Waterloo Public Library

08/28/2026

Come work with us! We help people, create great experiences, and have a lot of fun along the way.
We’re hiring a 29-hour Library Assistant to join our team. If you enjoy connecting with the community and making a difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.
See details and apply here: https://www.waterloopubliclibrary.org/job-openings

08/28/2026

https://conta.cc/4qMjZU2

Email from Waterloo Public Library Events, new services, and more to explore this month. Library Closings The library will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. The library will be closed Fr

08/25/2026

Our Reference Librarians and Library Assistants have been hard at work adding local history postcards to the library’s Historical Cedar Valley database, uncovering fascinating pieces of Waterloo’s past along the way. We’re excited to share some of their favorite finds with you.

In early 1897, the East Side school district, suffering from severe overcrowding in its buildings, proposed the construction of a new high school building to house students in grades 8 through 12. After the district successfully passed a $20,000 bond issue in March of that year, the firm Orff & Joralemon of Minneapolis was chosen to design the new school. Construction got underway that summer, and the new school opened in December 1897. After the current East High School building opened in 1919, this building became a junior high, and was used as such until the early 1950s. The building was demolished in 1953 after the city purchased the land to use for the site of a new city hall.

https://historicalcedarvalley.omeka.net/items/show/552
https://waterloohistory.omeka.net/items/show/227

08/19/2026

Thursday, August 13th was a very cozy, very bookish day at the library. 📚✨

We welcomed 102 community members who joined us for our very first Bookish Fair! An evening inspired by the nostalgia of the Scholastic Book Fairs we loved as kids, but with a decidedly more grown-up twist.

The library was filled with local makers, book lovers, crafts, cozy things, and plenty to explore. Community members could check out local vendors, try their hand at crafts, enjoy demos and simple tarot readings, and even print their own bookmark using a printing press, thanks to Pretty Good Co.

A huge thank you to Pretty Good Co., Rooted Charm, Crafty Cat Creations, Good Game, Studded with Love, Jim’s Scroll Saw Artistry, and RAYGUN for joining us and helping create such a fun opportunity for our community.

But honestly, our favorite part was seeing the library connect people with the small businesses and makers who make our community special. That’s exactly the kind of thing we love seeing happen here.

For a first-year event, we couldn't have asked for a better Bookish Fair. ❤️

Didn't make it this time? Follow along so you don't miss the next one!

08/17/2026

Deliver the joy of a story to children by becoming a Traveling Tales volunteer!

The library is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to visit area daycares and preschools once a month to present storytime. The program runs from October through May and all materials are provided.

Email Missie at [email protected] or call 319-287-3976 for more information.

08/11/2026

Our Reference Librarians and Library Assistants have been hard at work adding local history postcards to the library’s Historical Cedar Valley database, uncovering fascinating pieces of Waterloo’s past along the way. We’re excited to share some of their favorite finds with you.

In January 1903, A.D. Schorle sold the Vienna Model Bakery, then located at 306 E. 4th St., to C.F. Altstadt, William Langlas and Joseph Langlas. The company grew rapidly, and by 1905 the Altstadt & Langlas Baking Co. was planning to build its new bakery building at the corner of Mulberry and Elm Streets. The original building was 48 x 84 feet, and cost $7000 to build. The ground floor was used for the bakery department, the basement for storage of supplies, and the second floor was used as a flour room. The business was planning to employ 9 bakers, and had 5 delivery wagons. According to the reminiscences of Fred Willard, an early employee, “Bread was baked in a “card”, 14 loaves in a pan and called “white house” bread, not wrapped. It sold 33 loaves for $1, wholesale price.” The plant was expanded again in 1907, 1910 and 1912, until it appeared as it does in this image.

https://historicalcedarvalley.omeka.net/items/show/536

08/05/2026

You may have noticed the rocks are gone from our courtyard, and in their place is a brand-new prairie pocket!⁠
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A big thank you to Matthiason Landscaping, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Master Gardeners, and our wonderful library volunteers for helping bring this project to life.⁠
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The plants may be small now, but over the next few summers they'll grow into a beautiful pollinator-friendly garden filled with purple coneflowers, butterfly w**d, blazing stars, and more. We can't wait to watch it bloom and welcome bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.⁠
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If you're strolling through the courtyard, we'd love for you to stop and admire the new planting. Since these young plants are still very fragile, please help us protect them by enjoying them from the path. 🙂

08/03/2026

Summer programming may have ended, but we've still got plenty of fun things to do this month at the library! Find your next read at the Friends $5-A-Bag Sale, learn watercolor basics at the Cedar Valley Arboretum, chat with North End Update's Rocki and Chaveevah, and so much more. Check out our full August calendar here: https://tinyurl.com/AugustEventsWPL
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Some events may require registration.

08/01/2026

Our Pokémon display is all wrapped up, and we wanted to share some fun highlights from this summer's Teen Zone Pokémon display! 💛⚡

Over 300 teens and tweens snagged Pokémon cards this summer.

To estimate our card count, we weighed cards—about 250 cards equals one pound. Over the course of the summer, we gave away approximately 220 pounds of cards, which works out to 55,000 cards!

While many of the cards were common and basic cards, participants also found more than 300 EX, V, and VMAX cards, and 100 vintage first-edition cards from 1996.

We were also thrilled to receive donations from several patrons who contributed cards to keep the collection growing, meaning the total number of cards shared was even higher!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this passive activity such a success, and all the teen volunteers who helped to keep the cards sorted and easy to find!

08/01/2026

Thank you for your patience. Our internet is back up and running, as well as our printing, self-check, and computer services! 🖥️