Despite the inclement weather on Saturday, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new westside branch of the Cedar Rapids Public Library attracted a large crowd. Work on the project began in 2022, when the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation acquired land for the new branch near the corner of 20th Avenue SW and Wiley Blvd SW. Construction began two years ago, with a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2024.
The new branch is named in honor of the Busse family. The Lavern T. and Audrey Busse Foundation contributed $3.5 million to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation’s Big Dreams capital campaign, helping the campaign hit its $10 million goal to create the new westside branch. More than 460 individuals contributed to the Big Dreams campaign, according to a news release from CRPL.
“Reading has always been important to my family and me, and we believe this library will be a tremendous asset to this entire community,” Audrey Busse said at the branch’s opening on Saturday. “And I hope all of you can find joy in reading that my family has found, and use this library for reading and education and learning more about this amazing world.”
The Busse Branch replaces the Ladd Library, which closed on Aug. 9. The Ladd opened in February 2013, replacing the Westdale Mall Branch Library which replaced the Edgewood Branch in 1988. The Ladd Library was named for the late Marylin Ladd, a Rockwell Collins test technician who left CRPL $750,000 in her will.
“At 40,000 square feet, the Busse Branch provides twice the collection and meeting space as the Ladd Library, with dedicated areas for teens and children, plus 11 study rooms, three community meeting spaces, and areas for outdoor learning and enjoyment,” according to CRPL.
The new branch also has a discovery garden and a drive-through window, from which patrons who have put a book on hold can pick it up without getting out of their car. The children’s area features “an amorphous play structure called the Cocoon and two caterpillars that can be used for crawling or sitting on,” as well as “large plastic dogs and computer stations for children,” the CRLP news release explained.
The branch has dedicated space for exhibiting work by local artists. The first exhibition in the new gallery features the paintings of Hans Olson, a Fairfield-based artist.
The Busse Branch, located at 1845 Sandberg Lane SW, is open seven days a week. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
