Libraries are places to check out books, and so much more. Your Rock Island Library is a no-cost starting place for about any goal you may have - community connection, a new hobby or business, building memories, and saving a buck (or more) on education, entertainment, and personal growth. RIPL serves every resident, entrepreneur, and visitor in the city.
Books and Beyond: Real Resources for You
Residents of Rock Island and the library's additional service area, the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District, can access tools and services for free with their library cards. Business owners can tap into economic development resources, such as the library's online DataAxle subscription, and garner important business development information. Job seekers can use computers, library resources like Brainfuse Job Now, and WiFi or public Internet access to apply for positions. Students can access research materials, reading for both leisure and school assignments, as well as free online tutoring with Brainfuse Help Now. Frequent users can save thousands of dollars each year by using their public library!
Need an item you might only use once? Check it out from the ever-growing Library of Things collection! From oversized yard games to a bike repair kit, radon tester to hobby and health items, the Library of Things collection lets you try before you buy.
Equity of access is a library cornerstone. Using the library's physical materials, digital services, programs and more levels the playing field for everyone in Rock Island, regardless of income. Library digital services can save you hundreds of dollars in downloading and streaming. Ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, research, and more, are at your fingertips - anytime, day or night. Residents can even use our online and physical subscriptions to local and national newspapers to read articles without hitting the paywall. And speaking of equity, traditional items are fine-free. If you return it a few days late, no worries. Just bring the item back in a reasonable amount of time to avoid replacement charges. (Scarce items, such as Library of Things collections, culture passes, and hotspots, still carry late fines. Bring them back on the date due to avoid penalties - and keep these items circulating in our community!)
Live somewhere else? You can still check out our physical collections and attend any event you want. Library programs are always free and open to all, though some require registration. Illinois libraries like Rock Island participate in a common catalog and library computer system known as PrairieCat. Our paid membership in this network adds up to unparalleled resource sharing. As a Rock Island Library cardholder, you may check out at other local Illinois libraries, and even return items there. (Materials that require special handling, such as our Library of Things collection, hotspots, and culture passes, are the exception.) Even if the book you're looking for isn't on one of our shelves, we can help you find a copy! More than 5 million items are available through PrairieCat member libraries.
Thanks to an intergovernmental agreement with Davenport Public Library, Davenport residents can use Illinois QC libraries for walk-in borrowing, and Illinois cardholders can check out from Davenport. Some limits apply. For these types of special uses, items must be returned to the library they were borrowed from.
Connecting You to Your Community
Have a question about municipal services? Begin here! The Library's Reference Desk and Adult Services Department can you find what you're looking for - whether that's refuse or yard waste collection schedules, city council meetings, and planning initiatives— in one accessible location. If you're new to our city, make the library your first stop! Whether it's finding community events , locating community resources, or navigating the City website, library staff can point you in the right direction.
Lifelong learning and connection
Hundreds of community events each year that bring people together around shared interests and practical needs. Library events help you learn a new hobby, increase your understanding of an issue, service, or local history, and find free family entertainment and learning. From after-school fun to sewing, crafts, and more, you'll always find free and interesting things to do at your library. We can also connect you to entertainment opportunities you might otherwise miss. If you're a newcomer, make the library your first stop to get plugged into local life.
Support for Local Business
As a local business or budding entrepreneur, your library offers access to resources that would typically cost you. Library market research databases, books, and more are available through your library card. Thanks to free online skill development and test preparation resources - as well as in-person help, the library helps build up our local workforce. Free events can help you learn more about library tools, or connect with local experts. Our commitment to supporting a thriving community makes the library a partner in the city's business ecosystem.
Always Available, Always Accessible
The Rock Island Library maintains an active online presence through its website at www.rockislandlibrary.org. Though the library is a City department, it maintains its own website, YouTube channel, and social media sites. Library digital resources mean you can stay informed and use library collections from anywhere, anytime! Even when our buildings are closed, the online library is open.
Got a question about using library digital services and research materials, or another topic? Book-A-Librarian for a free one-on-one appointment with a trained librarian, who will help you figure it out.
Who Benefits Most
Rock Island residents gain a free resource for everything from entertainment to education. Local businesses find support for growth without expensive overhead. Community organizations can connect with residents through library programming and resources. Visitors to Rock Island can get oriented quickly with help from knowledgeable staff.
As a free public resource supported by local tax dollars, the library is focused on serving the public, and not on generating profit. The return on investment is significant for our community. For every $1 invested in the library, the library generates $5 in value!
Getting Started Is Simple
Rock Island Library serves the public through the Downtown Library headquarters, Watts-Midtown Branch, Southwest Branch, Library2Go bookmobile, and its online "branch", also known as the library website. Whatever you want to know, Begin Here!
Visit the library website, www.rockislandlibrary.org, to explore available services, check upcoming community events, or find information about community resources. The library also regular posts on its Facebook and Instagram sites, and posts videos on its YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@rockislandlibrary
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