Rock Island, IL: Local libraries have announced a new partner in the goal to help Quad Citians protect their identities with this year's Community Shred Days. Arc Industries, a division of The Arc of the Quad Cities area, will provide four free drop-off events at Rock Island, Bettendorf, Davenport, and Moline Libraries during Money Smart Week Quad Cities, April 18-25.

Arc Industries secure document destruction operation will provide free shredding of up to two containers of personal papers per person dropped off during Shred Days at the Rock Island, Bettendorf, Davenport, and Moline Public Libraries. The 2015 events are made possible with sponsorship from Vibrant Credit Union, the new name for DHCU.

The first drive-up and drop off event is Saturday, April 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. Additional Shred Days in the Arc Industries/Library partnership include the Bettendorf Library, on Tuesday, April 21, and the Davenport Library Eastern Avenue Branch, on Thursday, April 23, both from 10:00 am to noon, and the Moline Library on Saturday, April 25, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. More information is available at presenting libraries.

Arc Industries document destruction operation is certified by the National Association for Information Destruction. Under NAID guidelines, all materials collected will be secured in locked bins and shredded under monitored conditions at Arc Industries secure shredding facility in Rock Island.  Paperclips should be removed if possible. Participants do not need to remove staples from materials.

Local libraries host annual Shred Day events during Money Smart Week as a money-saving means of identity protection. Money Smart Week is an annual program of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, www.moneysmartweek.org.

For more information about Rock Island Library services and programs, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ (7323) or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

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.

Arc Industries provides work opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides business services to the highest quality professional standards.

Rock Island, IL: In addition to fun learning play for toddlers, the April Play and Grow time at Rock Island Library will feature a special guest speaker on how parents can help toddlers learn at home.

Play and Grow meets at 10:30 am on Thursday, April 9 at the Rock Island 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street. Activities help toddlers age three and under talk, sing, play and read their way to early literacy. Chris Kitchen, parent coordinator for the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education, will also speak about the role of parents as a child's first teacher, and offer simple strategies to put a child on the road to literacy.

Play and Grow meets on the second Thursday of each month at the branch. The program is free and open to the public.

Additional information about library events and services is available by visiting www.rockislandlibrary.org, following the library's Facebook and Twitter sites, or by calling 309-732-READ (7323.)

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Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library serves the area through three locations, which include the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities that provide resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination.

Duct Tape Craft,  Maker Programs Provide Free School Break Fun

Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Library continues free programming next week to keep children and teens occupied and entertained during the Rock Island/Milan Schools spring break.

Children ages eight and up can learn computer skills with a "Creation Station" program from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, March 23 in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. The maker-space style program will allow kids to make and play with an "art bot," to learn basic computer coding skills with the "Robot Turtles" board game, and to create simple computer animations with the Scratch program from MIT.

A "Make it Play It Time" will be offered at 4:00 pm on March 25 at the Main Library. Children from grades 2nd to 6th grades will explore the science of flight by building and flying paper airplanes. A  LEGO brick building activity will also be offered  at 4:00 pm on March 25 at the Southwest Branch.

A Duct Tape Craft for children will be offered at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 26 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Kids ages 8 and up can make a coin or pencil case out of colorful duct tape and recycled chip bags. All materials will be supplied.

Kids and families can end the week by seeing a free new release animated movie on Friday, March 27, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Main Library. The movie is rated PG, and features the adventures of a boy raised by underground box-collecting trolls. It's based on the children's book "Here Be Monsters," by Alan Snow. The movie and popcorn are free.

Other children's events for March include a Read with Rover session on March 30 at  5:30 pm at the Southwest Branch. The activity gives children from grades Kindergarten to 6th grades a chance to read aloud to certified therapy dog. The event will be immediately followed by a Pajama Storytime for ages birth to five at 6:30 pm, also at the Southwest Branch.

Teen gamers should check out Teen Gaming Night with video gaming on the XBox 360 and Wii platforms is from 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm on March 26, and a Teen Minecraft Day from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, also at the Main Library. Teens will take turns playing Minecraft on the library's XBox 360 system, enjoy Minecraft themed snacks, and make Minecraft "weapons" to take home. All Teen events are for ages 12 to 18.

Sign up for Pinterest Party Crafts at Rock Island 30/31 Branch Library

Rock Island, IL: If you've seen or pinned craft ideas on the Pinterest social media site, the Rock Island Library now offers programs to let you try the crafts out in a group setting.

Monthly Pinterest Parties will be offered on the final Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Rock Island 30/31 Branch Library, 3059 30th Street. Each night features a craft seen on Pinterest. Projects include an embellished greeting card on March 26, a recycled book craft on April 30, and a painted flower pot on May 28.

