Color Your World with Events for All Ages

Rock Island Public Library Reading Colors Your World summer programming includes reading challenges for all ages that encourage kids, teens, and adults to keep reading and experience all the color and imagination found within the pages of a book!  Summer reading participants may enter and track anytime through July 31 with the library’s Beanstack site or app. Participants can read whatever they want (print, eBooks and audiobooks all count,) and earn rewards for reaching summer reading goals. A downloadable print log for all ages is also available via the Library’s website.

Library summer events include a mix of take-home kits, virtual lessons, and open-air programs that make the most of the great outdoors. Summer reading challenges encourage kids, teens, and adults alike to keep on reading over the summer, a proven strategy for reducing summer learning loss, improving school success in general, and modeling reading as a lifelong activity. The color theme has been fun to work with, said one library staff member. “We’ve come up with a wide spectrum of ways to demonstrate how libraries and reading expand your world, and of exploring kindness, creativity, and community. From a tie-dye day to craft kits for all ages, our free summer events highlight many ways to try something new,” said Susan Foster, the library’s youth services director. 

Library staff will be on move a lot this summer. RIPL staff will turn up at the Rock Island Parks & Recreation Department's Summer Movies in the Park to offer a free activity before the movie starts. Children’s staff will also follow the Library2Go bookmobile to offer a  "Summer2Go" story and in-person fun activity at stops in area parks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please see the library calendar for Summer2Go stops and times.

Other summer highlights for families include:

• A free Tie-Dye Day for all ages outside the Downtown Library on June 18
• Colorific Children’s Craft Kits: New take-home kit offered each Monday, available while supplies last.
• Babaloo Music and Fun, performing live at the Rock Island Lincoln Park bandshell on July 15

Limited registration is also still available for the Math Colors Your World series, which features an online lesson for ages 7 to 12, coupled with a take-home kit of supplies. The Math series runs from June 8-July 13.

Adults and teens can color in new understanding of the world around them with a non-fiction book club in Longview Park, a family and friends seminar on mental health with NAMI, World War I history programs via Zoom, and the Eat Fresh, Eat Local online series with the University of Illinois extension. In art and music, the library will offer:

• Weekly Colorful Craft kits for teens and adults. Available for pick up with registration, which opens two weeks before the pickup date for each craft.
• Color Your World with Music, free June 19 outdoor concert with The Quad City Symphony Orchestra ensemble, near the Singing Bird Center at Black Hawk State Park. This event is presented with support from Carol and Jim Horstmann.
• String Art with High Strung by 3M, for adults only on Saturday, June 26 at Longview Park. Required registration opens June 1. 
• Color and Canvas, outdoor painting class for adults on Saturday, July 24, also at Longview. Required registration opens July 1. Sponsored via a grant from the Rock Island Art Guild.

The library will wrap up summer reading  by hosting the Scratch Cupcakery truck on July 27. 

For more details and registration about any of these events, visit the library website calendar. More information is also available at 309-732-READ, via the PrairieCat library app, and on library social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

All activities are open to the public and provided at no extra charge. Please see the library calendar to register.