Big News! Downtown Restroom Renovation

1st floor restrooms (on the main floor) of our Downtown Library will be unavailable for a few months due to major renovations.

Ground Floor restrooms (off the accessible entrance and Children's Room) and 2nd floor public restrooms will be available during all library hours. 

Microfilm services will be temporarily unavailable as we relocate these machines from their former location. For questions, please contact Adult Services staff. 

Upcoming Events

Featured Events

Shield and ribbon logo for Retirement University series

Retirement University -- Investments & Taxes

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
View Details
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

This is the second Session of the three session Retirement University, a presentation of SOFA (the Society for Financial Awareness):  Investments and Taxes

A blue dragon curled around a pile of books. Written below, "2025 iRead Summer Reading" and "Level Up at Your Library"

Level Up at Your Library! Summer Reading Kickoff

Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Offsite
View Details
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Family, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

All ages summer kickoff at Quad City Botanical Center. Free, open to all! 

Five metal dissection tools on a blue background.

Dissection Event

Monday, June 9, 2025 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Register Now
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for a unique evening of learning about animal biology with science educator Andrea Martinez! We'll be dissecting sheep hearts and (very small) lizards: if you're interested in anatomy and physiology, check this out.

Filters
Age Group

Memorial Day Closing

All Day
All locations
Closing
Branches:
All locations
Description:

All Rock Island Public Library buildings and Library2Go bookmobile routes are closed today, Monday, May 26, in honor of Memorial Day. 

Digital collections and outside book returns are still available. 

L2Go Spring 2025

All Day 5/26 - 5/30
Everyone
Library2Go Mobile Library
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Library2Go Mobile Library
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

The mobile library will be closed for regular route stops on May 26th in observance of Memorial Day and on May 29th for our Summer Reading Kickoff event.

Toddler Tales @ Watts-Midtown Branch

10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Young children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of short books, action rhymes and songs.

For ages 0 - 5 years old.

Seniors Read Banned Books -- "Flamer," by Mike Curato

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's banned book selection is "Flamer," by Mike Curato.

Elementary After School Activity @ Watts-Midtown

3:30pm - 4:30pm
School Age
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

After school activities every week on Tuesday (Watts-Midtown) and Thursday (Southwest) for school age kids (K-6). 

This week we will be mining for gold!

Weekly Teen Book Talk

3:45pm - 4:00pm
Teen, Adult
Online
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Online
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Event Details:

Check out this week's book talk from Emily, the Young Adult Librarian! Just go to our Facebook page (or our Teen page, if you want to watch live). 

Toddler Tales @ Southwest Branch

11:00am - 11:30am
Early Learning
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

 Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of books, action rhymes and songs. 

For ages 0 - 5 years old. 

Drop-in Computer Skills & Job Search Assistance w/ Goodwill of the Heartland

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Discussion
Event Details:

Looking for assistance with computer skills and searching for jobs?

Southwest Book Club

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Adult
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Looking to join a book club? We would love to have you join our Southwest Book Club! This month, we will be discussing Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. 

Retirement University -- Investments & Taxes

6:30pm - 7:30pm
Adult, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

This is the second Session of the three session Retirement University, a presentation of SOFA (the Society for Financial Awareness):  Investments and Taxes

Elementary After School Activity @ Southwest

3:30pm - 4:30pm
School Age
Southwest Branch
Cancelled
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: School Age
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

After school activities every week on Tuesday (Watts-Midtown) and Thursday (Southwest) for school age kids (K-6). 

This week we will be mining for gold!

Level Up at Your Library! Summer Reading Kickoff

4:00pm - 6:30pm
Family, Everyone
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Family, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

All ages summer kickoff at Quad City Botanical Center. Free, open to all! 

Toddler Tales @ Watts-Midtown Branch

10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of books, action rhymes and songs.

For ages 0 - 5 years old.

Library2Go at Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest

10:00am - 2:00pm
Children, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Library2Go Mobile Library
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Library2Go Mobile Library
Age Group: Children, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Outreach, Special Event
Event Details:

The Library2Go Mobile library will be at Schwiebert RIverfront Park for the 9th annual Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest!

Toddler Tales @ Watts-Midtown Branch

10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Young children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of short books, action rhymes and songs.

For ages 0 - 5 years old.

Getting Into Genealogy -- Ancestry.com

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Adult, Family, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

Who were they?  Where did they come from?  What did they look like?  What did they do?

Your ancestors, that is.  

Ward 4 Meeting, with Alderperson Swanson

6:00pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room

Toddler Tales @ Southwest Branch

11:00am - 11:30am
Early Learning
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

 Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of books, action rhymes and songs. 

For ages 0 - 5 years old. 

Drop-in Computer Skills & Job Search Assistance w/ Goodwill of the Heartland

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Discussion
Event Details:

Looking for assistance with computer skills and searching for jobs?

Retirement University -- Estate Planning, Long-Term Care, & Legacy Planning

6:30pm - 7:30pm
Adult, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

This is the third and final Session of the three session Retirement University, a presentation of SOFA (the Society for Financial Awareness):  Estate Planning, Long-Term Care, & Legacy Planning

Outreach Skip A Long - Milan - Preschool Visit

9:30am - 10:00am
Early Learning
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Outreach, Storytime
Event Details:

Miss Ranell will visit Skip a Long preschool for storytime. 

STEAM on Wheels

3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen
Downtown Library
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Age Group: Teen
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for an afternoon with STEAM on Wheels!

Toddler Tales @ Watts-Midtown Branch

10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy this story time full of books, action rhymes and songs.

For ages 0 - 5 years old.

OUTREACH ~ RIFAC Preschool Storytime

10:00am - 11:00pm
Early Learning
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Miss Ranell will visit RIFAC preschool for storytime.