The
Metro Library Network was created in 1999 when the Cedar Rapids Public
Library (including its West Side Branch), the Marion Public Library,
and the Hiawatha Public Library agreed to cooperate to provide library
services to the metro area.
Since that time, the three libraries
have provided a unified electronic catalog. When you search the catalog
from any library, or remotely from your home or office, you are able to
search the holdings of all three libraries at one time. Cedar
Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha work to make access and services as easy
as possible for all metro area library users by cooperating on policies
whenever possible. Van service makes transfer of materials from one
library to another fast and efficient, so library users can request a
book from any library in the system and ask that it be delivered to the
library most convenient for them.
This cooperative network also
makes it very easy for library users to return materials. No matter
where you checked out your books, movies, or music, you can return them
to any metro area library, or to book drops located at all metro area
Hy-Vee stores.
The libraries in the Metro Library Network work
together to provide online research databases and 24/7 access to a
digital library of downloadable audiobooks and ebooks, available to all
patrons with a current library card. They also collaborate on several
programming projects, such as the Out Loud! Author Series and Linn Area
Reads, an annual community reading program.