The Rock Island Public Library will hold a ceremony to unveil a new historical sign from QC PastPort on Thursday, April 11, at 10:00 am the library’s Downtown location, 401 19th Street.
The Rock Island Public Library will hold a ceremony to unveil a new historical sign from QC PastPort on Thursday, April 11, at 10:00 am the library’s Downtown location, 401 19th Street.
The unveiling will be at the northeast corner of the library near the flagpole. Held during National Take Action for Libraries Day, the sign ceremony serves as an outward symbol of the longevity of the Library as a foundational institution in the City of Rock Island. The project started during planning for Library’s 150th anniversary, celebrated from November 2022 through 2023. The historical sign was made possible by a generous donation to the library by a private citizen.
The collaboration between the Rock Island Library and QC PastPort is part of a larger project that includes a historical narrative of the library, going back decades before the opening of the Downtown location in 1903. This includes a history of public libraries in Illinois, the Library’s first director, Miss Ellen Gale, and the many benefactors that made it possible for the Rock Island Public Library to open. Visitors can also see historical photos from the library’s collection and listen to an audio narrative.
“We’re thrilled to be able to unveil the QC PastPort sign and share it with the public,” says Library Director Angela Campbell. “Libraries are dedicated to serving the public, and preserving and sharing history is an important part of that mission.”
The ceremony is one of several events that celebrate National Library Week, April 7-13, 2024. For more information about library events and services, visit the library website, call 309-732-7323 (READ,) or follow the Rock Island Library on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Rock Island Public Library: The Rock Island Public Library first opened to the public on November 25, 1872, in a rented location in downtown Rock Island. The Rock Island Public Library was the first public library to open for business after the passing of the 1872 Illinois Library Act. The library director, Miss Ellen Gale, would serve the library for 64 years. In 1903, the Downtown Library building opened for business.
About QC PastPort: QC PastPort provides destinations where curious minds meet narratives from the past, by offering self-guided, interactive, physical and digital tours throughout the Quad Cities. Stops along this tour highlight architecture, businesses, institutions and fascinating sites through the stories of the people who were there at the time.