The Rock Island Public Library celebrates Illinois Quad City history in a musical way, marks another milestone in the 100-year anniversary of World War I, and highlights family history research tools, all in May at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. The three free events include:

Quad City History in Song, 6:00 pm, Tuesday, May 8, Downtown Library. In celebration of Illinois' bicentennial year, musician Wes Wells presents a brief history of the Quad Cities in song. Join us for tunes on such topics as Black Hawk, the Effie Afton, John Looney, and the flood of '93, among other notable moments in local history. The event is suitable for all ages.

Over There: World War I History Lecture, 6:00 pm, Wednesday, May 9, Downtown Library. An Army Sustainment Command historian offers a chronological examination of the United States' involvement in World War I. The May lecture concerns the experiences of US soldiers faced with chemical warfare through attacks by poison gas.

Begin Genealogy Here, 3:00 to 4:00 pm Monday, May 14, Downtown Library. Introduction to using Rock Island Library resources for family research. Options include microfilm, city directories, and library subscriptions to online research tools, such as Ancestry, Fold3, and Heritage Quest. The event also includes a tour of the library and its holdings. This is an introductory event that will help you know what the library offers.

All events are free and do not require registration.

For more information, visit the Rock Island Downtown, 30/31 or Southwest Library locations, call 309-732-READ or visit the library website.