children about what has happened. In response to the school shooting in Perry on Jan.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and book covers: "The Self Care Year," "The Sugar Jar," and "Real Self-Care."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2024-01/Check%20These%20Out%20New%20Year%20You%20Do%20You%20%281%29.png?itok=d6oj6bGb)
Check These Out: New Year: You Do You
Jan. 3, 2024 – As 2024 begins, many people are committing to new routines and new resolutions. Materials Librarian Allison Zordell, however, wanted to approach the idea of a new start a little differently.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, banners with "2023 Top Borrows" and "adult fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, ebooks & movies" and four book covers.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2023-12/1_0.png?itok=geOfJfU2)
Check These Out: 2023 Top Borrows – Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, Audiobooks, & Movie
Dec. 27, 2023 – What did Cedar Rapid read this year? We're here to tell you with our lists of the the top borrows of 2023.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, banners with "2023 Top Borrows" and "YA, children's books, manga, & graphic novels."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2023-12/2_0.png?itok=MdNVCnxM)
Check These Out: 2023 Top Borrows – YA, Children's Books, Manga, & Graphic Novels
Dec. 21, 2023 – As 2023 winds down and a new year approaches, some things remain unchanging: the popularity of the wimpy kids, pigeons who just want to drive buses, Pokemon, and Minecraft being chief among them.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "The Bandit Queens," "Fourth Wing," and "The Covenant of Water."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2023-12/Check%20These%20Out%20Best%20Books%20of%202023.png?itok=KXOEVhDS)
Check These Out: The Best Books We Read in 2023
Dec. 11, 2023 – As 2023 draws to a close, we're looking back on the best books we read over the last year. Library staff recommended some of their favorite reads of the year, from novels to nonfiction. Most were published in 2023, but some are older.
![A graphic has an orange circle with a thumbs up that says "Check These Out," the library logo, and three book covers: "Christmas with Kim-Joy," "The Gingerbread Book" and "Holiday Cookies."](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/2023-11/Check%20These%20Out%20Holiday%20Cookies.png?itok=Y0Mo01uL)
Check These Out: Holiday Baking Cookbooks
Dec. 4, 2023 – 'Tis the season for holiday baking, and the library is celebrating with cookie-centric events: