Rock Island, IL: Parents have two more chances to help kids improve their reading superpowers with final summer Read with Rover programs at the Rock Island Public Library.

Read with Rover will be offered at revised times of 11:00 am to noon on Wednesday, July 8 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, and on Friday. July 17 in the Main Library Children's Room, 401 19th Street. The learning events bring in certified therapy dogs from the QC Canine Assistance Network (QC CAN) so children can practice reading aloud before a welcoming, non-judgmental audience.

Reading to a therapy dog may be especially useful for reluctant readers and children in the 8 to 12-year-old age range, who have fewer opportunities to read aloud. From increasing vocabulary to attention span, reading aloud is one of the single most important ways to improve a child's reading level. The events are open to children in grades K-6 or equivalent ages.

The Rock Island Library's Every Hero Has a Story contests for children and Escape the Ordinary teen and adult reading contests run until July 18. Reading incentives and more than 60 free events are designed to help keep children, teens and adults active, productive and learning over the summer. For more information about library events, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

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Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library provides resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination through the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities.

Rock Island, IL: Kids and families can meet some of the heroes of Niabi Zoo and rock out to the music of an award-winning children's performer next week with free "Every Hero Has a Story" activities at the Rock Island Public Library. Events include :

Who's New at the (Niabi) Zoo? - 11:00 am to noon , Monday, June 15, Rock Island Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island. Meet some of the stars at Niabi Zoo with a live animal presentation by a Niabi zookeeper. What is each animal's superpower? How does the zoo keep the animals in top shape? Learn more with a free family presentation.

Jeanie B! Music & Dance Show - 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Thursday, June 18, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Jeanie B! is a Chicago-based singer, songwriter and pre-school music teacher who has won acclaim for her fun, entertaining and educational kids music. Her "heroes" show puts a spotlight on real-life heroes with a playful and interactive look at the different kinds of heroes in our lives. Audiences will help Jeanie write a superhero song, and kids will get their creative juices flowing while singing, playing, and saying thank you for heroes.

Jeanie B! is the creator of several award-winning CD music releases. Titles include an upcoming release, I Love Music, along with Sugar Buzz (2011), Joy (2008), Mommy Knows Best (2006) and I'm a Kid (2005). When not performing at one of more than 150 concerts per year, she teaches music to pre-school and special needs children at five Chicagoland area schools.

Activities are free and open to the public, and are part of the Every Hero Has a Story and Escape the Ordinary summer education offered until July 18. The reading incentive contests and more than 60 free events are designed to help keep children, teens and adults active, productive and learning over the summer. More than a century of research shows that students who don't read and learn over the summer score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer.

For more information, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, pick up a summer reading guide,  call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter

 

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Library cardholders can instantly explore, borrow and enjoy dynamic content on their smartphones, tablets and computers

(ROCK ISLAND, IL - June 04, 2015)- Rock Island Public Library today announced public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums, eBooks, audiobooks and comics, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital (hoopladigital.com).

Rock Island cardholders can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or IOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles - from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers - available to borrow 24/7, for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers. A direct link to the new service is on the library's "Download This" page at www.rockislandlibrary.org

"Hoopla extends greater access to free entertainment content," said Lisa Lockheart, publicity liaison at Rock Island Public Library. "As part of our growing selection of downloadable services, hoopla takes our collection to wherever our patrons are, anytime of day. Cardholders can instantly stream thousands of new titles to their devices, and with video, music, audiobooks and even comics in one place, hoopla is easy and convenient to use."

Digital titles checked out through electronic services like hoopla return automatically and have no late fees. Rock Island patrons may checkout 10 titles per month through the hoopla website.

Rock Island Public Library is the 63rd library in the state of Illinois to partner with hoopla digital. Current partners include Chicago Public Library, Champaign Public Library, Rockford Public Library, Riverside Public Library, Aurora Public Library and many others.

