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, ebooks, music, and movies available to all patrons with a current library card.