Winter Reading Program at the Rock Island Public Library, Jan. 21 to March 1

Rock Island, IL: Knights, princesses, dragons, kings, and queens are invited to storm the reading castle with the Midwinter Knights' Read winter reading program from the Rock Island Public Library. The campaign to promote winter reading for fun and relaxation runs from Tuesday, Jan. 21 to Saturday, March 1 at all library locations.

Reading challenges are available for both children and adult readers. Children from pre-school to 6^th grades can pick up a Midwinter Knights' Read reading log, with the goal to read either 12 books or for three hours of accumulated time. As an incentive for registering, children can pick up a pencil, bookmark and sticker with the reading log. Children who complete their reading goal will earn a book and bag.

To help get kids in the right fairy-tale mood, the library will host a Winter Reading party kick-off party at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. The Knights & Dragons - It's "Joust" a Party event will include games, fun, crafts and more for children of all ages.

Other medieval themed family events include a Castles & Knights Storytime at 11:00 am, also on Jan. 18 at the Main Library, free children's movies at 1:00 pm on Friday, Jan. 17 and Feb. 14 at at the Rock Island Main Library, and dragon-themed storytimes during the week of Jan. 20 at the 30/31, Southwest and Main Library branches.

Adults ages 18 and up can participate in the reading program by completing one entry form for each adult book, eBook or audiobook completed during the Jan. 21 to March 1 challenge period. Only books read between the contest period should be counted. Entries will go into a random drawing for the grand prize of an Amazon Kindle Fire HD, or secondary prizes of gift cards and passes to restaurants, merchants and attractions.

Children's reading logs and adult reading challenge entries are due back to the library by 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 1. Forms will be available starting Tuesday, Jan. 21 at all Rock Island Library locations.

The library will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 for a staff in-service training day.

Winter reading prizes are sponsored by the Friends of the Rock Island Public Library.

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

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Rock Island, IL: If you are getting new technology under the tree this year, or thinking about upgrading to a new model, the Rock Island Library will demonstrate how to use new library services to check out eBooks or download music in December and January.

Library "How-to" sessions on downloading books with OverDrive will be offered from:

• 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road;
• 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 27, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, and
• 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 21, also at the Rock Island Main Library.

Patrons with a current library card from an OverDrive subscribing library can check out books to a personal eReader, computer or tablet. The demonstrations cover multiple device types, and registration is not required.

Patrons who want to increase their digital music collection may want to check out another "Library How-To" on downloading music with Freegal. The short demonstration will be offered from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Tuesday, December 17 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19^th Street. Songs downloaded from Freegal become part of the user's personal MP3 music collection, and do not expire. The service is available to patrons with a current card to one of the four subscribing libraries, which include Rock Island and the Sherrard District Libraries in Illinois, and the Bettendorf and Davenport Libraries in Iowa. Registration is not required to attend.

The Rock Island Public Library's selection of free digital products available to patrons include OverDrive and OneClick Digital services for checking out eBooks or eAudiobooks, the Freegal music service for checking out music to keep, and a brand new service, Zinio, for checking out free online magazines to read on a tablet, phone or computer. Free mobile apps for these digital products are available via the product links on the library website, www.rockislandlibrary.org.

For more events at Rock Island Public Libraries, visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow the library on Facebook or Twitter, or call 309-732-7323.

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.

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Words of Edgar Allen Poe on Stage at Rock Island Library on Monday

E. A. POE: Edgar Allan Poe's Imagination: Monday, Oct. 14, 6:00 pm, Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. Free and Open to the Public

Rock Island, IL: Actor Dan Haughey (pronounced Hoi) will bring the words of Edgar Allen Poe to life in EA. POE: Edgar Allan Poe's Imagination! a one-man show on the work of Edgar Allen Poe, at 6:00 pm on Monday, October 14, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street.

Dan Haughey becomes a modern literary critic for a prominent newspaper as he interprets excerpts from some of Poe's most entertaining and creative works. In this 45-minute drama some of Poe's greatest poems, short stories, and satires will be presented. Haughey both performs and critiques Poe's work in the guise of a skeptical critic. Works will include The Raven, Annabel Lee, The Bells, and The TellTale Heart.

The event is free and open to the public.

Rock Island, IL- Due to scheduling issues, the open enrollment events offered by community health care act experts at Rock Island Public Libraries will now start in the third week of October.

To help people prepare, the Rock Island Main Library will offer a free, drop-in public education event on Thursday, Oct. 10, where members of the public can pick up information about the Affordable Care Act, and learn what they need to know before they enroll. Event details are as follows:

Get Your Questions Answered about the Affordable Care Act Before You Enroll

2:30 to 5:00 pm, Thursday, Oct. 10

Rock Island Main Library 401 19th Street, 2nd Floor Community Room

This will be an informational session only with a Genesis health educator; no enrollment will be available next week. Interested participants may stop in anytime between 2:30 and 5:00 pm.

Starting in third week of October, the Rock Island Public Library will provide space to two community agencies to assist patrons in signing up for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The library is providing space only; all questions will be answered by trained representatives of the participating agencies. The service is available on a walk-in basis. No appointments are necessary.

Rock Island County Health Department counselors will help members of the public sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Health Department representatives will be available at the Rock Island Southwest Branch library on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm and at the Rock Island Main Library on Friday. Oct. 17, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Also starting Oct. 15, health insurance navigators from the Enroll Quad Cities project of Genesis Health System will be at the Rock Island Main Library on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons, and at the library's Southwest Branch on Wednesday afternoons. Dates and times include :

Rock Island Main Library

401 19th Street, Rock Island, 2nd Floor rotunda area

·         Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 22 and 28, from 9:00 am to noon

·         Thursdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Rock Island Southwest Branch Library -9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island

Community Room - Wednesdays, Oct. 16, 23 and 30, from noon to 3 pm.

The enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act is Oct. 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014.The weekly drop-in sessions will continue as long as there is adequate demand. For more information, visit www.enrollqc.com or call (563) 421-ENRL (3675) to speak with a Genesis navigator.

Patrons may also use public internet computers at Rock Island Libraries to research their options or sign up for health care coverage themselves through www.healthcare.gov. The State of Illinois has launched its own website for the state insurance marketplace, http://getcoveredillinois.gov/

Illinois residents can also call (866) 311-1119 toll-free to get information. The help line will be available seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To allow adequate time for completing online forms, the library has extended computer time for patrons with a valid public library card from an area library. Patrons must present a valid library card to receive the full amount of computer time.

Rock Island Library staff can direct patrons to sources of information about the Affordable Care Act, but cannot answer questions about filling out the online application.

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

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