Upcoming Events

Featured Events

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
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! 

MagiKids_Magic the Gathering cards, learn how to play at your library

MagiKids (Learn Magic the Gathering and get free cards!)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

This program is brought to you by MagiKids! 

Attendants will be able to open several packs of Magic the Gathering cards, built their decks, and learn how to play. The best part is they will get to keep the cards they choose! 

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
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! 

QC Chordbusters with bridge and music notes

Tuneful Tuesday Series: QC Chordbusters

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Performance
Event Details:

Join us for a FREE musical concert with the QC Chordbusters. This concert is suitable for music lovers of all ages. Light refreshments will be provided.

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
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
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! 

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
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! 

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Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

9:00am–11:00am
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.

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

3:00pm–4:00pm
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?

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

9:00am–11:00am
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.

Outreach Skip A Long - Milan - Preschool Visit

9:45am–10:15am
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. 

Partial Closing for All Staff Meeting

10:00am–12:00pm
All locations
Closing
Branches:
All locations
Description:

All library buildings will be closed from 10 am to Noon on August 7, 2026 for a quarterly all-staff meeting. Buildings reopen at noon. 

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

3:00pm–4:00pm
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?

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.

Rock Island Arsenal Lecture Series: American Independence

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: America 250, Presentation
Event Details:

This year's lecture series explores the events surrounding American Independence, from the colonial era to the writing of the Constitution.

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

9:00am–11:00am
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.

Coffee & Conversations

10:00am–12:00pm
Adult
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: 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.

Adult Knitting Circle

2:00pm–4:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: DIY
Event Details:

Calling all yarn enthusiasts - we would love for you to join our Adult Knitting Circle!

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

3:00pm–4:00pm
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?

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, Discussion
Event Details:

Join us as we discuss The Winds from Further West by Alexander McCall Smith!

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 4 -- Massey Ferguson

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

Massey Ferguson

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

9:00am–11:00am
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.

Outreach Skip A Long - Milan - Preschool Visit

9:45am–10:15am
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. 

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

3:00pm–4:00pm
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?

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- This month's selection will be chosen by the members of the book club

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

All are welcome to join the discussion at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Downtown Library [2nd floor] on the 4th Tuesday afternoon of each month.

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:

This afternoon book club meets at the Southwest Branch on the 4th Wednesday* of each month during the spring and fall seasons (club will not meet in January, over the summer, or in December).

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

9:00am–11:00am
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.

Coffee & Conversations

10:00am–12:00pm
Adult
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: 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.

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