‘Righteous Porkchop’ is 2012 selection for Linn Area Reads program

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Amber

An acclaimed investigation into the conditions and effects of factory farms has been selected as the 2012 title for the community reading program known as Linn Area Reads. “Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms” by Nicolette Hahn Niman will be the centerpiece of this year’s programming. Linn Area Reads is a program of the Metro Library Network, which is made up of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha Public Libraries.

Serving as the senior attorney for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s environmental group Waterkeeper, Hahn Niman was quickly immersed in the world of factory farms. Horrified by what she found, she began a passionate fight to reform the industry. “Righteous Porkchop” is an account of the troubling practices of industrial animal operations. Hahn Niman also offers alternatives for more sustainable livestock farming and recounts her personal love story along the way.

Hahn Niman will give a presentation on Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel at Kirkwood as the finale of the Linn Area Reads program. The presentation will also be part of the 2012 edition of Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series. Prior to her visit, a series of events will be held to encourage community participation.

On Thursday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m., each library in the Metro Library Network will host a collaborative book discussion kick-off party. A limited number of free copies of “Righteous Porkchop” will be available at each site. Book discussions will follow on each of the next four Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Barnes & Noble.

On Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at the Marion Public Library, The Gazette will host a panel discussion entitled “Beyond Factory Farms.” On Sunday, April 22 from 1 to 5 p.m., a “Farm to Market” vendor fair will be held at Westdale Mall, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about local food production.

Seven of the Linn Area Reads organizers will be participating in an ongoing blog conversation about the book and the issues it raises. The blog can be found at http://linnareareads.blogspot.com.

Linn Area Reads is supported by Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, Friends of the Hiawatha Public Library, Friends of the Marion Public Library, The Gazette, the Giacoletto Foundation, the University of Iowa’s Hancher, and the Metro Library Network.

More information about the Linn Area Reads program can be found at www.metrolibrarynetwork.org. More information about Nicolette Hahn Niman and “Righteous Porkchop” can be found at www.righteousporkchop.com.

Cedar Rapids Public Library Seeks Submissions for Public Art

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Amber

The Cedar Rapids Public Library Public Art Task Force is seeking qualifications from artists for two projects associated with the new downtown library. Opportunities exist for artists to create a sculpture for the Urban Plaza, as well as a southern exterior art installation.

Interested artists should submit their qualifications by February 29, 2012 through CAFÉ™, a free online interactive system.

To view project descriptions, budgets, and details about how to apply for these opportunities, please visit www.callforentry.org, click on “Call Listings,” scroll down to “Cedar Rapids Public Library Public Art Commissions,” and select “View More Info.” Interested artists can click on “Apply for this Call” to create a free account and submit their application.

For more information on the Public Art Task Force and the two art commissions, contact Amber Mussman at (319) 739-0404 or mussmana@crlibrary.org.

CRPL Offers Free E-Reader Classes

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Amber

Did you get a new e-reader this holiday season? The Cedar Rapids Public Library has hundreds of ebooks available to card holders. Attend one of our upcoming Library E-Book Informational Sessions and learn how easy it is to access our titles for your new device!

Classes will be offered Thursday, January 12 at 3:00 pm and Friday, January 20 at 10:00 am. Computer experience is necessary but you do not need to bring your e-reader to participate.

Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Celebrate 40 Years

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Amber

The Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library this month celebrate 40 years of service in the community. For the past 40 years, the Friends have committed countless hours and dollars to their mission: The Friends supports the Cedar Rapids Public Library services and programs, promotes literacy through outreach programs that encourage and enhance reading throughout the community and conducts fundraising activities to assist with library and outreach projects.

It was 1971 when the 15 charter members of the Friends announced their intention to support and encourage library growth. The first Book Sale in 1973 made the public aware of the group and brought in financial support to the library in a time of challenges. In 1974, the book sale netted over $1,700 to finance programs and purchases on the library’s behalf. More than 600 active members of the Friends participated in programs throughout the year.

