Foundation officially launches fundraising campaign for new Cedar Rapids westside library

Today, a public library functions as much more than a repository for books and videos. It’s a social hub that can provide transformational resources and connections to community residents across economic and cultural boundaries, supporters said Jan. 25 at a fundraising campaign kickoff event for a new westside Cedar Rapids library branch. The campaign, being conducted by the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation and dubbed “Inspiring Big Dreams,” seeks to raise $10 million to establish a new, permanent library on Cedar Rapids’ west side to replace the aging Ladd Library, which is currently located in rented space in a former Target store at 3750 Williams Boulevard SW. Cedar Rapids library director Dara Schmidt noted that the Ladd Library branch opened in the winter of 2013, just a few months before the library’s new $46 million downtown library opened its doors. “We are in a 28,000-square-foot leased space that is part of a former Target store,” Ms. Schmidt said. “And as you can see, we are outgrowing this space just a bit.” In 2016, Ms. Schmidt said, library officials asked the Ladd Library building’s landlords if they would make the building available to purchase as a permanent location. “They said no, thank you, but they did offer us a 10-year fixed lease at that time, so that we could (stay) here with no increases until 2027,” she said. “So the (library has) used this location consistently as an opportunity for strategic partnerships to help the library fulfill its mission to connect people to information, experiences and services that enhance their quality of life so that our community can learn and thrive. The Ladd Library has been well-loved and utilized by the community, but this space can only give so much. Thanks to the opportunity provided by the Sandberg gift and the work of the Foundation, we know that we can be so much more.” The Sandberg gift refers to a $2 million library donation in 2020 from the estate of Cedar Rapids resident Nadine Sandberg, which served as the launching point for the campaign to establish a new westside Cedar Rapids library facility.

Later that year, the Cedar Rapids Public LIbrary Foundation used Ms. Sandberg’s donation to purchase land for a new westside library near the corner of Edgewood Road and 20th Avenue SW, just northwest of the current Ladd Library. The library project is expected to cost approximately $25 million, and has already received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations of $6 million from the city of Cedar Rapids and $4 million from the Linn County Board of Supervisors. Friends of the Library representatives also announced a donation of $250,000 to the library campaign at the Jan. 25 kickoff event. Additional funds have come in from private and corporate gifts to make the library project a reality. “This project wouldn’t be possible without the generous support we’ve already received,” Foundation executive director Charity Tyler said in a release. “Now we need our community to join us to make our big dream for the west side a reality.” More than 100,000 people visit Ladd Library each year, and with increased space and resources, the library expects to see 300,000 visitors annually, officials say. The site will be developed by the City of Cedar Rapids and will include a new six-acre city park, making it a destination for the entire community.

The new library will include:

• A square footage increase from 28,405 square feet at Ladd Library to nearly 40,000 square feet.
• Increased space for children’s learning, with zones for creative play, technology use, and motor skill development.
• Ten study rooms, a large conference room, and a conference center, all available for public use.
• Outdoor reading courtyards and library lawn for gathering and programs.
• Additional and better designed space for the Opportunity Center and library partners to provide services.
• Increased accessibility for ease of use, as well as connections to walking trails and sidewalks for pedestrian traffic.

“We all know that a new permanent library facility and a new city park will have transformational impact on this neighborhood – in a neighborhood that some would say needs the most support,” Cedar Rapids mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said. “We're going to fully leverage physical facilities, making the most of the opportunity to impact members of our community. We're taking this opportunity to develop a library and park campus – something that will bring much-needed green space. We can't underestimate the power of having places to run and play and think. The park will complement the library, promoting learning, exploration and discovery for everyone.” “Libraries are places where core memories can be made,” Linn County supervisor Ben Rogers added. “As a kid, I looked at a library as a place to go and rent books, watch movies, and surf microfiche. But as an adult and a parent, I've really come to realize that libraries are a critical part of the fabric of a community. Libraries, just like this space, become a place of refuge, a place for people to access critical services and to create access for information and technologies as well as a hub for gathering and creating community.” The design process for both the new library and park is underway, and library officials say they plan to break ground this fall, with an opening date in late 2026. Learn more about the project and how to support the Inspiring Big Dreams campaign at CRLibrary.org/bigdreams.