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 2/9 - 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! 

An image of Stack (in red) and Smoke (in blue), the twins from the movie "Sinners."

Monster Movie Monday

Monday, February 9, 2026 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Watts-Midtown Community Room at Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Join us for Monster Movie Monday, where we're showing one of 2025's most thrilling vampire films. Join us for snacks and a monstrous movie!

Note that this film is Rated R for violence and gore.

Army Sustainment Command Logo depicting a sword, globe, and grenade and the words "On the Line"

Rock Island Arsenal Lecture Series: American Independence

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at 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.

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! 

Deacons for Defense movie poster. African-American men carrying guns stand in a line in a defensive posture.

"Deacons for Defense" - Remembering Black History

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Remembering Black history.....

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Age Group
Program Type

Community Comforts Drive

All Day 2/2–2/28
Everyone
All locations
Offsite Event
Library Branch: All locations
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Take part in our 8th annual Community Comforts Drive! Times have been tough and many of our neighbors are in need. Our annual drive aims to collect personal care items that are so important to our health and wellbeing.

Elementary After School 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 learning about and creating memes from the year 2016!

Elementary After School 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 learning about and creating memes from the year 2016!

Elementary After School 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 be saving a minion from the library escape room!

Elementary After School 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 be saving a minion from the library escape 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. 

Elementary After School 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 be playing board games!

Still Afraid of the Dark: An Evening with R.L. Stine

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

Open to Rock Island Library cardholders and areas of Rock Island/Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District. Register no

Elementary After School 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 be playing board games!

Rock Island Horticultural Club Community Seed Swap

5:00pm–7:00pm
Everyone
Outreach
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Outreach
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Come catch our seed library at Rock Island Horticultural Club's Annual Seed Swap. Hosted at the Quad City Botanical Center, come and pick up seeds, socialize, and enjoy light refreshments with garden enthusiasts of all levels.

ILP: Percival Everett

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

More details and registration opportunity to come!

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. 

An Evening with Mark Turcotte, Illinois Poet Laureate

5:30pm–7:00pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Kick off National Poetry Month (beginning in April) with an evening of poetry with Mark Turcotte, Illinois's Poet Laureate. Mr.

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. 

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. 

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.