Design yourself a great summer at the Rock Island Library’s Build a Better Summer kickoff carnival on Saturday, June 10. The library’s annual Summer Reading kickoff takes place in the parking lot of the Rock Island Library downtown, 401 19th Street, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Scheduled events at the free kickoff include a drill team performance by Metro Youth at 11 am, a homemade rocket launch for kids at 11:45 am, and a Mentos™ cola fountain blast at 12:30 pm. Free hot dogs and water will served. The wide variety of activities for all ages also include opportunities to: Register... Read More

Parents of children in the seven to 14-year age ranges can keep them busy and learning this summer with four-week art and math programs at the Rock Island Public Library. Registration is now open for Design by Reading, presented by artist Gloria Burlingame, and Math by Design, presented by tutor Elizabeth Russell, offered at no additional charge on Tuesdays at the Main Library. These programs are suitable for children entering the 2nd through 8th grades. The Design by Reading Summer Art Club for Kids is offered from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Tuesdays, June 13, 20, 27 and July 11. The program features... 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

Pokemon Go players will find new hunting territory with a special after-library hours event at the Rock Island Southwest Branch library on Thursday, March 30. The special event wraps up the Rock Island/Milan school intersession break with Pokemon Go gaming, a scavenger hunt, Pokemon trivia and crafts for all ages. The free event takes place from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm in the Community Room of the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Snacks and prizes will be available. See what you can catch with our Pokemon lure! For more information about Rock Island Library hours, services and programs, visit... Read More

Colson Whitehead’s novel, The Underground Railroad,  and WGN America’s television series, Underground, have reignited interest in the real-life network that helped enslaved peoples escape the South during the Civil War. Now you can learn about the local routes of the Underground Railroad with a free March 20 presentation at the Rock Island Public Library. “Underground Railroad Locally” talk is presented at 2:00 pm by Angie Snook in the Community Room of the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Snook is the curator of the Geneseo Historical Museum, itself an Underground... Read More

Ballet Quad Cities is pulling back the curtain on its upcoming Wild, Wild West ballet with a Dance Me a Story event on Monday at the Rock Island Public Library. Dance Me a Story presents a child-friendly introduction to the ballet on March 20 at 6:30 pm in the Community Room of the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Children will learn a little about the ballet based on the wild outlaws of Aaron Copland’s Rodeo and Billy the Kid. Kids can then grab some costumes and create their own story through dance with a Ballet Quad Cities dancer. The event is free and is open to children of... Read More

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

Spring is the perfect time to start a new chapter in life, and starting in March, the Rock Island Library will offer a series of “Employment 101” job-hunting classes for adults. The Employment 101 class series is at 2:00 pm on the first Tuesdays of March, April, and May at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. With the help of presenter Anita Hatalsky of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, attendees will learn how to apply, interview, and succeed in a new job. Sessions will cover the following topics: Part 1, Applying, Tuesday, March 7: Resume writing, cover letters,... Read More

Looking for fun, family-friendly things to do in the cold of winter that will warm up your creative spark? The Rock Island Library is the place for you! Adult events at the Rock Island Public Library this February will help you beat cabin fever by exploring new hobbies and interests. On Monday, Feb. 6, the library will help participants chill out and relax with a DIY Tropical Bath Salts project. The free make and take class, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, will help participants mix up their own batch of Pina Colada bath salts. The event is free, and no registration... Read More