CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Library patrons poured into the new Cedar Rapids Public Library Busse Branch during its opening weekend, Sept. 19-20, 2026.
Located at 1845 Sandberg Lane SW, even the road is new; named after Nadine Sandberg, whose estate gift of nearly $2 million funded the purchase of the land where the library branch was built, off Edgewood Road and 20th Avenue SW.
Related: See the opening of the downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library more than a decade ago
The Lavern T. and Audrey Busse Foundation provided a $3.5 million naming gift, with the branch named in honor of the Busse family.
Lavern and Audrey Busse were among the original investors in Teleconnect, a Cedar Rapids-based long-distance telecommunications company.
The city of Cedar Rapids allocated $6 million to the project, and Linn County Board of Supervisors allocated $4 million, both from American Rescue Plan Act funds, with the remainder of the $25 million project coming through the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation’s Inspiring Big Dreams capital campaign.
The Busse Branch replaces the Ladd Library, not far from the new location in southwest Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Designed by OPN Architects, the new 40,000-square-foot branch replaces the Ladd Library, a 28,000-square-foot branch in a renovated former storefront, nearby at 3750 Williams Blvd. SW. More than 60,000 books and other items line the shelves of the new facility.
The new branch opened during a rainy weekend, with volunteers providing tours of the community meeting spaces, study rooms, children’s play area and other amenities, which includes the outdoor Bloomhall Discovery Garden, featuring native plantings.
Two reading courtyards on the north side connect the indoors with the outdoors when the weather is more cooperative, while the 150-seat Allsop Auditorium can be divided into smaller spaces for community events.
Exhibit space provides an opportunity for local artists to display and sell their works, and sales of books and other items benefit the library.
See more from the opening weekend of the Busse Branch, below:
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