Revisiting Riverview: Memories Of The Past And The New Cedar Rapids Library

When I lived here nearly 20 years ago, the Riverview Condominiums were still rentals, and that’s where I called home. It was like living in a little skywalk kingdom! I barely had to venture outside—I could stroll from my apartment to work, which was right next door, and if I weren’t at either of those two spots, you’d find me at my third favorite hangout, the library, which was conveniently linked to the skywalk too.

I must have spent countless hours at that library after work, lost in whatever book, event, or fascinating tidbit I stumbled upon. It was my little escape hatch from reality! Who knew the skywalk could be a whole world unto itself?

Then came the flood of 2008, which turned the beloved library from a vibrant sanctuary into a watery disaster zone. It was a sad day for the many of us who had spent countless hours getting lost in books, attending events, or just enjoying a peaceful retreat from the world.

When I finally made my way back here, I kept calling the building that housed the library—well, the library. I would casually mention, “The library!” only for my wife to look at me like I’d just declared I was off to find a dragon in the basement.

“Um, that’s not the library anymore,” she said one day, and I was like, “Wait, what? It’s not?!” I hadn’t been around to see the changes, so the place looked a bit different to me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

So, I decided to dig into it and, thanks to Google and a few clicks, I discovered that they had built a brand new library. And let me tell you, it looks absolutely amazing! I mean, it’s like they took the old library, hit the upgrade button, and added some cool futuristic touches for good measure. There are pictures online that show off all the sleek, modern design elements, and I was pretty impressed.

But the real adventure started when I went to check it out in person. Stepping into the new library was like walking into a bookish wonderland. The interior is not just beautiful but incredibly inviting. It’s filled with comfy nooks, modern technology, and spaces for community events that make you want to spend the whole day there.

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And get this: it’s still connected to the skywalk system, which was a pleasant surprise! However, now you have to navigate a bit through a parking deck to get there. It’s like a little urban treasure hunt—kind of like the skywalk decided to play a game of hide and seek.

So, while it’s not quite the same as the direct, no-need-to-venture-outdoors path I used to have, it’s still a lot of fun to explore.