The library will be closed Sunday, April 20. Have a great holiday!

ISU Gardening Series

April 7, 14, 21 & 28 | 6 pm - 7 pm | Meeting Room AB

The Master Gardeners from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are back for a five-part gardening series to share this year's hottest gardening tips, tricks, and trends! Age group: Adults

April 7- Peonies and Iris- the Flowers of Spring: Margaret Empie and Steve Carignan are here to talk about two spring favorites- the peony and the iris!

April 14- The Farmacy: Do’s and Don'ts of Homegrown Herbal Remedies: Discover the best and safest tips and techniques for growing and using herbs with Nathan Mork, Emergency Management Coordinator at MercyOne Northeast Iowa!

April 21- Growing Dazzling Dahlias: Dahlias come in so many amazing shapes, sizes, and colors! Get to know these garden favorites with Linda Angerer and Kerrey Purvis from Summer Meadow Dahlia Farm.

April 28- What’s New for 2025 with Heidi Tietz-DeSilva: “Perennial” favorite Heidi Tietz-DeSilva makes her “annual” appearance to give us a sneak peek at what’s new in the garden world!

The Golden Pages Book Club

April 9 | 10 am - 11 am | Conference Room

Join us for the Golden Pages Book Club! This book club is open to all older adults who love great books and even better conversation. We will meet every second Wednesday of the Month in the Conference Room on the second floor of the library to discuss a different title each month.

April's title is: Never Give Up by Tom Brokaw.

Knights of the Square Table: Teen Chess Club

April 14 | 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Conference Room

Join Teen Librarian Dusty and other chess enthusiasts for our new chess club— the Knights of the Square Table! Compete against fellow players, challenge your friends, and experience the thrill of timed matches. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned player, all skill levels are welcome to participate. All players will have the opportunity to win cool prizes and earn titles like "Knight of the Month"! Snacks are provided.

Age group: Teens

Spring Author Seedbed Series: Celebrating the Abecedarian form with Hannah Carr-Murphy

April 15 | 2 pm - 3:30 pm | Conference Room

Join Dr. Hannah Carr-Murphy, the James Hearst Writer in Residence at the Hearst Center, for an exploration of both classic and contemporary abecedarian poetry! This unique poetic form, which organizes each line to begin with a successive letter of the alphabet, has been used across languages and eras for its accessible structure. After the discussion, Dr. Carr-Murphy will guide you through a hands-on workshop, where you'll have the opportunity to craft your own abecedarian poem.

View the entire Spring Author Seedbed Series here.

Age group: Adults

Bookmark Break

April 18 | 9:30 am - 11 am | Fat Cup Coffee Company

We’re excited to introduce Bookmark Break—a monthly silent book club designed for introverts and book enthusiasts alike! Bring your own book or explore a small selection of titles available for checkout from the library, and enjoy a peaceful hour of reading surrounded by fellow book lovers.

Join us on the 3rd Friday of each month at the Fat Cup Coffee Company in Waterloo. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind, read, and connect (silently!) with others who share your passion for books.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Victoria at vwilliams@waterloopubliclibrary.org.

Age group: Adults

WPL Community Resource Fair

April 22 | 1 pm - 3 pm | Meeting Room AB

Explore the many resources available in our community! Local service organizations will be stationed in the library’s Meeting Rooms, offering individuals and families in need valuable information about the support and services available in the area. Whether you’re looking for assistance, seeking information, or simply curious to learn more, this resource fair is the perfect opportunity to connect with the help you need!

Age group: All

Earth Day Storytime

April 22 | 6 pm - 7 pm | Meeting Room AB

Celebrate Earth Day with us at a special storytime! Enjoy Earth Day stories, a fun craft, and a themed snack. 

Age group: Youth

Death Café

April 25 | 3 pm - 4 pm | Meeting Room AB

Join us for a Death Café–an open discussion event where anything surrounding the topic of death is on the table. Melinda Heinz will be here to lead the discussion and answer any questions you may have. Refreshments provided.

Registration is required and limited to 20 participants, so please do so here.

Age group: Adults

Share Your Photos of the Cedar Valley!

The Waterloo Public Library is creating a community photo display to celebrate the unique beauty and shared connections across the Cedar Valley, including Black Hawk County and the city of Waverly.

