Go on a Penguin Parade at the Quad City Botanical Center (2525 4th Avenue Rock Island) this Saturday Jan 8 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Penguin Parade is a family read-in at the Botanical Center in partnership with the Rock Island Public Library. Read with your family, do a penguin scavenger hunt, try the penguin obstacle course, do crafts and receive free giveaway items while supplies last. Admission is free during the event and no RSVP is required. For more information, visit https://www.qcgardens.com/.  Read More

While the kids are back in school, the Rock Island Public Library has some great options to help keep adults of all ages keep learning their whole lives. Among other options, adults can learn about the Army history of the World War II battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The free talk is presented by a historian with the Army Sustainment Command (ACS) at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 14 at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Also on Wednesday, August 14, the library’s genealogy series for online research continues with a video presentation by genealogist James Tanner on “Making... 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

The century of the French Moderns brought in  turbulent change and innovation, not only in the art world, but also in society, literature, and politics. The 2018 Frieze Lecture series, presented by the Rock Island Public Library and Augustana College, will ponder some of those changes with a look at other “Modern Lives” in France and beyond. The 21st annual lecture partnership takes its thematic cue from an community wide celebration of all things French as part of the Figge Museum exhibition, French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850-1950. The series of four lectures by Augustana... Read More

The Rock Island Library will host an impromptu music performance Friday, when the STEM Ensemble of Valparaiso University drops by. The STEM Woodwind Ensemble of Valparaiso University will drop by the Downtown Library on Friday, March 16. The double quintet will play from the mezzanine of the library from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, providing beautiful music for first-floor patrons to read, browse or study by. STEM Quintet Musicians are Alison Norris, flute; Timothy Henderson, oboe; Monica Lueck, clairinet; Janelle Wiegal, horn, and Sarah Kuchel, bassoon. Additional tour musicians in the STEM wind ensemble... 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

Parents and grandparents looking for ways to keep kids occupied over the summer should make plans to visit the Rock Island Public Library. The library’s Reading by Design summer reading and learning program offers a blueprint for family learning and fun with a wide range of free events for children and families. Summer activities for children from ages birth to 12 include a combination of ongoing events, drop-in activities, special events, and performers:   Ongoing Events: Toddler Tale story times, offered three times per week for infants through age five at the Rock Island 30/31, Southwest... Read More

The Rock Island Library invites patrons to transform their ideas about the library by visiting during National Library Week, April 9 to 15. Rock Island Library joins libraries nationwide in celebrating the many ways libraries transform their communities through library services and expertise. The week highlights the changing role of libraries, which open up a world of possibility through the work of library staff, innovative programming, creative collaborations, maker events, job-seeking resources, reading, and new types of shared resources. For instance, a Rock Island Public Library patron may... Read More

Teens will find plenty of ways to pursue a special interest this April with free events at Rock Island Public Library locations. On Tuesday, April 4, the library offers a Teen Perler Bead night from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the Rock Island 30/31 Branch bookstore, 3059 30th Street. Perler® is a brand name for fusible plastic beads that are placed on a plastic pegboard to form designs and then fused together with an iron. Teens can choose from patterns or create their own design and then take their art home. This event is for ages 12 to 18. On Tuesday, April 18, the library’s monthly Tween and Teen... Read More