Rock Island, IL: Reading will be everyone's superpower this summer, with "Every Hero Has a Story" and "Escape the Ordinary" summer reading and events at the Rock Island Library.

The library leaps into its campaign to beat summer learning loss with a Super-Powered Summer Kickoff on Saturday, May 30 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. The free summer carnival saves the day for family education and fun with summer reading registration and prizes for all ages, special events, and superhero activities from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Main Library parking lot.

If you're willing to reveal your own secret identity, sign up for the event's superhero costume contest for all ages at noon. To enter, just check in at the registration table, and line up no later than 11:45 am. There's no charge to enter, and prizes will be awarded to children, teens and adults. Other scheduled events include a drill team performance by Metro Youth at 11 am, and music by the 38th Street Birds band at 1:30 pm in the Main Library Community Room. Rock Islanders John and Kelli Stanford are the dynamic duo behind 38th Street Birds, playing fun music for parents and kids that includes folk pop, children's music and comic tunes.

Kickoff attendees can also discover their own superpowers with help from the superhero athletic trainers of The Speed Attic and Quad City Wolfpack football players. Representatives from the Rock Island Police and Fire Departments will be on hand to show that not every hero wears a cape. Guests can also pick up free comics while they last from the Mellow Blue Planet and The ComiQ Rack stores of Rock Island. Other free activities for the whole family include a supersized bounce house and slide, face painting, balloon animals, superhero selfies, caped caricatures by Draw Me Bill and kids' games ranging from super-villain bowling to a parachute POWer throw. Hot dogs and chips will be provided, courtesy of sponsor Sedona Technologies. Kona Ice will be available for sale.

Activities will move inside the library in the event of rain. All events are free and open to the public. Due to the supersized nature of this event, the library's 30/31 and Southwest Branches will be closed on Saturday, May 30 so branch staff can assist with the kickoff.

Rock Island Library Every Hero Has a Story for children and Escape the Ordinary teen and adult reading contests run from May 30 to July 18. The reading incentives and more than 60 free events for all ages help keep children, teens and adults active, productive and learning over the summer. Research from 1906 on 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. (Source: National Summer Learning Association.)

For more information about Rock Island Library services and programs, visit any Rock Island Library or the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

(end)

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

Rock Island, IL: Learn about the role of Davenport's Credit Island in local and national history, and its recent rejuvenation, with a free history presentation at 6:00 pm on Thursday, May 14 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street,. Rock Island.

Davenport Parks and Recreation Director Scott Hock will discuss the history of one of Davenport's oldest and most iconic public spaces, including its recognition as an official War of 1812 battleground site and the rebuilding of the historic 1923 Credit Island Lodge.

In the past year, the City of Davenport dedicated both the new lodge and a monument to recognize the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Credit Island. One of very few battles on the Upper Mississippi, the Credit Island conflict marked one of the last (and unsuccessful) efforts by the Americans to wrest control of the Upper Mississippi from the British. It's also significant for the heavy involvement of the 800 to 1,200 Native Americans, including Black Hawk, who fought alongside a handful of British soldiers. The British side far out-numbered the 334 Americans led by future president Zachary Taylor.

Hock will discuss more about the battle's significance and its affect on British/Native American relations, as well as talking about the more recent history of the Credit Island Lodge. The Lodge was built in 1923 and almost completely destroyed by flood and fire in May 2013. Hock will talk about the rebuilding and rejuvenation project, which was funded with about $1.5 million in insurance money. Hock will be joined by Nate Brown, president of the Friends of Credit Island, who will also discuss the role of his group in supporting improvements to the park.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information about Rock Island Library services and programs, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

(end)

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

Rock Island, IL: The planting of a new tree at the Rock Island Library's 30/31 Branch seemed like a great opportunity to feature activities about Earth Day and the environment. So the library's Tuesday, April 21 story time has now transformed into an Earth Week Storytime.

Preschoolers and parents or caregivers are invited to gather at 10:30 am on Tuesday to help the library plant a weeping cherry blossom tree on the east side of the 30/31 Branch at 3059 30th Street, make tree crafts and hear some fun tree stories, including "Our Tree Named Steve," by Alan Zweibel. Patrons can also stop by and pick up small red oak, white oak and swamp white oak seedlings, courtesy of the Living Lands and Waters MillionTrees project. The free trees will be available starting Tuesday morning, while supplies last. Planting instructions will be provided with each tree.

For details about additional library events and services, including upcoming events in the "Every Hero Has a Story" summer reading program, visit library locations or www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow the library's Facebook and Twitter sites, or call 309-732-READ (7323.)

###

Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library provides resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination through three locations, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities.

Rock Island, IL: SHAZAM! Kids who sign up for summer art, drama, and math programs at Rock Island Library can be real superheroes when they return to the classroom in the fall.

Library summer learning programs helps prevent the "summer slide," a term for learning losses that occur when reading and other academic skills aren't used. Add Arts Education Partnership research that indicates that art and drama helps children do better at mastering reading, writing, and math, and there are some supersized reasons to take advantage of the library's Every Hero Has a Story summer reading and education events.

Registration opened April 15 for Super Charged Art, Faster than (the speed of) Math, and Secret Identity Drama Club at the Rock Island Main Library. Details for the weekly programs include :

Super-Charged Art: Meets Tuesday, June 16 to July 14, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, in the Main Library Community Room. Art can be your superpower, too, with a little help from art mastermind Gloria Burlingame. This class reinvents major works of art, often with a book connection. Works will be displayed at the library until July 14. Enrollment open for children going into 3rd through 8th grades.

Faster than the Speed of Math: Meets Tuesday, June 16 to July 14, from 3:15 to 4:00 pm, in the Main Library Community Room. Faster than the speed of sound! Able to jump high buildings in a single bound? How do superheroes do it? Join us for some super-powered math projects with tutor Elizabeth Russell. Enrollment open for children in second to 6th grades.

Secret Identity Summer Drama Club: Meets Mondays and Wednesdays, June 15 to July 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Main Library. What's your alter ego? Practice the acting skills you need to keep a secret superhero identity by putting on short skits and improvisation exercises with friends, under the direction of Angela Rathman. Enrollment open to children in 4th grades and up.

Registration is required. To sign up via the online calendar, register on the first date of each program. Registering once enrolls participants for all sessions. Participants may also call the Main Library Children's Room at 309-732-7360.

Summer art and drama programming is presented with funding from the Geifman Fund for Art and Drama of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation.

For information on any of the programs and services mentioned, visit library locations or the website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow Rock Island Library on Facebook or Twitter or call 309-732-READ (7323).

###