Children, teens, and adults can enjoy some surprise crafts, prepare for a job search, and help others this week at Rock Island Public Library locations.
Earth Day Crafternoon, Online Resume Help, and More at your Library this Week
On Wednesday, April 20, the library offers free Earth Day “Crafternoons” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at both the Downtown Library, in the Children’s Room, and at the Southwest Library Community Room. Participants of any age can drop in anytime during event hours to try some surprise Earth Day recycled crafts.
If spring has you thinking about job hunting, sign up for an online “Resume Reboot” from 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 21. The free online workshop is presented by Brainfuse JobNow services. Job Search coach and resume expert Ashley Watkins will offer tips on what keywords to include, resume design, and how to showcase your value to potential employers. Register to receive the online workshop link. To sign up, visit the Resume Workshop event on the library calendar, or call the Library Reference Desk at 309-732-7341.
JobNow, powered by Brainfuse, provides live interactive online help and online resources to guide adult learners through the necessary tasks to get a job. The digital service is available for use at Rock Island Library sites, or from home with a Rock Island Public Library card. Ashley Watkins is a Job Search Coach, Nationally Certified Résumé Writer (NCRW), and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE) with Write Step Résumés in the Birmingham, AL area. She is a former corporate recruiter of 15 years and handled talent acquisition for multimillion-dollar banking, manufacturing, and nonprofit organizations. Watkins is a previous board member of the National Resume Writers' Association.
Weekly library events include two story times each week for ages five and under. The Tuesday online story time is offered at 10:30 am, while a Wednesday story time is offered in person at 11:00 am at the Southwest Library. The Youth Services department also offers online book talks for teens at 3:45 pm on Tuesdays, and book recommendations for school age children at 2pm on Fridays. They may be viewed via Facebook Live or on demand later.
For those interested in giving back this month, Rock Island Library locations are also serving as drop-off points for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Food Drive from the Quad City Disabilities Awareness Coalition. Non-perishable food donations for local food pantries may be dropped off through April 26 in the lobbies of the Rock Island Downtown and Southwest Library during business hours. To see a list of food pantry needs, visit the event link at the library website.
In other ongoing events for April, the library is offering the Lift Up a Little Reader donation tree. Library patrons can connect a child to reading can take a tag off the Wish Tree and pay some or all of the account fees listed. Once account fees are below $10, library use is restored. To donate through the wish tree, visit the Rock Island Downtown and Southwest Library locations through May 28.
For adult RIPL patrons who may have an overdue item or two, returning them on Fridays to a Rock Island Public Library location will be Fine Free. This limited-time “Fine Free Friday” offer applies to overdue late charges on standard library items still in the catalog, such as books, music, movies, and magazines. Returns at other PrairieCat libraries do not qualify. Remaining replacement, damages, or other non-overdue fees remain the responsibility of the patron.
For more events and services, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow Rock Island Public Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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