Take "note" of this brand new event series, starting December 4 at our Downtown Library!

Tuneful Tuesdays: Bring your lunch and enjoy live music at your library from Noon to 1:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Our first performer is:

Dec. 4: Jason Vieaux, American classical guitarist and Quad City Visiting Artist.

Full list of Tuneful Tuesdays here

Tuneful Tuesdays is funded by Carol and Jim Horstmann and The Rock Island Public Library Foundation.

See our newsletter for more fun events in December, including crafts and holiday fun!

November/December Newsletter

Drop by any Rock Island Library between now and January 2, 2019 to be a library fine angel.

Each tree contains bookmarks representing once-active patrons between ages 6 and 17 who have fines and fees that prevent them from using their library cards.

To participate, choose an anonymous bookmark and pay either some or all of the outstanding library fines and fees for that child. When the fine is below $5, the patron will be notified that an anonymous patron or patrons have restored their borrowing privileges. The bookmark contains no identifying information, so the Fine Tree allows you to act as a Secret Santa and help give a child a fresh start for library privileges in 2019!

Rock Island Library will act as a go-between elf for Letters to Santa this holiday season.

Simply pick up a blank form letter for Santa at any Rock Island Library, and drop the filled out form in the Letters to Santa mail station by December 15. Letters to Santa boxes and forms will be available at all library locations.

Your child will receive a personal letter back from Santa. Make sure your name and address are clearly printed!

Families with multiple children should fill out a form for each child. The service is free.

Events for kids and families

Drop by the Rock Island Downtown Library December 1 to 21 to make a card for a senior, and spread some cheer!

Make a card for a senior resident at Fort Armstrong Assisted Living Center in the Children's Room of the Downtown Library. Library elves will deliver the cards for you!

Photo: Children's Librarian Ranell (at right) delivered a holiday mailbox full of cards to Fort Armstrong activities director in December 2018.

Most of our December early learning events for ages five and under will feature seasonal stories and crafts, too!

Petite Picassos, 10:30 am, Tuesdays at the 30/31 Library, Dec. 4; Wednesdays at the Southwest Library, Dec. 12, and Fridays at the Downtown Library. Free art project and story for ages five and under.

Toddler Tale Storytimes: 10:30 am, Tuesdays at the 30/31 Library, Dec. 11, 18. Wednesdays at the Southwest Library, Dec. 19, and Fridays at Downtown Library Children's Room, Dec. 7, 14. Stories, songs, and a craft, ages five and under.

Play & Grow, 10:30 am, Dec. 5 at Southwest Library. A time for tots to talk, sing, read, and play their way to early literacy. For ages three and under accompanied by parent or caregiver.

December Craft Night at Southwest features a colorful Foam Christmas Tree mounted on a clothespin. This craft is suitable for all ages, and registration is required.

Join us Saturday, December 8, for two events for older kids in your family. Our Bookstem Buddies Book Club for Grades 3-5 will discuss Diva and Flea at 1:00 pm, and our Saturday STEAM-azing will feature the Figge Museum and their "French Moderns for Kids" hands-on art activity at 2:00 pm. Both are in our Downtown Children's Room.

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The December Craft Night at Southwest is for all ages, and registration is required.

Teens can make holiday crafts or ornaments with our Perler Bead Making craft for ages 12 to 18. Use our designs or create your own!

Thursday, Dec. 6, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, Rock Island 30/31 Library.

December also includes a Doctor Who Night for Teens and Adults and Gaming Fun.

Teen Events for December

Having wrapped up World War I, our history lectures now move to "The Next War: World War 2." Join us December 12 for the first of 10 lectures by an Army Sustainment Command historian. Our first talk is on American War Preparation and Pearl Harbor. It's at 6:00 pm at our Downtown Library, but if you can't make that one, there' s an afternoon talk at Davenport Library, Eastern Ave.

Full list of these talks in a helpful bookmark

What else? Coffee and a Movie features the holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life, and we also offer more open Tech Labs. (In 2019, these labs will switch to an appointment-based system.)

Events for Adults, Everyone

Winter Break Movie Marathon & Ugly Sweater Contest, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Rock Island Downtown Library.

OK, by the day after Christmas, either you need a break OR you're not ready to stop celebrating yet. Either way, we have you covered with our classic movie marathon. Enjoy free hot chocolate and movies, including Elf, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Home Alone.

Wear your favorite ugly sweater one more time to compete in our Ugly Sweater Contest! Prize awarded.

Movie Schedule

Join us for movie fun for the entire family with an interactive version of a Harry Potter movie. Celebrate the book's 20th anniversary! Play along with the movie by casting "spells," rooting your house (we'll sort you,) and eating scary wizard food. Interactive script and kit supplied for children attending.

Registration required: sign up with the name of each child attending. (Parents, we just need your child's name.) If you register and realize you can't attend, please let us know so we can release your spot to someone else.

Register at this link

Rock Island Libraries are closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25 for the Christmas holidays. We wish you a very pleasant holiday, and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, December 26.

Libraries are also closed December 31 and January 1 for the New Year's holiday. Happy New Year, from our staff to you and your families!

Holiday Schedules