Wherever your interests lie, begin learning more about your favorite subject at the Rock Island Public Library! The library offers a variety of free summer programs for all from July 15-20 as part of its Read, Renew, Repeat summer reading program.
Summer Reading Events for July 15-20 feature Trains, Trivia, and More!
Monday, July 15: Crafters can gather for the library’s monthly Knitting Circle, which provides time for working on projects with others from 2pm to 4pm in the Rock Island Downtown Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. To participate, simply bring any kind of fiber arts or textile project. Participants can also start a new project using the library’s craft tools and pattern books.
On Tuesday, July 16, train fans can take in a documentary on how the Rock Island Rocket trains defied attempts to discontinue the line, at least for a time. The free video history is at 2pm at the Rock Island Downtown Library on July 16, and is part of a railroad history series that continues through August. The “Rocket” was a line of trains from the Rock Island Railroad Line introduced in 1947 that promised travelers more comfort and luxury. The hour-long video covers the time of Amtrak’s supposed “rescue,” until the Rock Island Lines ultimately came to the end of the line as a result of the railroad’s declining finances.
Wednesday, July 17: Families looking for an evening story to share together will find it with the library’s monthly family storytime at 6 pm at the library’s Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street. The free event for children 5 and under and their families offers fun together with a number of story readings, singing, and activities. It’s free and open to all, and reoccurs on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Additional storytimes are offered on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 am at the Watts-Midtown Branch. For this week, the usual 11 am Wednesday storytime at the library’s Southwest Branch is replaced by the monthly Petite Picassos art session for ages 5 and under. Each Petite Picassos offers a messy art project for preschoolers. Both the storytimes and Petite Picassos are open to any child ages 5 and under accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
On Thursday, July 18, the library’s drop-in computer skills series with Goodwill Industries moves to a new date. From 4 pm to 6pm, job seekers and those who want some help with computer skills can drop by the Downtown Library’s public computer stations for one-on-help from a representative from Goodwill of the Heartland's Helms Career Center. No appointment or computer skills necessary! Participants can choose what they want to learn and go at their own pace. The series was previously offered on Tuesdays, but will now occur weekly on Thursdays.
On Friday, July 19, fans of the super-hero (or anti-heroes) Deadpool and Wolverine movies and graphic novels can test their knowledge with Deadpool and Wolverine trivia. The free event for teens and adults takes place from 5 pm to 6 pm on Friday at the library’s Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Both individual and team players can test their knowledge and earn both bragging rights and small prizes with fast-paced trivia of 5 rounds of 5 questions each. This event is suitable for ages 12 and up.
For the smaller set, the library is also offering a Stuffed Animal Campout on Friday at its Watts-Midtown Branch. The free event encourages young children to bring a stuffed animal or toy to the Watts-Midtown Branch on Friday, July 19, with drop-off from 5 pm to 6pm. A storytime is included, and the library will fill kids in later on what their stuffed toys did at their library campout. Stuffed animal pickup is open from 10 am to noon on Saturday, July 20.
While at the library, check out the library’s Read, Renew, Repeat Summer Reading Challenge, which runs through July 31. The library is encouraging adults, children, and teens to read at least 1,000 minutes, or about 16 minutes a day. The library has set a community goal of 500,000 minutes for the all-ages challenge, and is already more than halfway there!
Read, Renew, Repeat participants earn digital badges for meeting reading and activity goals, with virtual tickets rewarded to use toward prize drawings. Both online and paper-based reading challenges are available. School-age children who finish their reading challenges by July 31 will also be eligible for a special drawing for carnival passes to the Milan Harvest Festival. The special drawing is made possible by a donation from the Rock Island Township office. Winners will be notified.
The summer reading challenge and all events are free and open to all. Participants do not have to live in Rock Island or Milan to participate or attend.
For more details, visit the RIPL summer reading page. For more information about library services and upcoming events, visit the library’s website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library Facebook and Instagram social media sites.
###
Rock Island Public Library, Read, Renew, Repeat: June 1 to July 31, 2024. All Ages summer reading challenge and special events focused on personal renewal, sustainability, and family fun. Participants earn rewards for reaching reading and activity goals.