MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University alumna and Macomb school teacher Adrienne Graham grew up playing school in Maywood, IL, and telling stories with her sister. Now, she’s a first-grade teacher in Macomb who recently published her own book, “The Color of Friendship,” focusing on children learning about diversity. Graham, who graduated from Western in 2014, with a teacher education degree, and in 2018, with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, is in her seventh year of teaching for the Macomb School District. This past year, she decided it was time... Read More

Join the Library’s youth services department on the Facebook Live every Wednesday beginning in September at 10:00 am for some storytime fun! We’ll read stories, sing songs, share interactive games & fingerplays, and hopefully, brighten up your day. We also love to say “Hi!” to our storytime friends who are watching live, so grownups (or kids if they have their grownup’s permission) are invited to drop a name in our Storytime Live comments for a fun shout-out. Each storytime video will remain on the Library’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/davenportlibrary/... Read More

Rock Island Public Library (RIPL) has vastly expanded its selection of digital magazines available through RBdigital, a service of Recorded Books (Prince Frederick, MD.)  After a year on the RBdigital platform, RIPL moved from a basic subscription of just 50 magazines to an unlimited subscription offering access to 3,200 magazines. RBdigital features full-color, digital magazines for instant desktop reading, mobile streaming, and mobile-app download, available anytime with an internet connection. Rock Island Public Library patrons can add new and back issues to their personal reading libraries... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library will introduce limited building access and hours starting Monday, July 6 at both its Downtown and Southwest Library locations. This phase of the library’s gradual reopening coordinates with Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. Buildings will be open to the public at both locations from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Saturdays are reserved for curbside pickup only, which is from 9:00 am to noon. Face coverings and social distancing must be maintained while inside library buildings. Library books, magazines, and audiovisual collections will be available... Read More

Good news: Rock Island Public Library buildings will open for Limited Hours and Building Access starting July 6! This follows news that the State is moving soon to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.[News Release] The July 6 start date allows us time to implement revised procedures and to ensure safety protocols are in place.  In keeping with state health guidelines, masks and social distancing will be required for library entry. Curbside is still a great way to pick up your library materials. If you need assistance with choosing library materials or placing items on hold, we’re happy... Read More

MACOMB, IL – When Western Illinois University English Professor Rebekah Buchanan started thinking about ways she could do something to get others involved in making a difference, she kept returning to education. Because of her background and love for books and reading, Buchanan has initiated a fundraising campaign to purchase books by authors of color for Macomb School District No. 185 schools. “Education is key in creating understanding and empathy and one way we do that is through reading. Creating a way to get more books and resources to our teachers is a way to add to their tool kits... Read More

Looking for more incentive to read over the summer? With the touch of their magic wand, the Rock Island Library’s Imagine Your Story summer reading program has transformed into online, virtual, and take-home offerings. Most programs require registration, for ease in contacting participants about picking up kits via Curbside. To keep everyone motivated to read, challenges are available for children, teens, and adults. Here’s how it works: Read anything you like, track it, and earn prizes/prize entries for meeting reading goals. Enter and track anytime through July 31 with our Beanstack... Read More

Distribution looks different this year for the Rock Island Public Library Seed Library. This free resource is still a great way for Rock Island and Milan-area residents and organizations to cultivate their gardens this spring. The Seed Library is a free collection of seed packets suitable for the local Zone 5 growing area. Using the online form on the RIPL website, participants can request one of the following pre-selected packages: ·         Vegetable garden bundle ·         Flower garden bundle ·         Herb garden bundle ·         Grab Bag (mixed bundle) Each... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library introduced contact-free curbside pick-up for library materials beginning Tuesday, May 26. There will be no public access to library buildings during this phase of the library’s gradual reopening plan. Curbside pick-up will be available during limited hours by appointment only at the Rock Island Public Library Downtown and Southwest locations. Materials must be requested in advance, either through the Library’s online PrairieCat catalog, or with staff help via phone, email, and Ask a Librarian chat. Library staff will contact the borrower once items become available... Read More

Rock Island Public Library Buildings are still closed for the Governor’s Executive Order but the Library Services Go On in a Virtual Way. Late last week, the Illinois Governor revised and extended his Executive Stay-At-Home executive order to May 30. For details, see this page from the Illinois Department of Public Health As a result, all Rock Island Public Library buildings remain closed until further notice. The library is working on a phased plan for re-introducing library services to our community, which includes a gradual reopening. This gradual reopening will most likely include... Read More