Cedar Rapids Library: A hub for our community

Libraries have evolved beyond being repositories for books. In the 21st century, a library needs to be a community hub and serve as a great equalizer. It is a shared place that doesn't care about anyone's background. Libraries welcome everyone and empower people to do more for themselves and others on every visit.

Our community wanted a participatory library, and we have that taking place every day at our library. To maintain the best library in the state as a resource to business, an economic engine for the city, a connector for elderly and unemployed, and a haven for our children and grandchildren, it's clear that a ‘Yes' vote is the smart choice for our community on November 3rd.

In the Cedar Rapids Public Library, a four year-old boy checks out a tablet and touches a piece of technology for the first time. With no computer at home, the library bridges the technology divide. A senior citizen takes her seat in a computer class so that she can learn new skills to stay connected with out-of-state family and her grandchildren. Teenagers share their own collaborative space to read, socialize, and use computers; a man in his thirties does research on a daily basis, trying to earn a college degree. After a recent layoff, he is back in school to make a better life for his family but has no computer at home. A business leader hosts an off-site retreat with her team. Book clubs and impromptu meetings are scattered throughout our library.

Early childhood programs teaching literacy skills are part of the library's essential service to the community. Sixty-two percent of parents with a high socioeconomic status read to their children every day compared to only 36 percent of parents with a low socioeconomic status. In a middle-income neighborhood, there are 13 books per child. In a low-income neighborhood, that number drops to one book per 300 children. A vibrant library closes this gap.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library is the right size for our community, with over 660,000 visits a year where people use library's services. That number is more than all attendees of Hawkeye football home games if every game was a sellout, and it's nearly twice the number of yearly visitors to the Convention Center.

Our library was promised as a community gathering space. People using meeting room space has gone from 10,000 pre-flood to more than 122,000 per year. Computer usage has skyrocketed to 136,000 uses per year. Program participation went from 19,500 to nearly 48,000. Ladd Library brings much needed access to west side residents communities that simply didn't have easy access to library services.

Our library exists to invest in young minds and engage all citizens in the digital world. We can feel the positive impact on our community through education, civic engagement, the arts, and entertainment.

This is our library, and this is our community. A Yes Vote is the smart choice on Nov. 3. We and our children and grandchildren deserve it.

' David Tominsky and Christine Caras are co-chairs of the Our Library, Our Community Campaign. Comments: david.tominsky@gmail.com; Christine.M.Casey@wellsfargo.com