For September only, the Rock Island Public Library one-day book sale extends to 2 days!  The sale goes from 10 am to 1pm, Friday, September 22, AND Saturday, September 23  at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street Shop our great selection of books and other materials for all ages. Unless items are specially marked, our sale works on a voluntary donation basis. So fill a bag and pay what you like! Sales benefit the PALS (People Advocating for Library Services) fund of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation. Proceeds go for special library needs, including fine free lending! PS:... Read More

It’s a Party in the Park with the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department, Wednesday, September 13, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Lincoln Park, Rock Island. Fun for all with a bounce house, free hotdogs, popcorn, and Kona Ice while they last, live music, and community booths. Come meet your neighbors! The finale of the Party in the Park is the return of the Lighted Lantern Parade (once a time-honored Rock Island tradition!) To enter, just show up with a lantern (or make a bag lantern at the event.) It’s for all ages. And if you remember doing this as a kid, share the tradition with a child... Read More

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

Andrzej Kozlowski, a pianist from Rock Island’s Sound Conservatory, will perform a free concert at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch auditorium on Thursday, August 17. Originally scheduled for a previous date, the concert will feature works by Polish composer Frédéric François Chopin. The concert is from 6 pm to 7 pm at 2715 30th Street. It is open to all, with no admission charge. Kozlowski’s selection includes Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 & 3, Scherzo No. 2, and others. This concert is part of the library’s community outreach program. It is one of many... Read More

Summer reading and events at the Rock Island Public Library continue June 7 through 12 with free events for children, teens, and adults, including take-home kits for kids, a non-fiction book club for adults, and Summer2Go activities around library bookmobile stops. Children and Family Events this week: Children’s Bead Kit, available starting Monday, June 7 at Downtown, Southwest, and Mobile Libraries while supplies last. One kit per child, no registration required. Facebook Live Storytime: Tuesday at 10:30 am with Miss Ranell. Stories and more for ages five and under. Summer2Go with Library2Go:... Read More

Looking for Something to Do tomorrow? Hunt for Pokemon at Moline Public Library! If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family, drop by the Moline Library’s free Pokemon Day at 1 p.m. ATTENTION POKÉMON TRAINERS AGES 4-14! Do you love all things Pokémon? Are you an avid trading card collector, PokéGo player, Nuzlocke Challenger or a huge fan of the show and games? Then join us at the Moline Library for a special Pokémon Day event! Play games, meet fellow fans of Pokémon, trade cards and craft some of your favorite Pokémon! Program runs from 1:00pm – 3:00pm, trading... Read More

Join us for a fun event for your child’s stuffed animals! (Or any special toy.  All are welcome!)  Name Tag Making: Every camper needs a nametag, so drop by any Rock Island Public Library location to make a name tag for your toy buddy. We’ll have supplies available Feb. 22-24 during library hours. Stuffed Animal Storytime and “Camper” Drop Off: Friday, Feb. 24 from 4:30 to 6pm, Watts-Midtown Branch (2715 30th Street.) Before storytime, we’ll decorate a sleeping bag for your toy/stuffed animal! Then, we’ll offer a storytime for children and their toy buddies.... 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

On Saturday, February 11, local author David Sebben presents “Sol Butler, The Greatest Athlete You’ve Never Heard Of.” The free event is at 11am at the Downtown Library. An accomplished athlete, Butler played for the Rock Island Independents football team and competed in the long jump in the 1920 Olympic games. His free presentation is free and open to all ages.  Read More

Noted historian and storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis joins the Rock Island Public library on February 8 for the first of three performances in his “History . . .  in Person!” series. Join us Wednesday, February 8 for his live performance, “Walt Whitman’s Lincoln,” at 6 pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Ellis recreates a program that the noted poet Whitman delivered on President Abraham Lincoln. This event is suitable for all ages, and registration is not required. Light refreshments will be provided. Please enter the library for this after-hours event via... Read More