120th Birthday Party of the Downtown Building

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!