Got a teen in the house? Teen Librarian Emily offers reading ideas for ages 12 to 18 every Tuesday at 3:45 pm live via Facebook. You can catch her recorded book talks on the Library’s YouTube channel. Not online much? Dial-A-Story instead! Call 309-732-7002 for a new story read to you each week. Stories change over on Wednesday.  Listen anytime.  Read More

Drop into the Downtown Rock Island Library Children’s Room between Feb. 1 and Feb. 11 to make Valentine cards for our homebound patrons. Supplies will be provided. Thanks to a service project by Seton School students, we have more than 200 cards so far (above photo), but let’s keep the friendship circle going! Open to any age. If you operate a care facility in Rock Island or Milan and would like us to drop off some cards, please let us know!  Read More

Summer Reading and Events Are Coming! From a special kickoff for all ages at the Quad City Botanical Center on June 1 to special events for campers of all ages, Rock Island Public Library is the place for summer fun! For a heads up on what we’re planning, open (or pick up) our Summer Guide Newsletter, or  check our events calendar.  Details about our Summer Reading Challenge  for ALL ages are linked on our website under About/News & Updates. Choose the linked feature (look for the image above) from our homepage for fast access. Though the Beanstack app is... Read More

Looking for some cooking inspiration or recipes? Need help with digital library services? Rock Island Public Library can help! Rock Island Public Library cardholders now have no-charge guest subscription access to the New York Times Cooking site and mobile app.  New York Times Cooking is an inspiring cooking guide, innovative and interactive kitchen tool, and diverse recipe collection that helps home cooks of every level discover, save and organize the world’s best recipes, while also helping them become better, more competent cooks. Paywall-free guest access is available to RIPL cardholders... Read More

Rock Island Library locations and bookmobile routes will be closed Monday, February 21 for our Annual Staff Development Day. Please do visit us online for great books & more!  Read More

The Rock Island Public Library is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $50,000 grant for fiscal year 2022 from the Illinois State Library to help it transform library spaces for COVID resilience. The library applied for the grant funding to help it welcome patrons back to its Downtown and Southwest locations with enhanced comfort, privacy, and service. “Part of COVID resilience is the ability to move programming and other services into outdoor spaces, and to allow for better social distancing and privacy in our interior spaces,” said Malachi Kohlwey, Rock Island Public Library building... Read More

September is Library Card Sign Up Month, when libraries everywhere remind residents about the awesome benefits of a simple plastic library card. Rock Island Public Library offers insider tips on using that card through free “library university” online courses. The four Library University sessions are offered at 2:00 pm on Tuesdays in September via the Zoom meeting platform. Each week offers a new look at amazing things RIPL cardholders can access with their free library card.  Topics include: September 28: Streaming movies, music, and more. Maybe you already knew that libraries offer DVDs,... Read More

Parents and other caregivers now have two options for storytimes at the Rock Island Public Library. In addition to the library’s ongoing virtual storytimes, offered at 10:30 am on Tuesdays via Facebook Live, the library has begun a limited in-person Friday storytime at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The in-person version will be offered at 10:30 am on September 24, and October 1. Whenever possible, the in-person storytimes will be offered outside. If conditions require moving inside to the Southwest Library Community Room, masks will be required for all... Read More

Register via Rock Island Public Library calendar, then join RIPL at Longview Park at 11 am on Saturday, August 21 for three crafts that help build important learning skills for ages 2-to-5. Free art apron included. Our Library2Go bookmobile will be onsite, providing the perfect time to check out books to enjoy together, or to renew or apply for your RIPL card! Please register for each child attending. Event is dependent on weather, registered participants will be updated. For more information see www.rockislandlibrary.org.  Read More

Rock Island Public Library children’s librarians will continue to show up at our Longview Park Library2Go bookmobile stop from 2:30 to 3:30 pm on Wednesdays in August for Full STEAM Ahead. Stop by for some fun with our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) kits. Miss Ranell will bring a new kit each week. This event is great for grades K-6! (Wednesdays are early dismissal days for Rock Island-Milan School District #41.) For more information, see www.rockislandlibrary.org.  Read More