The Library is partnering with the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in association with the Smithsonian Institution for ‘Are You Smarter Than an 1850s 8th Grader?’ Join us Monday, June 14th at 2:00 pm and learn more about one-room schoolhouses and early education, then we will put the audience to the test by taking the 8th-grade graduation exam from the 1850s. This program will be meeting virtually using Zoom. Registration is required to receive Zoom meeting details. Register here: https://davenportlibrary.libcal.com/event/7700993 Keep up with our virtual programming on our Virtual... Read More

Juneteenth – short for “June Nineteenth” – marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were told by Union troops that they were free. Since then, the date has become a national celebration of emancipation. Join us Tuesday, June 15th at 6:30 pm for a virtual discussion led by Ryan Saddler, CEO of the Friends of MLK, Inc. as we talk about the history and celebration of Juneteenth. Registration is required to receive Zoom meeting details. Register here: https://davenportlibrary.libcal.com/event/7647800 Keep up with our virtual programming on our Virtual Branch... Read More

The Quad City Botanical Center is hosting its Headwaters of the Mississippi River Ribbon Cutting event on Friday, May 14. Join us as we celebrate the opening of our Children’s Garden phase two addition. This exciting interactive play exhibit expands our popular water feature and includes a naturalized pond, representative of the headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota. Due to social distancing guidelines, invitations were sent to select donors, grantors, elected officials and supporters of this project. The ribbon cutting is not open to the public, but media are welcome. The new exhibit opens to the... Read More

Hibernate with a good book! Join the Library’s annual all-ages Winter Reading Program for a chance to win prizes this winter. From January 19th through February 27th, participants will receive one grand prize drawing entry for every book you read. Participate on Beanstack at davenportlibrary.beanstack.com or by picking up grand prize entry slips at our Fairmount and Eastern branches. Keep up with our virtual programming on our Virtual Branch Calendar of Events at https://davenportlibrary.libcal.com/calendar/virtual. This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information visit www.davenportlibrary.com... Read More

Santa is a busy elf, but there’s still time to get on his mailing list with the Rock Island Public Library’s Letter from Santa program. The library is accepting Letters from Santa requests through Friday, December 18. To participate, just fill out a Letters from Santa request form, and leave it in the mailbox provided. Santa will respond by mail with a personalized letter for the child. “Don’t tell, but other than being a fun and free family activity, participating also supports writing and reading literacy,” said Ranell Dennis, Rock Island Public Library Children’s Librarian. Request... Read More

This is the year for a new holiday tradition! Jólabókaflóð is the Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition of gifting your favorite people with a favorite book to read that very night! Here at the library, our patrons are our favorite people and we would love to gift you with a favorite book this holiday season! Register by December 11th for a wrapped present to be picked up at the library of your choice between December 18th – 23rd. Kids (ages 0-10) register here: https://bit.ly/dpl-yulebookfloodfkids Teens (ages 11-19) register here: https://bit.ly/dpl-yulebookfloodteens Adults (ages 20+) register... Read More

Two Rivers YMCA in Moline is offering courses in swimming, youth sports, and more! The pandemic has certainly changed many aspects of our lives, but one thing has not changed: The Y is for everyone – especially families! At the Y, 2040 53rd Street, Moline, they are committed to providing SAFE programs that keep kids and families active, healthy, and connected. The cold weather is coming and going to parks and other outdoor family activities will be coming to an end. With many precautions in place, the Y is a safe, clean, and reliable place to bring the kids for a fun addition to your day. For... Read More

Families can sign up to pick up a Hug-A-Book: Play kit this week filled with at-home activities to support preschool learning through play. The event kit is available at Rock Island Public Library locations. To sign up for the at-home Hug-A-Book kit, visit the library event calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or call 309-732-7360.  Registered participants may pick up the kit anytime during library hours through September 26. Pick up is available inside the Rock Island Downtown and Southwest Libraries from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday, or via Library Curbside pickup Monday-Saturday, by... 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

Readers of all ages will explore all things space this summer as Rock Island Public Library presents “A Universe of Stories” as part of their 2019 summer library program. Activities include a summer of space-related events, art projects, science and engineering experiments, performer shows, movies, creative crafts, Navy Bands and tasty treats, and more. The library’s 2019 Summer Reading Challenges are open to all ages, including children, teens, and adults. All feature goal-oriented reading missions, incentives, and more. Participants may enter and track their reading progress either... Read More