Curbside Pick-Up now available! 

Pick-up Locations:
Downtown Library (alley along south side) and in front of the Southwest Library door

By Appointment only; Please wait until we notify you that your materials are ready.

RIPL is offering curbside pick-up! We will bring up to 5 held items for you per appointment to your car for contactless delivery. (Items from other libraries are not available at this time.)

We appreciate your patience. For everyone’s safety, a limited number of staff are in the building at any time. Services may take a little longer than usual. We are also quarantining returned items for seven days, which will limit availability.

Please note that there will be no public access to our buildings.

Step One: Choose Your Items
Available items include books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, music CDs

Method 1:

• Place an online hold in our catalog (after Memorial Day.)

• Staff will notify you when your items are ready, and set a pick-up appointment

• PLEASE wait until notification before coming to the Library.

Method 2:

• Call 309-732-7341, or email RiLibRef@rigov.org, or Live Chat via Ask a Librarian

• Reference staff will available by phone and chat during the following hours:

  • Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

  • Friday: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

  • Saturday: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

• Need some help? Fill out our From the Stacks Personal Shopper Form, and library staff will pick up to five items for you. Please allow sufficient time for us to research, pull, and notify you about your hold

Step Two: Library Staff will call or email you that your items are available

• If you miss our call, please contact us at 309-732-7323 to book an appointment

• Sorry, we cannot accept drop-ins. This service is provided with limited hours and staff.

Step Three: Book Your Pick-up Appointment

• Curbside pick-up hours are available Monday-Saturdays (no hours Memorial Day)

• We will check your items out to you when we make the appointment

• Staff will take a description of your car to help us identify you

• If you are walking or biking, just let us know.

Step Four: Pick-up!

• Pull into one of the numbered spots at our Downtown or Southwest locations.

• Stay in your car, and call the number on the sign. We will need your name and space number

• Open your trunk. If you need to exit your vehicle to open your trunk or side door, please do so before RIPL staff arrive.

• Show us your library card through your vehicle window.

• Staff will place bagged items in your trunk/vehicle and close the lid/door.

• Drive away when staff step away from your vehicle. You’re done!

Returns: Please return all items to the book drop. (Oversize items that won’t fit in the book drop should be kept at home for now.) STAFF CANNOT ACCEPT RETURNS AT CURBSIDE.

Due to COVID-19 contact concerns:

• Donations of any kind will not be accepted at either curbside or in book drops

• Staff cannot take payments for fines/library fee charges at curbside

Rock Island Libraries Buildings Remain Closed. There will be no public access to buildings during this Curbside only stage. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.
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Additional COVID 19 information:

All library programming, including Summer events, will be provided virtually. Watch our Facebook page for virtual programming, including Online Storytimes at 10:30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Many of our digital products are featuring expanded home use. 

Library materials may now be returned via our book drops.
However:

• Due Dates remain extended until June 26, 2020.

• No late fees will be assessed 

• Expiring cards automatically extended through July 1, 2020 so you can continue to use the library’s digital content and online learning services.

• Expirations for previous holds extended thorugh June 12.

System-wide delivery is still suspended.

Residents who do not have a card may apply for an eCard so that they use digital services. To apply for an RIPL eCard, you must live in the Rock Island Public Library service area. We have temporarily extended the age limit to 14 years of age or older. The online application is available on the library website under Get a Card.

Stop the Rumor Mill! 
FEMA has opened a special website for Coronavirus Rumor Control.

Do your part to the stop the spread of disinformation by doing three easy things:

1. Don’t believe the rumors.

2. Don’t pass them along.

3. Go to trusted sources of information to get the facts about the federal (COVID-19) response.

Please check the site at this link for the most accurate facts known at this time, and to avoid falling victim to the scams already circulating. 

Where else to get facts and help regarding COVID-19

• The QC COVID-19 Coalition is a task force of Quad Cities area health, business, government and emergency management officials that have united to assess our regional situation, and provide recommendations on how to minimize the risk of COVID-19 community spread. The QC COVID-19 Coalition has created a new website for all Quad Citizens at TogetherQC.com.

• COVID 19 Literacy Project: Get fact sheets in more than 30 languages

• The State of Illinois COVID-19 website

• Illinois' COVID-19 Hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or  email dph.sick@illinois.gov

• Read the Center for Disease Control (CDC) summary on COVID-19, and their frequently asked questions page

• Get updates from Illinois Department of Public Health, Rock Island County Health Department and Johns Hopkins medicine

• Download factsheets from the CDC

• Show others who you are social distancing for with this downloadable sign. 

• Business Resources - Links and COVID-19 emergency response from the Quad City Chamber of Commerce 

• Looking for grants? Foundation Directory Online available for home use through a special link on our website! 

When to stay home

At any sign of sickness, such as cough, shortness of breath, or other flu-like symptoms.

• According to the CDC, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

• We encourage any concerned residents, especially those in high-risk populations, to stay home if they are feeling ill or are simply concerned about potential exposure.

What to do when in public spaces

• Avoid contact with people who are sick

• Wear a mask or maintain six-foot distances between you and others
•  
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

• Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose, and mouth

• Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue, then throw that tissue into the trash and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

How to keep using your library without visiting us in person

• Borrow digital items online: e-books and e-audiobooks; streaming TV, movie and music services; and digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines.

• Use our online catalog: Place holds and renew items online

• Research online with our digital services

• Pay fines online with your PrairieCat account

• Renew by phone by calling 1-888-542-7259 (you will need your card and materials when you call)

For parents who want to support learning while children are at home, the Rock Island Library offers World Book Online encyclopedias, Brainfuse HelpNow online tutoring/skill building resources, and Scholastic BookFlix. Please see Online Tools or Homework Help for links.

World Book Online available for use by the entire community through the duration of stay-at-home!

Our interest is to continue serving your library needs while maintaining the safety and health of our staff and public. Please continue watching this page for updates.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this developing situation.