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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ILP Event: Babel-On with R.F. Kueng

7:00pm–8:00pm
Adult
All locations
Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Babel-On with R.F. Kuang

Disclaimer(s)

Illinois Libraries Present Registration Limits

This program made possible through Rock Island Public Library membership in Illinois Libraries Present. By Illinois Libraries Present policy, registration is limited to cardholders of the Rock Island Public Library, or to residents of Rock Island or the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District without cards. ILP events are not available to patrons of non-member libraries.  If you are not a RIPL cardholder or resident of our two service areas, please check to see if your home library is an ILP member. 

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. 

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 1 -- Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

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:

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 1: Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

Genesius Guild Presents

6:00pm–7:30pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age, Teen, Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

   Genesius Guild Presents is is a special performance by the Genesius Theatre Guild of the Quad Cities in preparation for its summer season at Rock Island's Lincoln Park.

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.

Early Learning Outreach-RIMSD HeadStart & Preschool For All Visits

12:00pm–12:30pm
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.

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!

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.

Closed for Memorial Day

All Day
All locations
Closing
Branches:
All locations
Description:

Rock Island Library buildings and bookmobile routes closed for Memorial Day holiday. Visit us online! 

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?

Library2Go Route - Red Week

All Day
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.

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. 

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).

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.

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 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

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.

Delacroix and Orientalism (watercolors with Gloria Burlingame)

11:30am–1:30pm
Downtown Library
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Registration Required
Event Details:

Happy un-Birthday, Gene! (aka Eugene Delacroix)- watercolors with Gloria Burlingame

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.

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. 

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.

OUTREACH ~ RIFAC Preschool Storytime

10:00am–11:00pm
Early Learning
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Storytime
Event Details:

Miss Ranell will visit RIFAC preschool for storytime.