The events are free and all materials are supplied. To sign up for any of the above crafts, use the online calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org or call 309-732-7369. Enrollment is limited to 20 adults.

Learn About Blueberries at Rock Island Library March 26

Rock Island, IL: Looking for a sweet way to add healthy foods to your diet? You can pick up some ideas at a free program next week from the Rock Island Public Library.

Blueberries: Our Native Super Fruit, a free program on growing and using blueberries, will be offered by Master Gardener LaRea McMillin at2:00 pm on Thursday, March 26 at the Main Library. Ranking only second to strawberries in US food consumption, blueberries deliver a one-two punch of flavor and cell-saving antioxidants. McMillin will present information on planting, fertilizing, maintaining, harvesting, and landscaping with blueberry plants, as well as how to store, freeze and use the berries.

The program is free and open to the public.

For more upcoming library events, visit library locations or the website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow Rock Island Library on Facebook or Twitter or call 309-732-READ (7323).

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Calendar of library programs: http://rockislandlibrary.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx

Rock Island, IL: If you're staying around town during the Rock Island/Milan school spring break of March 16 to 27, the Rock Island Library is offering plenty of free activities to keep everyone in the family occupied and entertained.

Activities for children and families include :

Duct Tape Crafts for Kids: Tuesday, March 17, at 4:00 pm at the 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street, and Thursday, March 26, at 10:00 am at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Kids ages 8 and up can make a coin or pencil case out of colorful duct tape and recycled chip bags. All materials will be supplied.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover, Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. Kids of all ages can bring in a favorite toy, doll or stuffed animal for a toys-only stuffed animal sleepover in the Main Library Children's Room. Library staff will keep track of the toy's fanciful adventures, and reveal what kind of mischief they got into at a Saturday morning stuffed animal story time. Drop off toys at 1:00 pm on Friday in the Main Library Children's Room; pick-up and story time is at 10:30 am on Saturday.

Creation Stations for Kids: Monday, March 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. Kids ages 8 and up will get a chance to make and create at three stations that include making and playing with an "art-bot," learning computer coding with the "Robot Turtles" board game, and creating simple computer animations with the Scratch program from MIT.

Family Movie: Friday, March 27, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Main Library. Kids and families can see a free new release animated movie. The movie is rated PG, and features the adventures of a boy raised by underground box-collecting trolls. It's based on the children's book "Here Be Monsters," by Alan Snow. The movie and popcorn are free.

Other children's events include March sessions of Read with Rover, which gives children from grades Kindergarten to 6th grades a chance to read aloud to certified therapy dogs at 5:30 pm on March 16 at the 30/31 Branch and 5:30 pm on March 30 at the Southwest Branch. Reading aloud to a dog gives children a change to practice their reading skills before a friendly audience. Each event is followed by a 6:30 pm Pajama Storytime for ages birth to five.

Children from grades 2nd to 6th grades may also take part in science and art with "Make it Play It Times" at 4 pm on March 18 and 25 at the Main Library. Activities include board games on March 18 and paper airplane building on March 25. LEGO brick building times will also be offered  at 4:00 pm on March 18 at the 30/31 Branch, and at 4:00 pm on March 25 at the Southwest Branch.

Activities for teens during the school break include a Teen Insurgent Party at 5:30 pm on March 19 at the Main Library. The party celebrates the release of the second movie based on Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy of young adult books with a scavenger hunt, snacks and showing of the first movie. Teen gamers will also want to check out Teen Gaming Night with video gaming on the XBox 360 and Wii platforms is from 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm on March 26, and a Teen Minecraft Day from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, also at the Main Library. Teens will take turns playing Minecraft on the library's XBox 360 system, enjoy Minecraft themed snacks, and make Minecraft "weapons" to take home. All Teen events are for ages 12 to 18.

Adults haven't been left out either, with a "Know Your Kindle Fire" class at 6:00 pm on March 16 at the Main Library, and two "Gadgets and More" drop in help sessions at the 30/31 Branch. The one-on-one tech help times will be offered from 11:30 to 1:30 on March 17 and from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on March 19.  Blueberries: Our Native Super Fruit, a free program on growing and using blueberries, will be offered by Master Gardener LaRea McMillin at 2:00 pm on March 26 at the Main Library. There's also still room in the March Pinterest class, offered at 6 pm at the 30/31 Branch, also on March 26. Crafters will make embellished greeting cards. All materials are supplied. To sign up for the craft, call 309-732-7369 or use the registration button on the library's online calendar.

For more upcoming library events, visit library locations or the website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow Rock Island Library on Facebook or Twitter or call 309-732-READ (7323).

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Calendar of library programs: http://rockislandlibrary.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx