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

Joseph Dryoel of Colona has been named as the 2019 recipient of the Thomas K. Evans Memorial Scholarship. Dryoel, a June graduate of United Township High School (East Moline) and co-valedictorian of his class, will receive $5,000 toward tuition at Loyola University (Chicago), where he plans to study pre-health in the fall. “Joey stands out, not only for his academic achievements but also because of the unique way he became interested in medicine — through the arts. We’re so pleased to present him with an award that will help him serve others with STEM,” said Amy Lank, president of American... Read More

Has your child ever wondered about the gravitational force of the Death Star? Just how did speed racers fly? Let them channel that curiosity through a variety of activities focused on these Star Wars physics problems during the Putnam Museum’s (1717 W 12th Street Davenport) Explorers/Explorers Jr.: “May the 4th Be With YOU!” this Saturday May 4 from 9 – 11 a.m. Parents can rest assured during Putnam Explorers (Grades 2-5) & Explorers Jr. (Pre-K* – 1st grade) workshops that their children are given the tools to examine, investigate, create and invent while exploring the museum... Read More

The Rock Island Library’s Hug-A-Book early learning program and the Quad City Botanical Center’s KinderNature program have teamed up this spring help grow young readers with a Garden Starters event. The Hug-A-Book Garden Starters event is Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the tropical sun garden of the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island. The event features stories and songs from the library’s Hug-a-Book program and nature fun and crafts from the botanical center’s KinderNature series. Preschoolers will plant a seed to take home their... Read More

The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 25 in Rock Island regularly encourages apprentices to “Be Your Best Self.” In the union, it’s more than a slogan — it’s a way of doing business. And one plumbing apprentice in particular is living up to the motto. Carter Hagen, fifth-year plumbing apprentice, recently gained international attention during the United Association’s annual International Apprentice Contest in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hagen competed against 32 of the top apprentices from across the United States, Canada and Australia to become the plumbing division champion, marking the... Read More