Build a Cat Castle is clawing its way in 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 4, at Rock Island Downtown Library! Your cat is already king (or queen) of the castle. Time to build him or her a structure worthy for feline royalty. Our Cat Castle event comes just in time for holiday gift giving! Build your furry friend a customized cardboard castle (or boat, food truck or airplane) for play and naps. The library will supply cardboard boxes and embellishments; you supply the creativity. Instructions and guidance available. Fun for all ages, please register online or call the library. www.rockislandlibrary.org or... Read More

With access to a universe of items and services, having any library card is a reward in itself. And now there are few extra rewards, thanks to a first-in-the area program adopted by the Rock Island Public Library. The Rock Island Public Library is the first public library in the Quad Cities to subscribe to My Library Rewards™, a reading incentive program that promotes literacy, learning, and community engagement. With it, library card holders earn rewards just for checking out items at Rock Island Public Libraries. Any cardholder over age 12 who uses their card at a Rock Island Library... Read More

Check out some of the incredible events for adults, teens, and children happening at the Rock Island Public Library in the second week of September. The super line up of events for Sept. 10-17 includes: Coffee and a Movie Morning, 9:30 am, Monday, Sept. 10, Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. See the classic adventure tale by Stephen Spielberg featuring Indiana Jones, the globe-hopping archeologist. In this first installment of film franchise, our hero is trying to outrun a group of Nazis searching for the Ark of the Covenant. Free movie and coffee. Small Business and Non-Profit Website... Read More

Fun and learning for teens gets creative with programs on cooking, making graphic novels, and tie-dye, all at the Rock Island Public Library. All events are free and open to the public. The library’s Reading by Design theme celebrates creativity and making, with the following free events for ages 12 to 18: Teen Iron Chef: 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Thursday, June 29, Main Library. Design a culinary masterpiece in our annual Teen Iron Chef Challenge! Prepare a snack for our brave judges with the ingredients provided. Compete against your friends for fun and prizes, and see who will be voted our next... Read More

Spring is the perfect time to start a new chapter in life, and starting in March, the Rock Island Library will offer a series of “Employment 101” job-hunting classes for adults. The Employment 101 class series is at 2:00 pm on the first Tuesdays of March, April, and May at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. With the help of presenter Anita Hatalsky of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, attendees will learn how to apply, interview, and succeed in a new job. Sessions will cover the following topics: Part 1, Applying, Tuesday, March 7: Resume writing, cover letters,... Read More

A combination of significant behind-the-scenes budget work, coupled with hours changes and improvements in the assessed valuation of homes, should keep the Rock Island Library’s 30/31 Branch open past January 2017, according to a working document presented at Monday night’s Budget Review Session before the Rock Island City Council. Angela Campbell noted that the budget situation has evolved a great deal since a preliminary summary earlier this summer. “Between July and now, much has happened. Although we are still looking at a deficit for 2017, we are moving closer to a balanced budget.... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library will build on the excitement of the release of the new movie in the Harry Potter world with a “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” party for all ages on Thursday. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Party is Thurs, Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Main Library, 401 19th Street. Bring the whole family and hunt for magical monsters, take part in wizard sparring. enjoy Fantastic crafts, snacks and prizes. The event is for all ages and is free. For more information about Rock Island Library hours, services and programs, visit the library’s... Read More

The freedom to read and access ideas can transform lives – but when books are challenged or banned outright, readers are blocked from seeing all viewpoints and perspectives. That’s one of the reasons why libraries and bookstores focus on the harm of censorship during Banned Books Week, Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, 2016. On Tuesday, Sept. 27, local authors, librarians and other lovers of freedom will stand up for their right to read during a public reading of banned and challenged works at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. The free event takes place in the library Community Room,... Read More

The Rock Island Library will host a special after-hours event this September that will probably be a blast from the past for children of the 1980s and 90s. The Lisa Frank Palooza on Friday, Sept. 23 will offer coloring, crafts, and nostalgic activities based on the vibrant designs made famous by Arizona artist Lisa Frank. The event is from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Rock Island Library 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street. The company’s rainbow-hued unicorns, stars, pandas, ponies, puppies, cats and more appeared on school supplies (including Trapper Keeper notebooks), posters, stickers, clothing... Read More

If you’ve passed the Fort Armstrong replica blockhouse near the Government Bridge without thinking much about what the structure represents, you can learn more about its place in local history this week at the Rock Island Public Library. As part of the Fort’s 200th anniversary year, Army Sustainment Command Historian George Eaton will speak on the history of Fort Armstrong at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th St. The original Fort Armstrong (1816–1836) was the second in a chain of western frontier defenses erected between St. Louis and Prairie... Read More