Painting at Southwest

Painting is completed at our Southwest Branch, but we're still putting things back! Our Children's Area at Southwest will be unavailable for browsing until Tuesday, Dec. 16. If you need something from that area, please ask staff for assistance. 

Upcoming Events

Featured Events

Vintage Christmas scene with snowman

Golden Memories of Christmas Past

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Golden Memories of Christmas Past

Silent Book Club®

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Please note this group will start meeting on the third Wednesday of each month (rather than the third Thursday) beginning in September! 

Downtown Movie Club

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Do you love the smell of popcorn and the thrill of watching movies with others? Join in on the fun and come to our Downtown Movie Club!

Cartoon graphic of sewing machine and accessories.

Sew Much Fun

Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

We're bringing it back - Sew Much Fun returns to Rock Island Public Library.

Join us on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30am - 12:30pm at the Downtown Library to learn how to step up your sewing game! 

Filters
Age Group

Tuneful Tuesday Series: Grace Notes Flute Quartet

12:00pm–1:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Performance
Event Details:

Get out of the cold and join us for a FREE concert with the Grace Notes Flute Quartet. This concert is suitable for music lovers of all ages. Light refreshments will be provided.

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. 

Coffee & Conversations

10:00am–12:00pm
Adult
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Mental Health, Discussion
Event Details:

Meet neighbors and create community at Coffee & Conversations every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the Southwest Library! Coffee, light refreshments, and optional activities will be provided.

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

12:00pm–1:00pm
Early Learning
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Early Learning
Event Details:

Youth Services staff will be reading and sharing literacy activities with the RIMSD Head Start and Preschool for All classes.

Sew Much Fun

10:30am–12:30pm
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: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

We're bringing it back - Sew Much Fun returns to Rock Island Public Library.

Join us on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30am - 12:30pm at the Downtown Library to learn how to step up your sewing game! 

Cricut Heat Press DIY Event

5:00pm–7:00pm
Teen, Adult
Southwest Branch
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

A Library of Things tutorial! Demonstration of our Cricut Heat Press, which can be checked out with an Illinois library card. Bring a t-shirt or other small fabric item to personalize, and we'll show you how it's done! 

Healthy Cents Series

1:00pm–2:30pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Cancelled
Closed
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Presentation, Discussion
Registration Required
Event Details:

Healthy Cents Series:

Bringing History to Life with Jonathan Eig

7:00pm–8:00pm
Adult
Online
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Presentation, Special Event
Event Details:

More details and registration opportunity to come!

The Palace Project -- eBooks in a New Way

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

Boundless / formerly eRead Illinois / is transitioning into the new Palace Project.  Come see what is new, what is now available, and how you can access this new way for our library patrons to read digital eBooks.

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

12:00pm–1:00pm
Early Learning
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Early Learning
Event Details:

Youth Services staff will be reading and sharing literacy activities with the RIMSD Head Start and Preschool for All classes.

Downtown Movie Club

1:00pm–3:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Do you love the smell of popcorn and the thrill of watching movies with others? Join in on the fun and come to our Downtown Movie Club!

Body Confident Kids: Parental Education Workshop

6:00pm–7:00pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Mental Health, Presentation
Registration Required
Event Details:

In May 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health.

Teen Advisory Group

4:00pm–4:30pm
Teen
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Teen Area
Age Group: Teen
Program Type: Discussion
Event Details:

Looking for volunteer hours? Join us for Teen Advisory Group, and learn about volunteering at the library. At TAG, you will:

Bucktown Americana Music Show

7:00pm–9:00pm
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room

Teen After Hours Event

7:00pm–9:00pm
Teen
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Teen Area
Age Group: Teen
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Join us for a night of fun at the Watts-Midtown Branch! We're taking advantage of our extended hours (thanks Bucktown!) to offer a free evening of snacks and entertainment for teens. Join us for retro gaming and pizza in the Teen Space. 

Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

All Day
All locations
Closing
Branches:
All locations
Description:

Rock Island Public Library buildings and bookmobile routes closed for the holiday. Visit us online! 

Dissection Event

5:00pm–6:00pm
School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Watts-Midtown Branch
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown 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!

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

5:00pm–6:00pm
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Purpose of Meeting

Monthly meeting of the Library Board of Trustees. Open to the public. 

Midtown Readers Book Club

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Join us as we discuss Glassmaker by Tracey Chevalier! Reserve a copy through our library system HERE.

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.

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!

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

12:00pm–1:00pm
Early Learning
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Early Learning
Event Details:

Youth Services staff will be reading and sharing literacy activities with the RIMSD Head Start and Preschool for All classes.

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- Go Ask Alice

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 book club title is, "Go Ask Alice," by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks.

KPop Demon Hunters Cat Craft

5:00pm–6:00pm
School Age, Teen, Adult
Downtown Library
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown 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!