The Iowa flood of 2008 , considered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) to be " one of the worst and most costly floods in Iowa -- and even U.S. history , " destroyed the building at the previous downtown location of the main branch , along with over half of the library 's collection . The flooding of the library may have been the worst natural disaster to affect a public library . The new Cedar Rapids Public Library opened to the public on August 24 , 2013 . More than 8,000 people attended opening day festivities . In the first year of service , the new library saw over 660,000 visits from the community , and over 100,000 people used the meeting room spaces , including the new 200-seat Whipple Auditorium . On March 2 , 1896 the city of Cedar Rapids was to make a vote on whether or not they would have a public library . Due largely to the work of a group of women called the City Federation of Ladies Literary Clubs led by Ada Van Vechten , the vote was favorable . On January 15 , 1897 , the first public library was to open its doors to the citizens of Cedar Rapids . It was located in a small room of the Granby building
Iowa flood of 2008
Iowa flood of 2008
Cedar Rapids Public Library