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Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge, cartoon Capybara reading on beach scene

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge

All Day 1/26 - 1/31
All locations
Program Type:
Reading Challenge
Age Group:
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Reading Challenge
Event Details:

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Sew Much Fun Encore - Sewing 101

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
DIY
Age Group:
Teen, Adult, Family

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Sew Much Fun, the library is providing an encore of its Sewing 101 Class.

Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Sew Much Fun, the library is providing an encore of its Sewing 101 Class.

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge, cartoon Capybara reading on beach scene

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge

All Day 2/2 - 2/7
All locations
Program Type:
Reading Challenge
Age Group:
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Reading Challenge
Event Details:

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

A man resembling Abraham Lincoln posed in front of an American Flag.

An Afternoon with President Lincoln

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Program Type:
America 250, Presentation, Performance
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

Meet 16th President of the United States and Illinois's favorite son, Abraham Lincoln! Mr. Lincoln will speak about his life and the impact he made on our country.

Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: America 250, Presentation, Performance
Event Details:

Meet 16th President of the United States and Illinois's favorite son, Abraham Lincoln! Mr. Lincoln will speak about his life and the impact he made on our country.

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge, cartoon Capybara reading on beach scene

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge

All Day 2/9 - 2/14
All locations
Program Type:
Reading Challenge
Age Group:
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Reading Challenge
Event Details:

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Black and gray floral shopping tote bag.

Sew Much Fun

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
DIY
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family

Expand your sewing knowledge by using a sewing machine to make a simple tote bag. Attendees will learn how to read a pattern, cut fabric, sew straight seams, press fabric, pin, and finish a versatile, reversible, tote.

Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Expand your sewing knowledge by using a sewing machine to make a simple tote bag. Attendees will learn how to read a pattern, cut fabric, sew straight seams, press fabric, pin, and finish a versatile, reversible, tote.

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge, cartoon Capybara reading on beach scene

Escape to Book Island Winter Reading Challenge

All Day 2/16 - 2/21
All locations
Program Type:
Reading Challenge
Age Group:
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Reading Challenge
Event Details:

Tired of winter? Escape to Book Island with our tropical-themed winter reading challenge! Imagine yourself reading on a beach and escape winter! 

An image of Pokemon cards appears with only the backs of each card visible: this includes a blue border, the yellow Pokemon logo, and a red and white Poke-ball.

Pokemon Day Craft and Card Swap

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and we're celebrating! Join us for an afternoon of Pokemon-themed crafts, and you can pick up some free trading cards too: whether you decide to swap any of your cards is up to you.

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and we're celebrating! Join us for an afternoon of Pokemon-themed crafts, and you can pick up some free trading cards too: whether you decide to swap any of your cards is up to you.

Three fabric bowls; one in blue, one pink, and one orange.

Sew Much Fun

Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
DIY
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family

Learn how to make your very own bowl cozy at this event! Bowl cozies can be used to keep your hands safe when removing food from a microwave, or to keep your hands warm when eating a pint of ice cream.

Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Learn how to make your very own bowl cozy at this event! Bowl cozies can be used to keep your hands safe when removing food from a microwave, or to keep your hands warm when eating a pint of ice cream.

Brian "Fox" Ellis presents - Robert Ridgway, Illinois's Bird Man

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

More details will be posted soon.

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

More details will be posted soon.

Square, quilted, pieces of fabric in the size of a drink coaster.

Sew Much Fun

Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
DIY
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family

Learn the basics of "quilting" by creating quilted coasters. Participants will choose fabrics, measure, cut, iron, pin, and use a sewing machine in this basic tutorial. The outcome?

Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Learn the basics of "quilting" by creating quilted coasters. Participants will choose fabrics, measure, cut, iron, pin, and use a sewing machine in this basic tutorial. The outcome?

Image of early bicycle with huge front wheel and small back wheel

The Extraordinary Journey of the Bicycle

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

For 200 years, since the first Draisienne running machine, the bicycle has offered us free climate-friendly travel, in the early days saving us from being over-run in dung, up to today, reducing air pollution. 

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

For 200 years, since the first Draisienne running machine, the bicycle has offered us free climate-friendly travel, in the early days saving us from being over-run in dung, up to today, reducing air pollution. 

Men standing between front and back wheels of 150 Case - largest steam driven tractor

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 1 -- Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2: Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2: Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

Actors performing on stage at the Lincoln Park platform in Rock Island Illinois

Genesius Guild Presents

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

   Genesius Guild Presents is is a special performance by the Genesius Theatre Guild of the Quad Cities in preparation for its summer season at Rock Island's Lincoln Park.

Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

   Genesius Guild Presents is is a special performance by the Genesius Theatre Guild of the Quad Cities in preparation for its summer season at Rock Island's Lincoln Park.

Amber Lowery - DNA Genealogy

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

More detail to be added here.

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

More detail to be added here.

Drawing of a Heider tractor floating in the field

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2 -- Rock Island's Heider Tractor

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

The Heider Tractor

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

The Heider Tractor

Oliver brand tractor on gravel road in front of a corn field

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 3 -- The Oliver tractor

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

Oliver tractors

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Oliver tractors

Movie poster for "Rock Island Trail"

Feature Film -- "Rock Island Trail"

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Southwest Community Room at Southwest Branch
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

This movie was a historical event for the City of Rock Island, and is an extra-special feature for our city's entertainment history.

Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

This movie was a historical event for the City of Rock Island, and is an extra-special feature for our city's entertainment history.

1949 Massey Ferguson tractor

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 4 -- Massey Ferguson

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

Massey Ferguson

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Massey Ferguson

Native American woman (Kim as Singing Bird) in costume

Please Meet Singing Bird (wife of warrior chief Black Hawk) - Kim Sigafus Presentation, Illinois Humanities Road Scholar

Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone

Please Meet Singing Bird (wife of warrior chief Black Hawk) - Kim Sigafus Presentation, Illinois Humanities Road Scholar

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

Please Meet Singing Bird (wife of warrior chief Black Hawk) - Kim Sigafus Presentation, Illinois Humanities Road Scholar

1947 Farmall C tractor

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 5 -- International Harvester

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Movie
Age Group:
Adult, Family, Everyone

International Harvestor -- Farmall is Rock Island

Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

International Harvestor -- Farmall is Rock Island

Jaime Ragins, Program Presenter in front of brick background

Retirement University Part 1 - Social Security and Medicare

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Adult, Family

In Retirement University, Part 1, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins will help you to understand your options for Social Security and Medicare.

Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

In Retirement University, Part 1, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins will help you to understand your options for Social Security and Medicare.

Jaime Ragins, Program Presenter in front of brick background

Retirement University Part 2 - Tax Planning in Retirement

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Adult, Family

In Retirement University, Part 2, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins, will help to understand the reality of taxes which need to be considered when considering moving from employment to retirement

Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

In Retirement University, Part 2, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins, will help to understand the reality of taxes which need to be considered when considering moving from employment to retirement

Jaime Ragins, Program Presenter in front of brick background

Retirement University Part 3 - Financial Estate Planning and Recap

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Adult, Family

In this, Part 3 of Retirement University, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins will speak about what to keep in mind when planning a personal estate.

Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

In this, Part 3 of Retirement University, Financial Advisor, Jaime Ragins will speak about what to keep in mind when planning a personal estate.