Children's books and other materials expressly purchased for children are selected to meet the informational and recreational needs of persons below seventh grade. The criteria of patron demand and need are also considered in acquiring children's materials. Genealogical and historical materials dealing with Cedar Rapids and Linn County are actively sought by the library. The library prefers to confine itself to the printed and spoken word in the collection and to the preservation of this material. The library does not attempt to include artifacts as part of the collection.
Reference materials are an important part of the collection.
Government documents are an important part of the collection and are actively sought. CRPL is a depository library for publications of both the federal government and the state of Iowa. Gifts of books, periodicals, and other materials are encouraged with the understanding that they will be included in the collection only if they are in formats currently in use for the public and if they meet the criteria for selection outlined in this policy. Special interest materials representing particular organizations or points of view may be accepted and displayed as space permits. A few gift periodicals of more general interest may be handled as part of the regular periodical collection.