Youth

>Safe Child Policy

Contact the Youth Department
Email the Youth Department or call at (319) 859-3282
Email the Youth Librarian or call at (319) 268-5546

Adventure Pass

Have you heard of our Adventure Pass system? Check out passes to fun places, such as the Blank Park Zoo, The Science Center of Iowa, and the Grout Museum District. Check it out >here.

Big Woods Lake StoryWalk®

In collaboration with the City of Cedar Falls and with the support of the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, the Cedar Falls Public Library has opened its first StoryWalk® at Big Woods Lake Campground. Spend time with family/friends, enjoy nature, and read the more recent storybook installation. Click >here to learn more about the StoryWalk®.

Book Bundles

Wondering what to read next?
You tell us what you love. We pick your next read.

Fill out one of the forms below, and a library staff member will hand-select five to ten books catered to your interests. We’ll get them ready for you and library staff will notify you when your items are ready for pickup. They will be on the hold shelves.

Book Bundle Request Form

Book Buddies: A Reading Mentor Program

Is your child struggling or just learning how to read, and do you think they’d benefit from one-on-one reading time with a UNI student or retired teacher? Join us for a brand new program that allows primary-grade students (grades kindergarten-3rd grade) the opportunity to develop reading fluency by practicing reading, which will build their confidence and grow life-long readers. Six (6) twenty-minute reading slots are available at each session.

Pre-registration required. The first session will be February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. To register, please visit or call the youth desk at 319-859-3282.

Book Discussion Groups

Do you have an interest in reading and a need to talk about what you’ve read with others? One of the joys of reading, besides being swept up in narrative, is being able to gather with others who have shared this reading experience, discussing themes and overall impressions. Youth Department staff lead two monthly book discussion groups, one for grades 3/4 and another for grades 5/6, during the school year (September-May). Interested in joining? To register and arrange a pickup for the book and activity, please email the youth desk at youth@cedarfallslibrary.org or call the youth desk at 319-859-3282.

3rd and 4th Grade Book Club

November 22nd: Swindle
December 13th: My Life as a Book
January 24th: Wonder
February 28th: Tuesdays at the Castle
March 28th: Flora and Ulysses
April 25th: Athlete vs. Mathlete

5th and 6th Grade Book Club

November 28th: The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse
December 12th:
January 23rd: Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet
February 27th: Because of Mr. Terrupt by Rob Buyea
March 27th: All Rise for Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
April 24th: Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone
May 22nd: The False Prince by Jennifer Neilsen

Reading Challenges

Check out the latest reading challenges that the library is offering through >Beanstack. The next challenge will start in December.

Spooky Story Contest Winners

For the last few Octobers, we’ve held a spooky story contest. We’ve had some awesome entries, and we want to thank everyone who participated. This year’s winners are Aisley W. and Eleanor B. Last year’s winners were Aisley W. and Jocelyn S and the winners in 2020 were Ramona Saavedra-DuBord and Quentin Morse. Read their short stories >here.

Upcoming Events

Sprout Storytime February 6, 2023 at 10:30 am – 11:15 am Youth Department. Join us for baby storytime as we sing, read, bounce, and rhyme! It's a great time to cuddle your baby close and have fun while introducing them to skills that will help them become future readers. For babies 0-23 months Kids. Sponsored by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

Beginning ASL Hangout February 6, 2023 at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Co-Lab Are you just learning ASL and need a place to practice your vocabulary and conversation skills? Come hang out with ASL instructor Lori Moreau and Librarian Bekah on the first and third Mondays of the month from 6-7:30 as we play vocabulary games, practice sentences, and learn new signs! For all ages. Sponsored by…

Sapling Storytime February 7, 2023 at 10:30 am – 11:15 am Youth Department. Join us for Preschool Storytime as we read, sing, dance, and play. Parents are encouraged to embrace their inner child and dance and sing along with their child/ren. For preschoolers, ages 3-5.Kids Sponsored by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library.