Thanksgiving Holiday Closings

All Rock Island Library buildings will close at 6pm Wednesday, Nov. 27, and remain closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 & 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Library2Go routes are also cancelled. 

Stay in touch with our digital services and PrairieCat app! All locations reopen on Saturday, Nov. 20 with normal 10am to 2 pm hours. 

120th Birthday Party of the Downtown Building

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Everyone
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Event Details

Our beloved Downtown Library building opened December 15, 1903, making today its 120th birthday. Join us for cookies, coffee, and memories in celebration! 

Fun fact: Our first permanent library building is 31 years younger than the formation of the Rock Island Library itself. That's because the law that allowed for municipal libraries funded operations only, not buildings. Our original location was in rented space farther downtown, above a bank building at the corner of the 2nd Avenue & 17th Street.  When the Downtown building was built in its current location, this was mostly open land. For more about our "storied" history, see our Mission and History page!