Cedar Falls Public Library

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Curbside only at Cedar Falls Public Library: May 17-June 11, 2021

The CFPL building will be closed to the public for new carpet installation beginning May 17, 2021, but we will be doing >curbside pickup during this time. Patrons are encouraged to check out a month’s worth of materials before May 17 to last during the installation or to place holds (online via your >library account or call our service desks, listed below) on a month’s worth of materials by Monday, May 10. Staff will not have access to the shelves during the installation, so placing your holds by May 10 will ensure that staff have enough time to gather your items before the collection is inaccessible.  Computer access, B&W printing, and Wi-Fi will be available at the Community Center next door to the library.  We look forward to this overdue upgrade and thank you for your patience.

If you need assistance with holds, please call the service desk at 319-273-8643, the youth desk at 319-859-3282, or the reference desk at 319-268-5543.

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Call for Submissions: Writers of the Cedar Valley Anthology Vol. III

Submission Window: August 1 – September 15, 2020
Email Submissions to: Erin Thompson at wcv@cedarfallslibrary.org
Submission Length: 1 to 9,999 words. Submissions longer than 9,999 words will not be considered. Multiple submissions are allowed so long as the total words are 9,999 or below.
Genre: ANY genre (including poetry) will be considered, so long as it fits within the guidelines of the Writers of the Cedar Valley, below.
Compensation: There is no monetary compensation for submissions to this anthology. All accepted authors will receive one copy of the anthology and will be able to purchase additional copies at a discounted price.
Legalities: The author holds all original rights to their submissions and are free to submit elsewhere. Keep in mind that a piece published in the Writers of the Cedar Valley Anthology counts as a publication, which may impact the resale value and future of the submitted piece.
Timeframe and Publisher: The Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library will pay for all publication costs associated with printing. The tentative publication date for this anthology is late 2020 or early 2021.
Questions: Direct questions and queries to Erin Thompson at wcv@cedarfallslibrary.org

Guidelines for submission:

Send an email to wcv@cedarfallslibrary.org with your file(s) attached. In the body of your email, indicate where you’d like your submission(s) categorized: poetry, short story, essay, memoir, or other (specify). Also include a short (50-200 words) biography written in third person.
FILE TYPE: Please save your work as a Word doc (.doc, .docx) with the following
convention: Last Name First Name – Title. (ie: Thompson Erin – The Lost Cat)
FORMAT: Follow Standard Manuscript Format as closely as possible. Visit this site for more information and guidance: >https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/
EDITS: Your work should be edited for grammar prior to submission. Make sure your work is as professional as possible.
STATEMENT ON GRAPHIC CONTENT: Graphic content will be considered, but it may be edited. This anthology will be published by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library and they hold the authority to approve the contents. Graphic content includes, but is not limited to: copious blood and/or bodily fluids, violence, sex, violent sex, “taboo” practices, anything considered “rated R” or “X-rated”, the use of explicit language, visceral imagery, psychologically disturbing etc.

>Click here for PDF of Call for Submissions 

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Dear Adele,
I would like to learn how to knit. Where can I find an online class on knitting?
-Feeling Creative

Dear Feeling Creative,
Try out our new database, >Creativebug! It has has thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. It’s the number one inspirational resource for DIY, crafters, and makers! You just need your library card number to sign up.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I’m hoping to find some historical Iowa newspapers. Does the library have such a thing?
-History Buff

Dear History Buff,
We have recently added a new database called Newspapers.com. There are historical newspapers from all over the state of Iowa in this. To access you will need to visit our >Databases and click Newspapers.com, then simply use your library card for access outside of the library.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I’m wanting to learn more about African American history and look at some records. Do records exist for this?
-Curious

Dear Curious,
There are records available through our African American Heritage database. The records included in this are from Freedman’s Bank, the federal census, military, marriages, and various registers. Visit >databases and use your library card for access outside of the library.
Sincerely,

Adele

Dear Adele,
I want to take some practice tests before I go get my driver’s license. Where do I find these?
-Need for Speed

Dear Need for Speed,
A copy of the manual and driving tests can be found at >Iowa DOT or through our website at >databases and Driver’s Ed Program.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.

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Dear Adele,
I heard that the library is collecting items for a history project. Where can I find information on this?
-Wondering

Dear Wondering,
We have recently begun collecting items from the public to document the COVID-19 pandemic. Once we receive enough items these will be available through our Biblioboard service. See our >Biblioboard page for information on submitting to the project.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele,
I checked out a book on Overdrive but it’s not working on my Kindle. What should I do?
-Avid Amazon Reader

Dear Avid Amazon Reader,
There are a few things to check when using Overdrive with Kindles. There are multiple formats when you check out a book, the Kindle format is the only one that will work on Kindles. Once you select this and check out the book it will redirect you to Amazon and you will finish the checkout process via Amazon. Amazon owns all rights to Kindle so the final step needs to go through them.
Sincerely,
Adele

Dear Adele is a weekly advice column that provides answers to your questions about Cedar Falls Public Library’s digital services.