We invite you to participate by sharing photographs that capture what the Cedar Valley means to you. Whether it’s family moments, your favorite park or trail, a beloved restaurant, or a stunning view that reminds you of home, your photos can help us build a visual tapestry of our community.

Submission Details:

1. How to Submit: Send your photos digitally via this form https://tinyurl.com/MyCedarValleyPhotoDisplay
2. What to Include: Photos can be historic or current—whatever best represents your Cedar Valley experience.

Display Information:

1. When & Where: June 1–July 31 at the Waterloo Public Library, 2nd-floor window area.
2. Afterward, the display will travel to other participating libraries in the Cedar Valley.

Let’s come together and showcase the heart of our community. Your perspective matters—help us create something meaningful!

Participating Libraries

April 2: Intro to Facebook

9:30 am-10:30 am | Conference Room

Learn the ins and outs of Facebook with the help of our tech experts. We'll teach you how to use the social media app to find and message friends, shop on Facebook Marketplace, create events, and more.

Registration Required. Please register here.

Age group: Adults

April 16: Computer Basics

9:30 am-10:30 am | Conference Room

Join us for this Q&A style class covering computer basics including interfacing, Windows, files, apps, email, and more. There will be time for questions and any follow-up topics that may come up during the class.

Registration Required. Please register here.

Age group: Adults

April 23 : Tech Help Drop-In

9:30 am-10:30 am | Conference Room

Need tech assistance or advice? Staff will be here for an hour each session to help you with anything technology related. So bring your devices and your questions, and we'll do our best to assist you with all of your tech needs!

Age group: Adults

April 30: Intro to Google Sheets

9:30 am-10:30 am | Conference Room

Learn how to use this convenient spreadsheet editor to help you manage, visualize, and analyze your data. 

Registration Required. Please register here.

Age group: Adults

Knitting & Crocheting Drop-in

April 2 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The Hive

Do you want to learn how to knit or crochet? Are you looking for some designated time to work on a project? Join us for a knitting and crocheting drop-in in the Hive! Different patterns and supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials of your own that you wish to use! A staff member will be available to help anyone who needs support.



Age group: Adults

Family Movie Night

April 3 | 6 pm - 8 pm

Meeting Room AB

Join us for family movie night every first Thursday of the month! We'll have movies, popcorn, and drinks for everyone to enjoy.

This month's title is Moana 2.

Age group: Youth

First Friday Flick

April 4 | 10 am - 12 pm

Meeting Room AB

Join us the first Friday of the month to catch a new release (or classic film) on the big screen! Popcorn and soda provided free of charge. Sponsored by Friends of the Waterloo Public Library.

This month's title is September 5.

Age group: Adults

LEGO Lab

April 6 | 3 pm - 4 pm

Meeting Room AB

Join us for LEGO Lab at the library. We'll provide the LEGOs, you provide the imagination. Once completed, your creation will be on display in the Youth Department!

This month's theme is: Animals

Age group: Families

Teen Writer's Workshop

April 9 & 23 | 4 pm - 5 pm

Conference Room

Are you an aspiring novelist, poet, or someone who loves writing short stories? Join us for our Teen Writer's Workshop! We'll work with different writing prompts and brainstorm ideas for our writing. Those comfortable sharing their work with others are encouraged to do so! Whether you're looking for a quiet place to write or an animated group of voracious readers to get ideas from, all are welcome!

Registration is required. Please register here.

Age group: Teens grades 6-12

Board Game Night

April 9 | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Conference Room

Join us for Board Game Night with WPL and Friendly Meeple! Play from a library of 400+ games plus our collection available for checkout. Whether you're a seasoned player or just looking for a fun night out, this free event is open to all. Come roll the dice and have fun!

Age group: Adults

Kids Board Game Night

April 29 | 6 pm - 7:30 pm

Meeting Room AB

Join us for a fun-filled family board game night! Explore a wide selection of games from our collection, all available to play and check out. There’s something for everyone, so bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of friendly competition and laughter!

Age group: Families

Teen Studio Ghibli Movie Night

April 30 | 5 pm - 7:30 pm

Meeting Room AB

Step into the visually breathtaking world of animation at our Studio Ghibli movie night for teens! Each month we will watch a different film from Studio Ghibli, popcorn and pop will be provided. Discover stories filled with timeless creatures and epic adventures!

This month's title is: Princess Mononoke

Age group: Teens grades 6-12