To kick off the "Every Hero Has a Story" Summer Reading Program, the Moline Public Library invites you to be a hero to our local schools by participating in our School Supply Drive, beginning Saturday, June 6.  The library will collect donations of much needed school supplies on behalf of the Moline-Coal Valley School District.  Items can be dropped off at any public service desk in the library by Saturday, August 1.

Supplies that are needed include :

wide ruled and college ruled notebook paper

wide ruled single subject spiral notebooks

solid color two pocket folders (without prongs)

3 ring binders

Post-it notes

3" x 5" lined index cards

graph paper

#2 pencils

black, blue, and red ink pens

highlighters

dry erase markers

colored pencils

crayons

erasers

12 inch ruler

glue sticks

tissues

hand sanitizer

Clorox wipes

Handi wipes

sandwich size Ziploc bags

gallon size Ziploc bags

earbuds or headphones

Supplies that are especially needed: markers, bottles of glue, scissors (child size).

The library is unable to accept financial contributions on behalf of the Moline-Coal Valley School District.  For more information about the School Supply Drive, visit the Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street) or call 309-524-2470.

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Jazz Vocalist Nnenna Freelon  

Saturday, April 11, 3 p.m.  

Enjoy an afternoon of jazz music at the library. Six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon is hailed as the "international voice of Jazz." She has shared the stage or recordings with Jessye Norman, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Take 6, Al Jarreau,  and the Count Basie Orchestra.  This event is part of the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist series and is sponsored by Friends of the Moline Public Library.    

Molly Brown: More Than Unsinkable  

Monday April 13, 6:30 p.m.   

You won't want to miss this dynamic one woman show featuring Barbara Kay as  the Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Margaret "Molly" Brown was not only a 

survivor of the Titanic shipwreck disaster of 1912, but also a social reformer who fought for the rights of women, children, and workers. Registration is required for this event.  Visit the 2nd floor Reference Desk or call 309-524-2470 to register. This program is made possible by an award from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly.   Sponsored by Friends of the Moline  Public Library.

A Trip to the Ballpark

Friday, April 17, Noon

The Quad City River Bandits baseball team will be the topic of a visual presentation by its general manager Andrew Chesser.  Bring your lunch or just come, sit, and learn about a great local sports organization.  This discussion is part of our Noonday Program series. No registration is required, open to all ages.

Astronomy Day

Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

An afternoon of astronomy fun for all ages.  Program features Star Lab Indoor Planetarium Shows from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Cosmic Kitchen Demos at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., speaker Alan Sheidler at 3 p.m. talking about "The Coolest Things in Astronomy", displays including moon rocks and other items on loan from NASA, solar   observing (weather permitting), children's crafts, door prizes and refreshments. Presented and sponsored by the Popular Astronomy Club.

All Iowa Reads Author Robin Oliveira

Thursday, April 23, Noon

Meet 2015 All Iowa Reads author Robin Oliveira as she discusses her novel My Name is Mary Sutter on Thursday, April 23 at noon. Robin will share her inspiration to write this Civil War era novel, her research process, and the historical and fictional characters that bring her story to life. She will also share her discoveries from her eight years of research and writing, including slides and photos of rare Civil War hospital artifacts from the National Archives. To register for this event, visit the 2nd floor Reference Desk or call 309-524-2470.

Shred Day

Saturday, April 25, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Save time while you protect your identity. You may bring up to two containers of personal papers for secure shredding by the ARC of the Quad Cities Area secure document destruction (NAID certified). Shredding will not take place at the library.

The Moline Public Library and Rock Island Main Library welcome Dr. Art Pitz as he presents his new lecture series The Middle East: Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel? This four-part series will be held at the Moline Library on Tuesdays, October 21 and 28, and at the Rock Island Main Library on Tuesday, November 4 and 11.  All four programs begin at 6 p.m. and no registration is required.

Dr. Pitz will address the current struggles in the Middle East and discuss his recent journey to Israel, sharing his informed, balanced perspective.  The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, October 21 at Moline Public Library, 6:00 p.m.

The Arab Spring: Three Years Later

Tuesday, October 28 at Moline Public Library, 6:00 p.m.

Israel vs. Hamas: Operation Protective Edge

Tuesday, November 4 at Rock Island Main Library, 6:00 p.m.

Lessons Learned: Dr. Pitz's Recent Trip to Israel

Tuesday, November 11 at Rock Island Main Library, 6:00 p.m.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

This series of presentations is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Friends of the Moline Public Library, and Rock Island Main Library.

For more information about the series, contact the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities (309-793-1300 or aross@jfqc.org), the Moline Public Library (309-524-2440), or the Rock Island Public Library (309-732-7323).

Program locations:

Moline Public Library, 3210 41st Street, Moline IL  309-524-2440 www.molinelibrary.com

Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island IL  309-732-7323 www.rockislandlibrary.org

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To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, the Moline Public Library will show the documentary The Americans on D-Day on Tuesday, June 10th at 6:30 p.m.  Introduction and post-viewing discussion will be presented by Dr. Arthur Pitz.  To register for this event, visit the Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street) or call 309-524-2470.

The Americans on D-Day provides a unique perspective of this momentous day.  Battlefield historian Ellwood von Seibold visits the sites of major action in a restored 1943 Dodge Command car, wearing the appropriate soldiers' uniforms and carrying their equipment.  He provides a tour of action in real time, allowing himself and viewers to experience D-Day from the soldier's perspective.  The film also interviews veterans who participated in the invasion of Normandy and historic footage of soldiers in action.

This film is part of the trilogy American Road to Victory, produced by the non-profit organization Living Battlefield.  More information about Living Battlefield can be found at www.livingbattlefield.org.  This presentation is sponsored by Friends of the Moline Public Library.