Special Weather Closing

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Rock Island Public Library buildings will be closed Monday, March 16. Meeting room reservations, library events, and Library2Go routes are also cancelled.

Even when our buildings are closed, our digital services put reading. music, movies/TV, and research at your fingertips. 

Upcoming Events

Featured Events

American Job Center logo

Digital Literacy Class with American Job Center

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

Join us for a free, basic digital literacy course! Presented by American Job Center, this class will cover the following: 

Five metal dissection tools on a blue background.

Dissection Event

Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Southwest Community Room at Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, 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!

RIPL Citizen's Academy - Shield with stylized open book and star under text

Library Citizens' Academy

Monday, April 20, 2026 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Event Details:

To kick off National Library Week, we're opening the book on what it takes to run a public library! Join us on four Mondays for the first-ever RIPL Library Citizen's Academy, and become a library expert.

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Age Group

DIY: Forever Succulent

6:00pm–7:00pm
Teen, Adult
Southwest Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Love plants but not the upkeep? Try a forever succulent! These beauties are made with glass beads and no watering or repotting is required. 

In this DIY session you will make one mini succulent plant. All supplies will be provided.

KPop Demon Hunters Cat Craft

3:30pm–4:30pm
School Age, Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

If you missed our previous KPop Demon Hunters craft events, join us for this afternoon of feline fun: make a wall hanging inspired by Derpy from "KPop Demon Hunters." We'll provide the cardboard head, so come ready to paint!

KPop Demon Hunters Cat Craft

5:30pm–7:00pm
School Age, Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for a fantastic feline craft: make a wall hanging inspired by Derpy from "KPop Demon Hunters." We'll provide the cardboard head, so come ready to paint!

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

DIY Craft: Butterfly Diamond Art

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Southwest Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Looking to add to your summer decor? Join us on Monday, June 29th, to make a diamond art butterfly! All supplies will be provided. 

Registration is required.  

Paper Lantern DIY Craft

3:30pm–5:00pm
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Terrace/Patio
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Looking to make your own summer decor? Join us for this DIY event, where you'll make a paper lantern using pressed flowers and papier-mâché! Please wear clothes you don't mind getting messy and/or bring a smock.

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

Attendance

The Rock Island Public Library's policy states that patrons who habitually register but do not attend a program will be considered a “no show” and may be blocked from registering for future programs.

Photo Guidelines

We often take photographs during library events. If you do not want us to take or publish photos of your child, please notify library staff at the program.

Diamond Painting Class: Patriotic Hanging Star Ornament

2:00pm–3:30pm
Teen, Adult
Downtown Library
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: America 250, DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, come make your own patriotic hanging star ornament! This diamond painting class will be led by Debbie Ford from Parkside Treasure House.

Disclaimer(s)

Attendance

The Rock Island Public Library's policy states that patrons who habitually register but do not attend a program will be considered a “no show” and may be blocked from registering for future programs.

Photo Guidelines

We often take photographs during library events. If you do not want us to take or publish photos of your child, please notify library staff at the program.

DIY: Plantable Seed Paper

3:30pm–5:30pm
Teen, Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Event Details:

More details to come!

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Feature Film -- "Rock Island Trail"

6:00pm–7:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Southwest Branch
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.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

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

1:00pm–2:30pm
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Downtown Library
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

The Union Stockyards — A Chicago Stories Documentary

2:00pm–3:00pm
Teen, Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

At the end of the 19th century, Chicago completely transformed the way Americans eat, and the Union Stockyards on the South Side were the center of that revolution.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 6 - Along Comes Ford

2:00pm–3:00pm
Teen, Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

   When we think of “Ford,” many things come to mind: cars, Detroit, Michigan, trucks, Henry, the founder and inventor of mass production, the ongoing family company, and what a big influence the name has had in Americ

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 8 -- "Tractor Wars," the Movie

2:00pm–3:00pm
Teen, Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 8 -- Tractor Wars, the Movie

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!