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.
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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.
