Join us virtually for the kickoff to the Cedar Rapids Public Library's Summer Dare with special guests and fun events from 10 am to 2 pm.
The CRPL Summer Dare Kick-Off Read-a-Thon will be held virtually on Saturday, June 6, from 10 am – 2 pm on Facebook. Help us kick off the summer right by reading and logging as many minutes as possible between 10 am and 2 pm!
This summer’s Summer Dare is going to be VERY different from the years before for lots of reasons but primarily because most of our programs are going to be virtual. Even though we are doing much of this year’s programs from a safe and healthy distance, the Library and the Cedar Rapids community are here to support and champion reading. Join us for our special kick-off event with host Quinn Pettifer, from The Gazette. She’ll be interviewing community members including Mayor Brad Hart talking about the importance of reading and the Library’s new approach to Summer Dare programming.
The day features a few special programs, including a visit from Mother Goose and a Peep Diorama Challenge that asks you to nominate the winner.
Watch the premiere of our Cedar Rapids Reads videos to help fill up your reading lists with recommendations from leaders throughout the Cedar Rapids community.
Most importantly we’ll ask readers to join the Cedar Rapids Community and read and log their minutes online that day to get a jump-start on their Summer Dare.
Kick-Off Celebration Schedule:
10 am Read-a-thon Kick-off with Quinn Pettifer from The Gazette, interview Kevin Delecki, Programming Manager at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
10:20 am Signing Up for Summer Dare Video Premiere
10:30 am Cedar Rapids Reads
11 am Mother Goose on the Loose
11:30 am Cedar Rapids Reads
Noon Read-a-thon Update with Quinn Pettifer and interview with Mayor Brad Hart
12:30 pm Cedar Rapids Reads
1 pm Peep Diorama Challenge: Summer Dare Style
1:30 pm Cedar Rapids Reads
2 pm Read-a-thon Wrap-up with Quinn Pettifer
Be sure to learn more about the Summer Dare at CRLibrary.org/summer-dare.
And a great big thank you to our Summer Dare sponsors: Hills Bank, Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, and media sponsors The Gazette.
The Downtown Library is located at 450 5th Avenue SE, in the heart of Downtown Cedar Rapids. It is a 94,000 square foot building with a variety of civic spaces and a vibrant collection of library materials. Special features of this location are the Whipple Auditorium, a 200 seat auditorium overlooking Greene Square; and the LivingLearning Roof, a green roof with public seating and space to hold special events. Roasters Café is located in the Downtown Library, providing a full service coffee shop for visitors, as well as catering for meetings and special events.