Cousin got married in the Whipple auditorium of the library yesterday, and the reception was at one…read moreof the conference rooms close by. Initial plans were to hold the ceremony up on the roof, but outdoor temperature and humidity, coupled with daily forecasts of thunderstorms, necessitated the change in plans. No worries, as they were all still able to get photos of the wedding party up on the roof and at other library locations. Since we were all here for rehearsal and wedding the two days I visited the library, I was not able to explore much, except for the Greyhound Deli & Cafe on the first floor, which was right underneath the conference room where the reception took place and the nearby Whipple auditorium, which were on the second floor. The space outside the conference room had tables, chairs, and couches and was designed so that you may look into the cafe's "courtyard" below. Oh, and I really enjoyed checking out the "green" roof and the porcelain patio furniture! Nice views of Pepsi's delivery areas... Hehe! All three levels are easily accessed by stairs and elevators. Would like to explore more on a return visit sometime in the future.

World Class library in a mid-size Iowa city. Was it really necessary to spend so much dough on such…read morea lavish repository of books? Time will tell. However, it is a very nice welcoming facility. Very technological in nature, but don't let that scare you off. The staff is very friendly and professional. Your library card can be used at both Cedar Rapids libraries as well as Hiawatha and Marion. The parking lot is very small in size, but with helpful tutoring from library staff you can park on the street and in the adjoining parking ramp for two hours with no charge. Just ask how to do it. I'm looking forward to nice weather so I can sit up on the expansive, expensive 'green' roof. That should be delightful.

Nice newer library for the west side of Cedar Rapids to replace the old one at Westdale Mall…read more Well lit, user friendly, very convenient. Bike parking, EZ drive up to return books. Plenty of parking too.

There are only two study rooms here, unlike the downtown library. This one is a little quitter…read morethough, but it's an open floor plan so if anyone speaks or types too aggressively you can definitely hear them.

Wonderful library. It's quiet, has great staff, and a very good selection.read more

Nice quiet library well stocked for the area that it is in…read more Large section for the kids, and helpful staff. They just need a larger parking lot.

Love this place! I "lived" there for some 4 weeks. I was there every single day they were open…read more The genealogy library is open: 10am til 4pm, Tuesday-Saturday and closed on holidays (see photo) If traveling to visit? DOUBLE CHECK WITH THEM on days, hours http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ia/county/linn/gen_soc.htm (319) 369-0022 They will let you stay in there through the lunch hour as long as you are in the door by 12 noon (doors are locked for the other people in the building). I "lived" in this library for some 4+ weeks when I was going genealogy in the area in May and June 2009. The folks are nice and helpful, and there is a ton of great resources there to track down your family roots. Parking is excellent OUT BACK (paid, short term on the street out front), safe area....good hours considering it is run by volunteers. A treasure trove of fabulous stuff! Note: the hours posted on the DOOR is for the Masonic Library folks in the building.....NOT the genealogy library. They have separate hours which is why I smudged them out so you would not get confused.

From the owner: The Genealogical Society of Linn County, Iowa (GSLCI) has been collecting and preserving important…read moregenealogical and historical information since 1965. By providing ongoing access to resource materials and literature available in the library collection, as well as providing lectures, discussions, workshops and research guidance, the GSLCI assists individuals in their genealogical pursuits and continues to foster public interest in family and local history

I can get lost in a bookstore for hours. While in Cedar Rapids for business I spent time exploring…read morethe shelves. They had a nice selection for a relatively small store and the staff was very helpful.

It's hard to believe that this Barnes & Noble has been here for as long as it has. They have kept…read moreup well with the trends in bookstores. There's always a wide variety of books displayed in the common areas. Their recommendations in some of the sections are always spot on. We were there most recently during the post Christmas sale. They had some great deals. Don't forget to stop and grab a coffee when you wanna come in and browse. There's always a wide variety of books displayed in the common areas. Their recommendations in some of the sections are always spot on. We were there most recently during the post Christmas sale. They had some great deals. Don't forget to stop and grab a coffee when you come in and pick your next favorite read.

5/5 stars for being your quintessential small town public library…read more This little library is chock full of lots of great things--books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, Blu-Rays, puzzles, games, and even cake pans. It's been a long time since I've seen puzzles and board games available for loan. For a library that's on the smaller side I'd say they have a lot to offer. I went ahead and got myself a library card on this visit because I know I'll become a regular. I left with a few non-fiction titles (I love a good self-help book), but will definitely be back to throughly browse all of their DVDs and Blu-rays--they must have thousands. Be prepared to really search the library for what you want, as they don't have computers available to patrons who may want to look up the name of an author, book title, or particular subject matter. If you have an exact title in mind, I'm sure the staff would happily locate it for you. Otherwise, everything is categorized by fiction, non-fiction, YA, picture books, magazines, etc, then alphabetically. They do have a printed inventory list of DVDs and Blu-rays that you might find helpful. Fairfax Public Library does have a website and an online catalog you can access from home. I'm not sure how you access this database at the library itself. Complementary Keurig machine with K-Cups near the fiction audiobooks. Free parking on the street in front of the library, or in the parking lot near the back of the building. Highly recommend visiting the library if you're a Fairfax/Walford resident.