Save the Universe, Discuss the Space Race& Explore the Stars, All at Rock Island Libraries this Summer

The Library kicks off its Universe of Stories summer programming with an Interactive Movie Night for all ages. The L.I.B. team will be ready to help you save the Earth from alien invaders on Wednesday, June 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Participants of all ages will play along with the movie using an interstellar prop kit of slime, some tasty "bugs," sunglasses, and supplies to create a new identity. Wear black or dress as an alien. Each guest receives a prop kit, so please register via the library website or phone.

Next, the library explores the untold stories from the space race with a special preview and discussion of American Experience "Chasing the Moon," at 10:00 am on Monday, June 10 at the Downtown Library. Chasing the Moon is a new six-hour documentary series from director Robert Stone and PBS that takes viewers from the earliest beginnings of space exploration to the first lunar landing in 1969. The three-part series, which airs July 8, 9, and 10th on WQPT Quad Cities PBS, recasts the space race as a "stew of scientific innovation and PR savvy, political calculation and media spectacle, visionary impulses and political drama."

The library will air a segment from Part Three, "Magnificent Desolation," which looks at the tension and excitement surrounding the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969, all the way up until the lunar module finally lands on the moon. A discussion follows, covering such topics as the controversy surrounding this "Giant Leap," what it meant to people watching at the time, and the challenges in accomplishing the mission. The event is free and open to all ages.

For a close-up view at the stars, Rock Island Library is sponsoring a visit to the John Deere Planetarium at Augustana College. The free tour takes place at 10:00 am on Monday, June 17 at the John Deere Planetarium, and is best suited for ages adult through 3rd grades. The Universe of Stars presentation features a guided tour of the night sky, courtesy of Dr. Lee Carkner of Augustana College and the planetarium's new digital projection system. Both the planetarium and Apollo 11 moon landing are observing their 50th anniversaries this year. Registration is required. To sign up, visit the library website or call. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Augustana College.

In addition to more than 90 events like these, Rock Island Library offers free RockTown Summer Reading Challenges for all ages from June 1 to July 31. By encouraging children, teens, and adults to read for fun, learning and prizes, the Summer Reading Challenge helps avoid summer learning loss, keeping skills sharp and minds engaged. Mission goals by age include:

• Children, preschool to sixth grades: Tracking 24 books or 6 hours of reading time. with prize levels every 8 books or 2 hours. Reading aloud counts!
• Teens, ages 12 to 18: Reading up to 1,000 minutes, with prize levels at every 250 minutes of reading;
• Adults, 19 and up: Reading up to seven books over the summer, with prizes at 4 and 7 books.

To sign up visit any Rock Island Library, or participate online via Beanstack. New registrations receive a special prize of a color-changing "I'm in the Mood for Reading" cup, while supplies last. Participation in the reading challenge is not required to attend library events.

For more events in the library's Universe of Stories programming, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ or follow the Rock Island Library on social media.