Thousands of local teens are enjoying spring break right now, regardless of the weather, and Rock Island Public Library is presenting a number of activities to make their break a little sunnier, regardless of the snow. Teens can try their hand at coding and gaming this March with two separate events at the Rock Island Public Library. Teen Coding Night will be offered Thursday, March 16 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Main Library, 401 19th Street. Teens ages 12 to 18 can take advantage of a session on coding with the Scratch computer program, then play coding games and practice simple coding. Ages... Read More

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch the scenes you’ve written come to life? Not through a movie or through a long-awaited play, but through you performing the scenes. On Saturday, March 4 from 2:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. you will have the opportunity to act out scenes in Midwest Writing Center’s Make A Scene Fiction/Storytelling Workshop. Midwest Writing Center is located at 401 19th Street in Rock Island on the ground floor. The cost is $15 for MWC members and $20 for non-MWC members. You can purchase tickets at this link: http://www.mwcqc.org/make-a-scene-workshop/ and you... Read More

Cards can be so expensive these days. Do you ever go to the store looking for the perfect card and either not find the one you are looking for or you find one that’s too expensive? You could make one, but maybe you aren’t that good at crafting or you don’t have the knowledge and materials to make the perfect card. Well now you don’t have to worry. On Monday, February 13, the Rock Island Public Library is hosting a Make and Take Birthday Cards Workshop from 6:00 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. It’s a free class for adults on making creative birthday cards using acrylics and stamping tools. To register... Read More

Technology takes the spotlight for teens at the Rock Island Public Library with two events offered in support of Teen Tech Week, March 5-11, 2017. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, teens can get help making a video entry for the Quad Cities-wide Teen Tech Week YouTube Challenge. The library will offer “You Be the Director!” from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. During the event, teens and tweens in grades 6 to 12 can use the library’s video cameras to create a 3 to 5 minute video entry on themes such as “Let’s Play” or “Being the Source... Read More

Looking for something to do with the kids on holiday break? The Rock Island Libraries are offering a number of options for the little ones and their caregivers. Rock Island Libraries are celebrating family time this December with the following upcoming events: Children’s Librarians will be offering “holly jolly” stories this week, with stories, songs and a craft featuring Santa Claus. The Toddler Time storytimes are offered at 10:30 am Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the Rock Island Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road; and Friday, Dec. 23 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street.... 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 and Colona Public Libraries will each explore major events in US history this November with two separate presentations by speaker Jim Gibbons. First, the Colona Public Library observes the 53rd anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s untimely death with a program on Tuesday, Nov. 22. In the 6:30 pm program on “The Kennedy Assassination,” Gibbons considers the events of that fateful day in Dallas. As Gibbon states on his website, “If you were alive at that time you may remember where you were and what you were doing that fateful day in Dallas. If not, you will... Read More

“This year” finally came for the 2016 World Series Champions Chicago Cubs, and if you want to see if they can continue their winning streak, the Classic Wrigley Field Rooftop Experience silent auction package at Food For Thought might just be the ticket. The Rock Island Public Library Foundation fundraiser, Thursday night from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Rock Island Main Library, supports the library’s literacy efforts with a wide range of ways to bid and win at the silent auction. The home run item may be the Cubs Rooftop experience for two, which includes watching a Chicago Cubs... Read More

Rock Islanders were busy founding a new City in 1841, but that wasn’t the only notable event of that year. The 2016 Frieze Lecture Series discussion theme celebrates “1841, the Year That Rock Island Began” and the current events that surrounded its founding. The series of four lectures by Augustana College professors are from 2:00 to 3:00 pm Tuesday, October 18 through November 8, in the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, in the Community Room. Free coffee,  cookies and conversation are offered after each lecture. 2016 marks the 19th year for annual partnership between... 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