Hold on to your hats! Jason Platt is back, with a brand new book for tweens, Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist! The book is the second on Little, Brown for Platt’s Middle School Misadventures series, and is available in online bookstores worldwide. The book follows a boy, Newell, on the cusp between tween and teen years, navigating his way through the strange and funny misadventures of junior high. It’s an evolution of Platt’s popular long-running comic strip Mister and Me. For more info from Jason, check out our conversation on the podcast QCUncut. Fans can also... Read More

It’s like rain on your wedding day…Isn’t it ironic? During National Library Week, the Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St., temporarily laid off all its 29 employees Wednesday. It’s been closed to the public since March 17 because of Covid-19, but Tuesday the library board and city council agreed to remove $450,000 from its 2020 budget of $3.9 million, board president Sue Blackall said. “We’re just gonna adjust to find out how we can recoup the cost of that,” she said, noting the city recommended furloughing employees last Sunday, and the board met at noon Tuesday. The library... Read More

Four years ago this month, Lindsay Thul was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer, at age 28. Less than 10 months later, she was dead. Lindsay’s mother, Diane Koster – owner of the Grape Life Wine Store & Lounge, 3402 Elmore Ave., Davenport – honors her life and aims to educate others in a new book, “Lindsay’s Legacy: A Mother’s Memories.” “It’s a story of hope and it’s a story of courage,” Koster said recently. “And it’s a story of a relationship between a mom and a daughter, and it’s very educational about that disease, the different steps... Read More

Although more than 60 years have passed since the first National Library Week celebration, the original goals of celebrating libraries, promoting reading for leisure, improving incomes and health, and developing strong and happy family life are still relevant today. National Library Week began Sunday, April 19, and though the celebration looks different than in any previous year, the goal is the same: to educate about what libraries offer, and to inspire use. Due to social distancing restrictions, this year’s theme has shifted to “Find the Library at YOUR Place.” That theme recognizes the... Read More

My son Jackson turned twelve this week. He is undeniably the best person I’ve ever had the honor of meeting, and I’m looking forward to continuing to experience the adventure of his life with him. And as that time goes by, he may ask me for the advice I’ve gained in my years before him and since he’s been born. That’s why I started writing this list of things I’ve learned and I wish my parents had told me. I started it shortly after he was born, and I’ve added to it and published it every year on his birthday since, and, now, I’ve published it in... Read More

You can keep up on your reading and check out a lot of great media through Rock Island Library’s digital systems! During the closure, we have expanded RIPL eCard access to any resident ages 14 or older of Rock Island or Milan who does not already have a card. This eCard allows use of all our digital services. You only need an eCard if you don’t have a full-access RIPL card. Your standard library card already offers full access to digital services. If you know someone who can benefit from our RIPL ecard, the application is online, under Get a Card. We are filling these online... Read More

What: Young Emerging Writers Studio When: Third Thursdays of each month (Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 19, April 16, May 21), 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Where: Midwest Writing Center (ground floor of RIPL, 401 19th St. Rock Island, IL 61201) The Midwest Writing Center will host Young Writers Studio for young writers in the Quad Cities at their offices on the ground floor of the Rock Island Public Library Downtown branch on the third Thursday of each month in 2020, beginning January 16, 2020. The Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Studio is a new casual writing workshop/critique group for young writers in and around... Read More

As the leaves are turning colors and the temperatures cool, Rock Island Public Library is going to be falling over itself to make autumn a fun season for area families! The library has a full slate of events upcoming. Here’s the lowdown: Back to School! August – December 2019 Events Adults, General Audiences New: Bangtan Book Club. Monthly on Thursdays at 5:30 pm, see date for location. Do you know BTS, the Korean-pop band? Then you know their music is filled with literary influences! Join us monthly as we meet to discuss the books that have inspired certain BTS albums. Starting... 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

Are you ready to get “An Education in Murder?” Author Patty Joy will be signing her book by that name Saturday from 11 to 1 p.m. at The Book Rack, 4764 Elmore Ave, Davenport. While homeschooling her five children in her small town, Rainbow Bailey spends her days knee deep in lesson plans, laundry and science projects. Between helping run her husband’s sandwich shop and preparing for the town fundraiser, Rainbow’s plate is full. One night off, she discovers a body wrapped in plastic and tossed into a dumpster, turning her whole world upside down. Charlottesville’s... Read More