Mercy partners with Cedar Rapids Public Library to offer hospital-based satellite location
Patrons of the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) now have another location from which to check out books, DVD’s and CD’s, or just settle into a comfortable chair with their favorite reading material. Mercy Medical Center has collaborated with CRPL to offer library users a new satellite location – the Watts Medical Library, located within the hospital adjacent to Mercy’s 10th St. lobby.
Materials at the Watts Medical Library can be checked out using library cards issued at the Watts Library or Cedar Rapids, Marion or Hiawatha public libraries. Residents of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha are eligible to receive a library card while residents of other cities may be issued nonresident or temporary cards. Library patrons can also place holds on items from Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha libraries and pick them up at the Mercy location.
The Watts Medical Library & Patient Resource Center has been part of Mercy Medical Center since 2003. The library is named for the former Dr. Campbell Watts, a longtime physician in the Cedar Rapids community. It was Dr. Watts’ wish upon the library’s endowment that materials be accessible to medical residents, medical professionals, all hospital staff and patients, and the general public.
“This partnership with the Cedar Rapids Public Library will make the Watts Medical Library more accessible to all who wish to use it,” said Randi Thon, Librarian, Watts Library. “The Watts Library staff always strives to find new and innovative ways to make Dr. Watts' vision a reality by connecting to each audience.”
“Partnering with the Watts Medical Library is an exciting new opportunity for our library and our community,” said Bob Pasicznyuk, Director of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. “It’s terrific to have another location for our patrons to access materials and take advantage of what libraries provide. This is a win-win for all involved.”
All materials of the Watts Medical Library may be checked out with the exception of items from the medical collection. Medical collection items are integral to the quality of care provided at Mercy Medical Center and are therefore considered reference materials and may only be used while at the Watts Library.
For more information on the Watts Library location, call Mercy at (319) 398-6165. For more information on the Cedar Rapids Public Library, please call (319) 261-7323 or visit www.crlibrary.org.
