It's time to meet your new neighbors on 30th Street! The Rock Island Public Library and the Two Rivers YMCA invite you to a combined Grand Opening and Open House for the Library’s new Watts-Midtown Branch and the Rock Island YMCA on Saturday, March 11.

Both the Rock Island Public Library branch and the Rock Island YMCA will offer tours, programming, and information about their respective services from 10am to 2pm, on Saturday, March 11 at the newly repurposed facility at 2715 30^th Street.

To mark this very special occasion, the Rock Island Watts-Midtown Branch will offer refreshments, complimentary giveaways, and special activities during regular hours. From 10:30 to 1:30 pm, kids can enjoy close-up magic and balloon animals by Rick Eugene, and face painting by Laura Anderson, of Clown Around. All ages can visit with the reading therapy dogs from the QC Canine Assistance Network (QC CAN) from 10 am through noon, and drop in for live music by singer/songwriter Lewis Knudsen in the Community Room from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The event is free and open to all.

Extra library staff and Foundation volunteers will also be on hand to help guests check the status of their library card, offer quick tours of the new facility, provide information about new events and the Foundation’s volunteer group, and more.  To allow library staff to help out at the event, the Library’s primary Downtown building and Southwest Branch will be closed on Saturday.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting this day since the official kickoff of the capital campaign in June 2021,” said Angela Campbell, Library Director. “Watts-Midtown will join our Downtown and Southwest locations, online services, and Library2Go mobile outreach vehicle to provide the most comprehensive access to literacy and library services possible to our patrons. By adding this new location, we are bringing all Rock Islanders within three miles of a public library, fostering success within the community. We’re excited to announce this branch expansion, and look forward to serving our current and new neighbors!”

The library has been operating on a “soft opening” basis since February 8, adding services along the way. Located within the former Tri-Jewish Center, the completely remodeled facility is one of only a handful of YMCA/Library facility partnerships in North America. The Rock Island YMCA and the Rock Island Public Library are sharing occupancy of the repurposed building to provide additional services to their existing operations.

For more information about hours and services at the Downtown Library, Southwest and Watts-Midtown branches, and Library2Go mobile schedule, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow library social media pages.

More information about the Rock Island YMCA is at the Two Rivers YMCA website. 

Founded November 25. 1872, the Rock Island Public Library is celebrating its 150^th anniversary year with special events and commemorations through November 2023.