"With hoopla digital, it is our mission to empower the evolution of public libraries while helping them to meet the needs of the mobile generation. We've worked for years to create a best-in-breed service that is fun, fast and reliable.  And we continue to secure content deals to expand our offering of popular and niche movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks and comics," said Jeff Jankowski founder and owner of hoopla digital.

For more information about Rock Island Library digital services, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org or call 309-732-READ.

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Download This! Electronic Content Services at Rock Island Library

• hoopla digital
• OverDrive eBooks and Audiobooks
• OneClick digital audiobooks
• Freegal music
• Flipster magazines

The library also subscribes to Scholastic Bookflix and TumbleBooks library services for children.

About hoopla digital

hoopla digital is a category-creating service that partners with public libraries across North America to provide online and mobile access to thousands of Movies, TV Shows, Music, eBooks, Audiobooks and Comics. With hoopla digital, patrons can borrow, instantly stream and download free dynamic content with a valid library card. All content is accessible via hoopla digital's mobile app and online at www.hoopladigital.com. hoopla digital is a service of Midwest Tape - a trusted partner to public libraries for over 25 years.

For more information on hoopla digital, contact 800-875-2785 (US.)

Escape an Ordinary Summer at the Rock Island Public Library

 

Rock Island, IL: Adults can "Escape the Ordinary" summer with a number of free special events at the Rock Island Library from May 30-July 18. For more information, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter. Events for adults include :

Learn to Knit class -- 6:30 pm, Monday, June 1, 8 and 15, Main Library. Have you been waiting to learn how to knit? Join the Naked Sheep Yarn Barn and the Rock Island Library for a free three-week class that will teach you the basics and help you get started. The Library will supply your first set of needles and yarn. Registration required: Register online via the library calendar before noon on June 1 or call 309-732-7341. Attendees will learn how to knit, bind off and cast if they attend all three sessions. This free class is for both teens and adults.

Catherine Maria Sedgwick Rides the Train to Rock Island -- 6:00 pm, Tuesday, June 16, Main Library Community Room. Catherine Maria Sedgwick was a 19th century author and social reformer from Massachusetts. In June 1854, she accompanied the "Grand Excursion" on a train to Rock Island and a steamboat trip to St. Paul. In this local history presentation, historian Gayle Rein brings Catharine Sedgwick to life. Listen as Catharine tells about her trip to what was then the western frontier and shares her observations about the beauty of the Mississippi River with the politicians, artists, and other dignitaries on the trip.

Antique Appraisal Fair -- 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm, Thurs, June 18, Main Library Community Room. Is it treasure or a trinket? Terri Applegate, of LeClaire Antiques & Appraisals will help you evaluate your pieces. Participants may bring up to four items in for appraisal at this Antiques Roadshow-type event. Items must be carried by hand. Assistance will be not be available with transporting large items in or out of the library. Teens and adults.

Independent Movie Nights -- first Thursday of each month, Main Library Community Room. Join fellow film fans for free monthly showing of an independent movie, followed by discussion. Movies are not rated. The June 4 movie starts at 6:00 pm and features the story of a middle-class family living in Singapore during the Asian financial crisis of 1997, and the relationships each family member forms with the Filipino nanny. Mandarin, with subtitles. The July 2 movie also starts at 6:00 pm, and features the tale of 33-year-old Arman, whose attempts to build a lasting connection with the lovely Amelie over two autumns and three winters meet with varying degrees of success. French with subtitles. Title information for each movie is available at the library.

The Rock Island Library's Every Hero Has a Story contests for children and Escape the Ordinary teen and adult reading contests run from May 30 to July 18. Reading incentives and more than 60 free events are designed to help keep children, teens and adults active, productive and learning over the summer. More than a century of research shows that students who don't read and learn over the summer score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer.

For more free programs, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org or pick up a summer reading brochure at the Rock Island Main Library, 30/31 or Southwest Branches