Celebrate National Library Week at Rock Island Public Library: April 6–12, 2025: National Library Week, April 6–12, 2025, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. 

Locally, thousands of people visit Rock Island Public Library locations each week. What draws people to the library? Everything! From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.

On Monday, the American Library Association releases its State of American Libraries report. For a more local outlook, the Rock Island Public Library has already released its own report for 2024. It’s available at the library website, and at RIPL locations. Among other 2024 highlights are an 11% increase in onsite visits, a 12% increase in card registrations, and a total of 249,974 patron contacts. The total number of services used from all sources was 857,833.

“When you run those services through a calculation of the cost to buy them, it represents a potential savings of more than $2.7 million dollars. Public libraries ensure everyone has access to resources that educate, inspire, and connect,” said Angela Campbell, RIPL library director. “Our “Library of Things” collection is one of the best in the state, and whether you’re visiting for that, our Seed Library, unique services such as Book-A-Librarian, free programs, or our fantastic book and digital media collections, the Rock Island Library is here for you.”

Libraries serve as hubs for learning, creativity, and connection, helping people of all ages explore new ideas and opportunities. National Library Week events at the Rock Island Library include:

• Spring Vegetable Garden series on growing warm season vegetables with the Illinois Extension Service. Monday, April 7 at 11 am, Watts-Midtown Branch.
• An evening with Dave Markward, author of “From Dubuque to Selma and Beyond,” about his personal journey to understand racism in America. Markward is the former superintendent of the Rock Island-Milan School District 41, and a longtime advocate for social justice. Monday, April 7 at 6 pm, Rock Island Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30^th Street.
• Preview and discussion of the new Independent Lens documentary, Free for All, The Public Library. The Indie Lens Pop Up event presents the story of one of America's most beloved, yet often endangered, public institutions, from the quiet revolutionaries who began them to the tales from libraries today. Tuesday, April 8, 2 pm, Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19^th Street.
• Programs for ages birth to five to encourage early learning and eventual kindergarten readiness. Those weekly programs include 10:30 am Tuesday and Friday storytimes at the Watts-Midtown Branch, and a special “Petite Picassos” messy art program, on Wednesday, April 9 at 11 am, Rock Island Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road.
• Twice-weekly afterschool events for elementary-age students to provide positive after-school activities: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Tuesday at the Watts-Midtown Branch and Thursday at the Southwest Branch.
• Coffee & Conversation event on April 10 to help provide social connections for seniors and retirees. 10 am to noon, Rock Island Southwest Branch.
• Another installment of Illinois Libraries Present online conversations, this one with outdoor educator Alexis Nikole Nelson. 7 pm online, Thursday, April 10. Nelson uses her platforms, TikTok account alexisnikole and Instagram page blackforager, to celebrate edible plants hiding in plain sight, and uncover African American and Indigenous food traditions. Illinois Libraries Present is a collaboration among member libraries to provide high quality content.

On Wednesday, April 9, the Rock Island Public Library celebrates National Outreach Day by making two special bookmobile stops in Rock Island parks. Look for the Library2Go bookmobile at Longview Park from 3:30 to 4:00 pm, and at Hodge Park, from 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm.

This National Library Week, rediscover the library and see how it draws us together as a community. “Beginning here is always a good strategy. We invite everyone to discover new ways to be drawn in through learning, connection with others, and resources for personal entertainment,” added Campbell.

First celebrated in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April. Highlighted national celebrations include National Right to Read Day on Monday, National Library Worker Day on Tuesday, National Outreach Day on Wednesday, and Take Action for Libraries Day on Thursday.The 

For more information about National Library Week events, or any other event or service, visit the Rock Island Library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.