Just three years into existence, the Friends numbered over 950 members and had raised more than $10,000 for the library. This amazing start to the organization is something to remember, but the group hasn’t stopped yet. In 2011, the Friends pledged $400,000 to the new library project campaign, Library 3.0. In addition to this financian gift, the Friends give annually to support library programs (such as Jazz in the Stacks), and a number of literacy initiatives within the community:

Babies and Books–hospital packets for parents of newborns
Reading is Fundamental (RIF)–distribution of paperback books to preschoolers
Clifford the Big Red Dog appearances at library story times, preschools and elementary schools
America Reads
Literacy Initiative help to service agencies such as Madge Philips Center and the Free Medical Clinic
Books-By-Mail service for the homebound

For forty years, the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library have made it possible for so many programs, for necessary equipment, and even additional staff hours when needed. They have offered help, support and encouragement. We thank them for their continued support and encouragement and look forward to another forty years together.

To learn about becoming a Friend of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, visit www.crlibrary.org/friends.

The annual Fall Book Sale will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the former Stuff Etc. building at 3750 Williams Blvd SW. This is an amazing opportunity to show your support to the Friends and get some great deals on books.

Friday, October 28, 5 pm – 9 pm, $5 per person,$2 hard cover, $1 paperbacks

Pre-Sale, Friday, October 28, 3:30 – 5 pm, $20, Rare and Collectible books only 3:30 – 4:30 pm, all books 4:30 – 5:00 pm.

Saturday, October 29, 9 am – 5 pm, $3 per person, $1 hard cover, $.50 paperbacks

Sunday, October 30, 12 pm – 4 pm FREE admission

Box Sale: $8 per box on Sunday

Metro Library Network eBooks Now Available for Kindle

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Amber

Kindle users now have the ability to download ebooks from the Metro Library Network, which consists of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion Public Libraries. OverDrive, the service used by the Metro Library Network to lend ebooks, announced the change yesterday.

“Our customers have been asking for this since we began lending ebooks,” said Amber Mussman, Public Information Officer at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. “Our ebooks are compatible with a vast majority of devices, including iPads, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony eReader, Kobo eReader, Pandigital Novel, and now the Amazon Kindle.”

Customers who want to borrow an ebook from the Metro Library Network can visit their library website and click on OverDrive to access the library of hundreds of items.

Kindle users can browse the collection of bestselling and classic eBooks from a computer, check out titles using a library card, and select “Get for Kindle” to deliver eBooks to their Kindle device or any device running the free Kindle app.

Visit http://bit.ly/librarykindle to go directly to the Metro Library Network OverDrive site.

For more information on the Cedar Rapids Public Library, call (319) 398-5123 or visit www.crlibrary.org.

CRPL Partners with Macaroni Kid Cedar Rapids for National Halloween Costume Swap Day

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Amber

Family friendly website and newsletter Macaroni Kid Cedar Rapids is partnering with the Cedar Rapids Public Library to bring for the first ever National Halloween Costume Swap on Sunday, October 2 from 1 pm – 4 pm.

Drop off your gently used and clean costumes (up to kids size 14) at the Cedar Rapids Public Library at Westdale on Tuesday, September 27th and Wednesday, September 28^th, from 4:00-7:00. In exchange for your costume(s) you will be give a Swap Ticket to be brought back for the event on October 2nd from 1:00-4:00 pm. Costumes will also be available for sale from 3:00-4:00 pm for a small fee. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Remaining costumes will be donated to Costumes for Kids, a local organization that donates costumes to less fortunate kids within the community.

A costume swap is recycling at its most fun. Kids get new-to-them costumes and parents save money and the planet. Through the efforts of the grassroots, non-profit known as Green Halloween, families in the area are being invited to take a greener approach to Halloween. Something as simple as a costume swap does make a difference. In fact, statistics show that swapping the costumes of only half of the children who celebrate Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons, equivalent to the weight of 2500 midsize cars.

The first 100 participants to drop off their gently used costumes will receive a Swag Bag full of goodies from local businesses.

WHAT: National Halloween Costume Swap

WHEN: October 2, 1 pm – 4 pm

Costume Drop Off: September 27 and 28, 4 – 7 pm at CRPL West

WHERE: CRPL West, 2600 Edgewood Rd. SW Suite 330, Cedar Rapids

WHO: Everyone!

