The night sky has mystified humanity for millennia, yet only recently have we begun to grasp our place in the cosmos. From astronomy’s humble beginnings to jaw-dropping modern advancements, embark on a journey of celestial discovery in the Putnam Museum’s (1717 W 12th Street Davenport) portable planetarium, with “From Earth to the Universe” on Friday, Dec 27! Voyage through time and space to learn how scientific advancements have propelled our understanding of the universe with “From Earth to the Universe”! This stunning exploration of the cosmos will take you out... Read More

The delicious bounty of food enjoyed on Thanksgiving can lead to a far-less-enjoyable bounty of issues with sewer and plumbing systems in the days after the holiday. Everything from sinks to toilets to garbage disposals can become clogged, leaving people far from grateful. Fortunately, the contractors who employ the skilled professionals of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 25 in Rock Island can provide the service and expertise needed to fix any problems as they arise.   While many people spend the day shopping for the best holiday deals, plumbing professionals deal with the rush... Read More

One of the lesser known stories of World War II comes to light with a presentation by author Brooks Carver, of Canton, IL, on the “night witches” of Russia. Carver’s talk “Daughters of the Steppes: The Night Witches of World War II” is at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, November 13, at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The “night-witches” were 18-to-23-year-old Russian women who served in the Night Bomber Regiment of the Soviet Air Forces, dubbed The Night Witches by German troops.  Despite derision by their male counterparts, they became the highest decorated regiment... Read More

In a major change to Illinois law, recreational-use cannabis will be legalized in 2020. To help answer questions about impacts and issues of this new law, the Rock Island Public Library and City of Rock Island Community and Economic Development department will host a panel discussion November 12. The Pot Panel: Cannabis Legalization in Illinois, will be held Tuesday, November 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The moderated discussion features experts in human resources, law and law enforcement, medicine, government, and the cannabis business. Attendees... Read More

The 22nd Annual Frieze Lecture Series at the Rock Island Public Library will note the 50th anniversary of the “Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” at Augustana College, and the 40th anniversary of the assassination of one of Augustana’s most extraordinary graduates, by considering the nature and impact of student activism here and around the world. Free and open to the public, the Frieze Lectures begin at 2:00 pm on the last two Tuesdays in October (22 and 29) and the first two Tuesdays in November (5 and 12), all in the community room of Rock Island’s Downtown Library, 401 19th... Read More

Parents and caregivers can create some memories while they build a reader at Hug-A-Book: Create, a free event for two-to-five-year-olds and their families on Tuesday, August 27 at the Rock Island Public Library. The event is part of the library’s ongoing Hug-A-Book early learning programming. Families may drop in to try a variety of creatively messy art projects from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm on August 27 at the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Each child receives a Hug-A-Book art apron and a free book to take home. There is no charge to attend and no registration is required. Future events... Read More

Are you ready for some free family fun this weekend? Hosted by the Bettendorf Public Library with support from the Family Museum, The Learning Campus Discovery Fair will take place this Saturday Aug 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Bettendorf Public Library (2950 Learning Campus Drive Bettendorf). The Learning Campus Discovery Fair is a day filled with free learning and fun for the whole family! Experiences include: Magic Hovercraft Rides Hands-On Science Pottery Bubbles Drawing Water Colors Clowning Paper Rockets Flower Arrangement   Additional activities:  Petting Zoo, Balloon Creations,... Read More

While the kids are back in school, the Rock Island Public Library has some great options to help keep adults of all ages keep learning their whole lives. Among other options, adults can learn about the Army history of the World War II battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The free talk is presented by a historian with the Army Sustainment Command (ACS) at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 14 at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Also on Wednesday, August 14, the library’s genealogy series for online research continues with a video presentation by genealogist James Tanner on “Making... Read More

The Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Summer Internship Program will host a two-part launch party for the latest issue of the Program’s literary magazine THE ATLAS on Thursday, August 15th in downtown Rock Island. The event will start at 5:00 p.m. with a Family and Friends Reception at the Rock Island Public Library Community Room. The interns will give a brief reading of their work, and the Tim Curry Outstanding Intern award will be presented to one of the interns. Then, at 8:00 p.m. the party will move down the street to Rozz-Tox, where the interns will read different selections from the magazine,... Read More

The Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Summer Internship Program will host a two-part launch party for the latest issue of the Program’s literary magazine THE ATLAS on Thursday, August 15th in downtown Rock Island. The event will start at 5:00 p.m. with a Family and Friends Reception at the Rock Island Public Library Community Room. The interns will give a brief reading of their work, and the Tim Curry Outstanding Intern award will be presented to one of the interns. Then, at 8:00 p.m. the party will move down the street to Rozz-Tox, where the interns will read different selections from the magazine,... Read More