September is Library Card Month, and there’s still time to explore the unlimited possibilities at your Rock Island Public Library! Take a look at the free options for self-care, job search, business, and creativity coming up in late September
September is Library Card Month, and there’s still time to explore the unlimited possibilities at your Rock Island Public Library! In addition to a wide variety of services, the library is offering several events that help you explore new options for your life.
On Tuesday, September 16, the library will offer a free mental self-care program with Anne McNelis, co-CEO and clinical director, Transitions Mental Health Services. Your Mind Matters: Cultivating Self-Care & Resilience, is offered at 1:00 pm on September 16, at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook mental well-being. Program participants will learn practical tools to prioritize self-care, manage stress, and build resilience. Whether you want to enhance your emotional resilience or carve out more time for yourself, this session will provide actionable steps to help you thrive—because your mental health matters. The program is free and open to adults.
Next, the library starts a series of free yoga programs. Yoga for Beginners, Movement for Mental Health, will be led by Sarah Stevens, an instructor at Sanctuary Studios in Moline, on three dates and locations:
· September 17, 2 pm, Rock Island Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road.
· October 1, also at 2 pm, Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street.
· October 8 at 6 pm, Rock Island Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street.
The classes offer gentle techniques for breathing and basic movement, which are proven ways to improve mental outlook and manage stress. They’re open to all, and no special equipment is required.
The Cultivating Self-Care and Yoga classes are made possible by ARPA dollars (American Rescue Plan Act) designated by the City of Rock Island.
If you’ve been thinking about new paths for your life, the library also offers programs in September for assisting with a job search or starting a business.
Job Searching with Brainfuse JobNow will be offered Monday, September 22 at 6:30 pm at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street. The free program covers how to use JobNow by Brainfuse, a free online service available to RIPL cardholders that provides expert career coaching with a live job consultant, tailored guidance, curated resume resources, live online interview practice, and access to an adult learning center with Microsoft software skill refreshers, high school equivalency and citizenship test preparation, and more.
For those with a business idea in mind, the library offers Starting an Illinois Business, September 23 at 5:30 pm, also at the Watts-Midtown Branch. This free workshop from the Small Business Development Center is designed to guide aspiring small businesses through the essential steps of launching a business in Illinois. Topics covered include choosing a business name and location, understanding licenses, permits, and other legal needs, planning for business insurance, sales, and payroll taxes, and keeping good records. If you have an idea, it’s an ideal time to ask questions about making that business idea a reality.
Finally, if you’re searching for a creative outlet, try “Happy Birthday, Caraveggio,” a free watercolor class for adults with local artist Gloria Burlingame. Participants will create a watercolor still life in the style of the Renaissance artist Caraveggio, born September 1571. It’s offered from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday, September 27, in the Community Room of the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. The class is free, and requires registration. To register, visit the library website or call 309-732-7341.
The Library Card Sign Up month theme, One Card: Endless Possibilities, recognizes how a single library card can help you begin most anything. No matter your age, background, goals, or reading tastes, the library collection offers multiple options. Whether you're diving into a new hobby, searching for your next great read, brushing up on tech skills, using library resources to support a job search, or helping your child succeed in school, it all starts with a library card.
Getting a library card is free, easy, and empowering. For students, it’s a key to academic success. For adults, it’s a gateway to lifelong learning. For everyone, it’s a smart way to stay connected to your community. The possibilities are endless!
Rock Island Public Library cards are available to eligible residents of the City of Rock Island and the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District. To apply or renew, visit the library website or apply in person at any Rock Island Public Library location, including the Library2Go bookmobile. For additional questions, call 309-732-READ.