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.

Filters
Age Group

RIFAC Book Club

10:00am–11:00am
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Join us at RIFAC for a book discussion on the last Friday of every month - no membership required! The meeting will be in Room 6. This month, we're reading The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.

Quarterly Book Sale

10:00am–1:00pm
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Program Type: Book Sale
Event Details:

Quarterly book sale. Bag up great deals on books and other items. Unless otherwise marked, sales are by donation. Fill some boxes or bags and make us an offer! 

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.

Quarterly Book Sale

10:00am–1:00pm
All locations
Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Program Type: Book Sale
Event Details:

Quarterly book sale. Bag up great deals on books and other items. Unless otherwise marked, sales are by donation. Fill some boxes or bags and make us an offer! 

Library2Go Route - Red Week

All Day 4/27–4/30
Everyone
Library2Go Mobile Library
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Library2Go Mobile Library
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

We're back in the swing of things and we look forward to seeing you at our current lineup of alternating route stops.

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?

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.

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Afternoon 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:

Fun activities and crafts every week Tuesdays at Watts-Midtown and Thursdays at Southwest!! Come for fun every week for Elementary age kids (K-6)!

 

This week we will have a writing workshop led by one of our afterschoolers!

Toddler Tales @ Southwest Branch

11:00am–11:30am
Early Learning
All locations
Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
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. 

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. 

Afternoon Activity @ Southwest

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

Fun activities and crafts every week Tuesdays at Watts-Midtown and Thursdays at Southwest!! Come for fun every week for Elementary age kids (K-6)!

 

This week we will have a writing workshop!

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 May 1, 2026 for a quarterly all-staff meeting. Buildings reopen at noon. 

Paper Embroidery at Watts-Midtown

10:30am–12:30pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Paper embroidery is just what it sounds like! We'll create designs and patterns by stitching thread through paper. Learn the basics of embroidery in this easy to pick up, easy to display format. Taught by Ranjani Gopikrishna of SB Quilling.

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.

Free Comic Book Day

11:00am–1:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Teen Area
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Join us in celebrating Free Comic Book Day at the Watts-Midtown Branch! Grab a free comic while supplies last, enter our art contest, and enjoy other fun (and free) activities. Also, we'll have snacks!

Library2Go Route - Blue Week

All Day 5/4–5/7
Everyone
Library2Go Mobile Library
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Library2Go Mobile Library
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

We're back in the swing of things and we look forward to seeing you at our current lineup of alternating route stops.

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's Alpha Book Club selection is The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon! This suspenseful mystery will be sure to spark a great conversation! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

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?

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.

Toddler Tales @ Southwest Branch

11:00am–11:30am
Early Learning
All locations
Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
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. 

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.

Digital Literacy Class with American Job Center

1:00pm–3:00pm
Adult
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: