Memorial Day Closing

All Rock Island Public Library locations are closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day. Please visit us online!

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.

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Age Group

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! 

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!

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.  

Dissection Event

4:00pm - 5:00pm
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Downtown Library
Open
Registration Required
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.

Shadowland Serpentry

10:30am - 11:30am
Family
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

The Shadowland Serprentry program is designed to captivate and educate audiences.

Shadowland Serpentry

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Family
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

The Shadowland Serprentry program is designed to captivate and educate audiences.

Southwest Sip & Paint

5:00pm - 7:00pm
Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Southwest Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for some painting fun at our Paint & Sip event! We will have painting stations set up for you to create your own masterpiece! This is not a guided class, but there will be projects you may choose from.

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.

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Dragontrainer

10:00am - 11:00am
Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Watch as inventor & time traveler Brock Barnabas visits the present time to recruit some adventurous kids to travel back to the Medieval times.

Library2Go at the Backyard Bioblitz

3:00pm - 5:00pm
Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Library2Go Mobile Library
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Library2Go Mobile Library
Age Group: Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

Look for our mobile library at Hauberg Estate as they host the Backyard Bioblitz.

Downtown Sip & Paint

4:00pm - 6:00pm
Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Downtown Library
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Children, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Join us for some painting fun at our Paint & Sip event! We will have painting stations set up for you to create your own masterpiece! This is not a guided class, but there will be projects you may choose from.

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.

Accompanying Adults

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Library Mini Golf

2:00pm - 6:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Downtown Library
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Event Details:

Come to the Downtown Library and play 12 holes of mini golf! Compete against family and friends, and keep track of your score as you complete our course for fun and bragging rights.

 

Library Mini Golf

10:00am - 2:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Downtown Library
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Event Details:

Come to the Downtown Library and play 12 holes of mini golf! Compete against family and friends, and keep track of your score as you complete our course for fun and bragging rights.

 

Board Game Day

10:30am - 1:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Collaboration Area
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

Board game fans: come to the Downtown Library for an afternoon of fun! Learn to play new games, or rediscover an old favorite. (Note that some games will be available for checkout during this event.)

Family Tie Dye

3:30pm - 5:30pm
Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Shared Lawn Area
Age Group: Family
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Add a splash of fun to your summer!  Bring your white clothing items and your creativity.  

Monster Movie Monday

5:30pm - 7:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Monster Movie Monday is back, and we're showing one of 2024's most thrilling vampire films. Join us for snacks and a monstrous movie!

Note that this film is Rated R for violence and gore.

Monster Movie Monday

5:30pm - 7:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Celebrate Godzilla Day with another Monster Movie Monday!

Monster Movie Monday

5:30pm - 7:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Terrace/Patio
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Celebrate Godzilla Day with another Monster Movie Monday!

Monster Movie Monday

5:30pm - 7:30pm
Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

It's the final Monster Movie Monday of 2025, and we're showing a classic tale of sci-fi horror. Join us for snacks and a monstrous movie! 

Note that this film is Rated R for violence and gore.