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 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! 

Downtown Movie Club

Thursday, February 19, 2026 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!

An image of Pokemon cards appears with only the backs of each card visible: this includes a blue border, the yellow Pokemon logo, and a red and white Poke-ball.

Pokemon Day Craft and Card Swap

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: School Age, Teen, Adult, Family
Program Type: Gaming
Event Details:

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and we're celebrating! Join us for an afternoon of Pokemon-themed crafts, and you can pick up some free trading cards too: whether you decide to swap any of your cards is up to you.

"Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance")

"Creating Dimensional Art" with Gloria Burlingame

Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:30am - 1:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

In celebration of Black History month, join artist/teacher Gloria Burlingame to take a look at Black American painter Amy Sherald's life and artwork.

Three fabric bowls; one in blue, one pink, and one orange.

Sew Much Fun

Saturday, March 14, 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:

Learn how to make your very own bowl cozy at this event! Bowl cozies can be used to keep your hands safe when removing food from a microwave, or to keep your hands warm when eating a pint of ice cream.

Filters
Age Group

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2 -- Rock Island's Heider Tractor

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:

The Heider Tractor

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 The Great River by Boyce Upholt.

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.

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?

DIY Craft: Butterfly Diamond Art

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Southwest Branch
Upcoming
Registration Required
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Registration Required
Event Details:

Looking to add to your summer decor? Join us on Monday, June 29th, to make a diamond art butterfly! All supplies will be provided. 

Registration is required.  

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.

Outreach ~ Longview Park

3:00pm–4:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

A Children's Librarian and the Mobile Library will be at Longview Park sharing children's stories and an activity.  

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. 

Outreach - Skip a Long - Milan - School Age

1:00pm–2:00pm
School Age
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: School Age
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Miss Ranell will be visiting Skip A Long summer camp.  

Closed for Independence Day

All Day 7/3–7/4
All locations
Closing
Branches:
All locations
Description:

Rock Island Public Library buildings and bookmobile routes will be closed Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. Visit us online! 

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. 

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.

Outreach ~ Longview Park

3:00pm–4:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

A Children's Librarian and the Mobile Library will be at Longview Park sharing children's stories and an activity.  

Petite Picassos @ Southwest Branch

11:00am–12:00pm
Early Learning
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Early Learning
Program Type: Early Learning
Event Details:

Do your toddlers love to get messy?  Bring them to Petite Picassos where they can use all of their senses with hands on art.  We will take care of the mess as they create their masterpieces.  

Outreach - Skip a Long - Milan - School Age

1:00pm–2:00pm
School Age
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: School Age
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Miss Ranell will be visiting Skip A Long summer camp.  

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.

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.

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?

DIY: Plantable Seed Paper

3:30pm–5:30pm
Teen, Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: DIY
Event Details:

More details to come!

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.

Outreach ~ Longview Park

3:00pm–4:00pm
Children, Early Learning, School Age
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Children, Early Learning, School Age
Program Type: Outreach
Event Details:

A Children's Librarian and the Mobile Library will be at Longview Park sharing children's stories and an activity.