For more information on the Cedar Rapids Public Library visit www.crlibrary.org or call (319) 398-5123.

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About Macaroni Kid:

Macaroni Kid has been going strong in Cedar Rapids and surrounding area since October 2010. Macaroni Kid is a free weekly e-newsletter and website that highlights all of the great things for kids and their families to do in our community. With reaching over 12,000 page views monthly and close to 1000 subscribers, the site is quickly approaching the one year mark for keeping the parents in the area “in-the-know” for weekly kid and family events and activities.

Parents in the area can sign up to receive their weekly newsletter by visiting www.macaronikid.com and selecting Cedar Rapids from the drop down list or by visiting www.cedarrapids.macaronikid.com. In addition to the events in the area, we’ll be bringing reviews and insights about events and activities in Cedar Rapids, as well as featuring informative articles, recipes, and crafts.

Macaroni Kid Iowa City started publication in July 2011 and is also quickly becoming a great resource for families in Iowa City and surrounding areas.

Cedar Rapids Public Library Launches New Website, Mobile Site

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Amber

The Cedar Rapids Public Library today launches a new website and mobile site designed to be more user-friendly and match the new brand. (www.crlibrary.org)

“We offer so many resources through our website, such as our downloadable ebooks and audiobooks, and our wide variety of research databases,” said Amber Mussman, CRPL Public Information Officer. “We know how important it is to make sure our customer experience online is as positive as the one in the Library itself.”

The new website features a colorful design with easy access to what users are most often looking for – the online catalog, how to get a library card, how to renew online, and what events are happening at the Library.

Developed by Informatics Inc., the website incorporates a new “What’s New at the Library” feature which displays newly added items in the Library’s collection.

A new mobile site launches in conjunction with the new website, offering the growing number of mobile users an opportunity to take full advantage of the Library’s website.

This is the latest step in the rebranding process at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. A new logo was launched recently and a campaign to raise awareness is underway.

For more information on the Cedar Rapids Public Library, visit www.crlibrary.org or call (319) 398-5123.

I Love My Librarian!

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Amber

Nominations are now being sought for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!

The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. How is your librarian is improving the lives of the people in your school, campus or community.

Up to ten winners will be selected this year and receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York hosted by The New York Times.

Nominations are accepted through September 12.

Take Your Library Card on Vacation

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Amber

As part of our Summer Reading Program 2011, we need your help! When you travel this summer, whether it is to far away destinations or even someplace close to home, we would love it if you would take a picture with you library card and share it with us. We will have a display at the CRPL West to show all the places our library cards go! Yours will be included in the bunch.

You can drop your photos off at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, email them to mussmana@crlibrary.org, or upload them to our Facebook page. Don’t forget to sign up for our Summer Reading Program while you are at it! Visit www.crlibrary.org to learn more.

New Images of Library 3.0

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Amber

The new Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library

There are so many exciting aspects to Library 3.0, more than we can show in a few sketches. These artistic renderings show how full of light the new library will be and how the space is meant to be flexible and easy to navigate.

A 200-seat auditorium with a view of Greene Square Park will be a signature part of our new library. This is a space that the community will use for a wide variety of functions, from author readings to dance recitals.

A children’s library nearly double the size of the previous one will make this a space for the newest generation of Cedar Rapidians to engage in learning, reading, and playing. A partnership with a variety of children’s service organizations (CELI) will make this an innovative space for early childhood education.

A fireplace on the second floor near the non-fiction stacks will make reading your favorite book or magazine cozy in the winter months, and a green roof/garden and patio make this the place-to-be downtown in the warmer months.

The 95,000 square foot library is expected to be completed summer 2013.

Ariel shot of the Library - Green Roof

The 200-seat auditorium faces onto Greene Square Park.

The new children's library is nearly doubly the size of the 1985 library.

When you enter the new library, you enter into a welcoming service hub. This includes a space for quick-internet access, a cafe, entry to the teen area, stairs to go to the 2nd floor, elevator, self-checks and staff service stations. You will be able to enter the library from the north or south and find your way just by looking around.

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