Support Your Library

Show your love for libraries! You have many ways to help your library continue to offer top-quality services. Read on to find out how to:

Join the Friends of the Library,
Donate books or funds for books,
Leave a lasting legacy through the Rock Island Public Library Foundation.

Food for Thought is Thursday, November 3!

Eat, Drink and Support the Rock Island Library . . .

at Food for Thought!

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 3,

Rock Island Main Library,

401 19^th Street, Rock Island, IL

Join us after work on Thursday, November 3 for a delicious way to support the library, with:

Dining around the library with six food stations featuring tastes of Rock Island, from starters to desserts.
Complimentary craft brews from the Blue Cat Brew Pub, and specially selected wines from The Grape Life, Rock Island. Soft drinks, water and coffees also served.
Live music by the Edgar Crockett Duo and Lee Blackmon
Lively silent auction bidding featuring more than 50 books signed by their authors, unique gift items and repurposed books.
Chances to take home special bottles of wine with The Grape Grab wine pull.

Dine around the library with selections from:

The Scott Community College Culinary Arts Academy -

Anti Pasto Bar: Assorted cheeses, fruits and vegetables with ranch dip, herring in wine sauce, olives, peppers, and garlic baguettes with Spinach Artichoke Dip

Mashtini Saute Station: Mashed potato bar, featuring a flavorful sauté of garlic button mushrooms, bacon and shrimp, placed on a scoop of creamy mashed potatoes in a Champagne glass, finished with a sprinkle of melted cheddar.

Martha Cleaveland, Blue Cat Brew Pub - Assorted desserts

Cool Beanz, Annette Zapolis - Coffees and specialty coffee cocktails (peppermint hot chocolate and amaretto coffee), seasonal sweets and light bites from the Cool Beanz evening menu.

Albert Ames, King’s Food Services - Teriyaki Shrimp Rumaki with Sesame

Eudell Watts, III - Greek style chicken livers, sautéed in white wine with sage, served with a polenta square as a side.

Bid for books and more in our Silent Auction room:

More than 50 signed books, including works by noted children's, cookbook, fiction, non-fiction and show-business authors. Take home a book by Betty White, Nigella Lawson, Dorie Greenspan, Garrison Keillor, David Sedaris, David Macauley and more!
Repurposed book items for the booklover in you, including an encyclopedia end table, book lamp, bookpage jewelry.
Unique gift packages - private home dinner party for four, a Thanksgiving shopping spree, dessert of the month club, Cubs home game tickets, gold coin neckace, and packages from local businesses.

Admission includes all food and drink and is $25 for one person or $45 for two. Proceeds benefit the Rock Island Library. Youth accompanied by an adult are admitted at no charge.

Advance reservations appreciated, although walk-ins are also welcomed. Please call Foundation secretary Amy Penry at 309-732-7302.

Donations to the 501c3 Rock Island Library Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Friends of the Rock Island Public Library

Friends of the Library Bookstore

The Friends of the Rock Island Library run a year-round used bookstore at the 30/31 Branch Library. Bookstore proceeds help the Friends support special programming, equipment and other needs. Check the calendar on this website for special sales that offer even bigger discounts. Donations of gently-used books, magazines and other materials are welcome. Just bring them to a Friends bookstore volunteer at the 30/31 Branch.

Want to Volunteer at the Friends Bookstore?

Contact Volunteer Chair Carol Platter at this email or call (309) 786-6058.

Friends of the Library Monthly Programs:

11:30 a.m., on the 2nd Monday of each month, September-May, First Baptist Church, 3020-30^th Street, Rock Island. Cost: $6.50 per meal. NEW menu announced January 9. Catering is now by HyVee. Please see below for revised menu options for the remainder of our Spring 2012 meeting schedule.

February 13, 2012—Mayor Dennis Pauley, Annual State of the City Message.

Menu: Pork loin, loaded mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, roll and butter, coconut cream pie.

Hosts:

Pam Gustafson, Jean Kaskadden, Helen Lensch

March 12, 2012—New Niabi Zoo Director Mark Ryan, What’s New at the Zoo?

Menu: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, peas and carrots, roll and butter, apple pie.

Hostess: Evelyn Booker

April 9, 2012—Mike Oberhaus, Rock Island Superintendent of Schools.
Menu: Ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans, roll and butter, cherry pie.

Hostess: Virginia Wayne

May 14, 2012— Joe Payne, Editor “The Radish” magazine.

Menu: Barbeque pork, cole slaw, baked beans, buns, dutch apple pie.

Hostess: Bobette Maginas.

All meals include beverage. Reservations required for program meetings. Please RSVP to your caller or contact Calling Committee Chair Kathy Galley at 309-786-5293.

To become a Friend of the Rock Island Library, just print and return the form below. Your support helps fund a wide variety of special library programs, equipment and supply needs.

Giving/Donating

Monetary Donations: The Library gratefully accepts donations for book memorials. To donate, please call the Business Office at 309-732-7305. The Library will acknowledge your donation with a "purchased in memory of" book plate in items purchased.

You may also choose to supplement our collection with materials in a specific subject. For details, please contact us with your interest. We will look for gaps in our collection and provide suggestions that fit your specific interest.

Material Donations: To donate gently used books or other materials to the Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, please bring them to the Rock Island 30/31 Branch Library. A Friends volunteer will review your donation and issue you a receipt, if desired.

For questions about what kind of materials may be donated, please stop by the Book Sale Room.

Rock Island Public Library Foundation

logo for Rock Island Library Foundation The Rock Island Public Library Foundation is a private 501c3 foundation set up to support special, non-operational needs of the Rock Island Public Library. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, so contributions to the Foundation are the ideal way to create a lasting legacy.

Contributions may be unrestricted or designated for one of six special focus areas:

Children's Materials
Art & Drama Programs
Library Beautification Projects
Special Programs and Education
Adult Materials
Specialized Equipment and Furniture

How can you leave behind a long-term legacy to the library? Consider:

Tributes
Memorial Funds
Life Insurance Designations
Estate Bequests
Gifts-in-Kind
Matching Gifts
Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts or Revocable Trusts

Please consult your legal or tax professional for specific advice about how to include the Rock Island Library Foundation in your estate or tax plans.

Among other contributions, the Foundation recently underwrote the cost of Bookletters (subscribe here). Previous contributions have funded self-check machines, special art and drama programming and a majority of the cost of the South entrance portico at our Main Library.

Contributions may sent payable to the Rock Island Library Foundation, P.O. Box 4723, Rock Island, IL 61204-4723. For questions about the Rock Island Library Foundation, please call Foundation Secretary Amy Penry at 309-732-7302.