Starting in 2023, RIPL cardholders will not be charged a daily late fine for most materials, with certain exceptions. Most traditionally-circulated materials are fine free (for example, books, DVDs, CDs, magazines.) Who Qualifies? Rock Island Public Library cardholders only. Patrons of other PrairieCat libraries will continue to be assessed for late items. What Isn’t Fine Free? Mobile hotspots, mobile streaming devices, cultural passes, and Library of Things collections. These items will incur a late fine if returned after the due date. These are scarce items with high demand. Return these... Read More

Rock Island Public Library is closed for the holidays. Remember that our online services are always open to RIPL cardholders at www.rockislandlibrary.org. We look forward to seeing you after the holiday, when we reopen on December 27.  Read More

Fall Frieze Lectures, “Ideas That Changed Everything,” with Augustana College. Celebrate our 150th year with other ideas that had big impacts on their time. Join us at 2 pm, Thursday, Nov. 10 at our Downtown Library for free presentations by Augustana College professors.The speaker schedule has changed since our last email, so please read on! Dr. Paul Olsen, of the Augustana English Department, will kick off our series on October 20 by discussing the great “truths” of American icon William Styron, best known for Sophie’s Choice. The New York Times 2006 obituary noted that the late author’s... Read More

150 years ago, Rock Island citizens were eagerly awaiting the opening of the community’s first-ever truly free library on November 25, 1872. The Library will celebrate its 150th anniversary as the first library to actually open for business in Illinois with a community birthday party on November 10. The Rock Island Library kicks off a full-year of anniversary celebrations with the free public party from about 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 10 on the second floor of the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The drop-in event immediately follows the final Frieze Lecture, with speeches... Read More

To kick off the 150th anniversary year of the Rock Island Public Library, the 25th annual Frieze Lecture series focuses on ideas that had a profound impact in their own times – much like the opening of the Rock Island Public Library, the first tax-supported public library to open in Illinois. The free lecture series takes place on four Thursdays at 2:00 pm, October 20, 27, November 3, and 10, in the Community Room of the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The 25th annual Frieze Lectures, a partnership between the Rock Island Public Library and Augustana College, will offer four faculty presentations... Read More

Fall Frieze Lectures, “Ideas That Changed Everything,” with Augustana College. Celebrate our 150th year with other ideas that had big impacts on their time. Join us at 2 pm, Thursday, Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, and Nov. 10 at our Downtown Library for free presentations by Augustana College professors.The speaker schedule has changed since our last email, so please read on! Dr. Paul Olsen, of the Augustana English Department, will kick off our series on October 20 by discussing the great “truths” of American icon William Styron, best known for Sophie’s Choice. The New York Times 2006... Read More

October is overflowing with BOO-tiful events for children, teens, and families this October at Rock Island Public Libraries. Spend some of that school break at your library! Now that we have evening hours again at our Southwest Branch, we’re able to offer our all ages Craft Nights in person again! Register at the button below, then show up on Tuesday, October 11, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at our Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. We’ll be making a Jack O’Lantern garland. This craft is for all ages. Still prefer take-home? Kits will be available for pick up at the branch on the... Read More

Join the Rock Island Public Library and the Midwest Writing Center for their annual “Banned Books Reading!” Please note: this event is after library hours, so please arrive no later than 6 pm at Rock Island Main Library downtown, 401 19th St. Local authors, librarians, and guests will read passages from their favorite challenged/banned items to celebrate our Freedom to Read. Everyone welcome to attend; content might not be suitable for some attendees. It’s time we “ban”d together” against censorship!  Read More

Join Rock Island Public Library after Labor Day, and add to your future reading pile with our Sept. 6  book sale from 10 am to 1:00 pm at the Rock Island Public Library’s Southwest Branch,9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island. Visit to shop the selection of former library items and donated books, and fill a bag for a donation. Shopping bags are available, or, you can buy a Library tote bag. After this month, the monthly book sale will switch to afternoon. Please see calendar for details. If you’d like to volunteer for the sale, let branch staff or the book sale coordinator know! You can also... Read More

MOLINE, ILLINOIS – WQPT is bringing Molly of Denali to area libraries July 11 through 15. Molly of Denali is an animated children’s television series that airs on WQPT at 11:00 am Monday through Friday. The program was created by Dorothea Gillim and Kathy Waugh and produced by Atomic Cartoons and WGBH Kids for PBS Kids and CBC Kids. The series is the first American nationally distributed children’s show to feature an Alaska Native as the lead character. The series won a Peabody Award in the Children’s/Youth category in 2020. Molly will be appearing at the following libraries: Moline... Read More