Rock Island, IL: All locations of the Rock Island Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 19 so that staff can attend an in-service training day.

The one-day closing affects the Main Library location at 401 19th Street, the 30/31 Branch at 3059 30th Street, and the Southwest Branch at 9010 Ridgewood Road.

For January only, the library's 30/31 Book Club will meet at the Hauberg Civic Center, 1300 24th Street, on Monday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 pm. Members will discuss "Emma" by Jane Austen. Library book club discussions are open to anyone who has read the selected book.

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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Rock Island, IL: If you're looking for something to do with that new computer or tablet, the Rock Island Public Library has added 16 new magazine titles to its digital Flipster magazine collection.

New magazines now available for online reading from the library's subscription include Atlantic, Cooking Light, Ebony, Esquire, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, Ladybug, Muse, Organic Gardening, Real Simple, Seventeen, Shopsmart, This Old House, Time, Town & Country, Yum Food and Fun for Kids, and Zoobooks. The new titles include choices for ages from children to adults.

The growth of online magazine offerings reflects the new service's popularity with cardholders. With 412 uses in November, about four times as many magazines have circulated through Flipster since the service replaced a previous digital product on November 1. Ease of use seems to be part of the draw. To use the service, patrons simply log onto Flipster with their Rock Island Library card number and select the magazine they want. There's no need to create an account.

Flipster, a product of EBSCO Information Services, allows Rock Island Library patrons to read digital versions of popular magazines on a computer or mobile device with no waiting for a print copy. Rock Island Library cardholders can access digital Flipster magazines 24 hours a day with a live Internet connection, or download a free app that allows them to read the magazine later on their tablet. The download app is available for both iPad and Android tablet users from the iTunes and Google Play stores.

To check out the service, go to the Download This menu on the Rock Island Library website, www.rockislandlibrary.org. More information is also available at the library's Facebook and Twitter sites, or by calling the library at 309-732-READ (7323.)

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CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today visited the set of the new TV drama "Empire" to welcome the series to Illinois. Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Twentieth Century Fox Television, "Empire" is filmed in Chicago and employs approximately 250 Illinois workers. The event is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"Thanks to the investment we made to build Cinespace Studios, Illinois is now the top destination outside Hollywood for the next summer blockbuster or TV series," Governor Quinn said. "'Empire' is the latest major production to come to Illinois, creating hundreds of good jobs and generating millions of dollars in economic investment."

Since 2009, Illinois' film industry has driven more than $1.2 billion in economic growth, including roughly $600 million in wages for Illinois workers. "Empire" is spending $25 million in 2014 to shoot its first 12 episodes. Of that amount, about half will go directly to Illinois wages. The production is using 75 Illinois vendors.

"Empire" is being filmed at the Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the city's near west side. The Cinespace facility was constructed with $5 million from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program in May of 2011 coupled with a large private investment and currently stands as the largest soundstage in the United States outside of Hollywood.

Since its opening in 2011, revenue to the state from the film industry has grown substantially. In 2013, the industry generated an estimated $358 million in spending, a record that nearly doubled the prior all-time high set in 2012. In 2013, the industry supported more than 4,200 full-time equivalent jobs in Illinois.

The Cinespace studio has been home to major productions such as TV series "Chicago Fire," "Chicago P.D." and "Boss," as well as blockbuster studio films such as "Transformers" and "Divergent."

"The tremendous growth in Illinois' film industry was made possible by our film tax credits, talented crews, iconic shooting locations and world-class sound stages and studios," Illinois Film Office Managing Director Betsy Steinberg said. "All of this stems from Governor Quinn's commitment to fostering a thriving film and television industry in Illinois."

The film office, part of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, actively promotes the state as an ideal location for video productions. The office also administers the Illinois Film Tax Credit. Governor Quinn signed a 10-year extension of the credit in 2011, which has led to more productions throughout the state. The 30 percent tax credit is awarded to filmmakers for money spent on Illinois goods and services, including wages paid to Illinois residents.

"Empire" is a hip-hop family drama and is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 7, 2015.

Rock Island, IL: The days of getting a manual with your technology purchase are long gone, but help is at hand from the Rock Island Public Library. To meet post-holiday demand, the library will add extra technology class sessions and topics for those who unwrap new technology this holiday season.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, the library will offer "Download This! Magazines, Music and Movies" to show participants how to read magazines online with the library's new Flipster service, to download or stream music with Freegal Music, and how to stream movies for free with Freegal Movies and TV. The class is offered at 6:30 pm at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Use of the services requires a Rock Island Public Library card, or a card from a library that also subscribes to Freegal or Flipster.

The library will offer multiple sessions of "How to Download eBooks and eAudiobooks" to lead attendees through how to use library eBook and eAudiobook services to download free books. Each session covers all common device types, including personal eReaders, computers, tablets and Mp3 players. Participants should bring their devices along. Classes will be offered:

• Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 2:00 pm, at the Main Library, 401 19th Street;
• Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6:00 pm, at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, and
• Thursday, Jan. 29 at 2:30 pm, at the Main Library.

Also on Tuesday, December 30, the library offers Getting to Know Your iPad or Tablet at 11:00 am in the Main Library Community Room. The class will cover basic features, tips and settings for users of both Apple-based and Android-based tablet computers and phones. Attendees should bring their devices.

Attendees looking for classes focused on a specific device or operating system get their chance in January and February with:

• ·         Getting to Know Your Android Tablet or Smartphone Device: 11:00 am on Wednesday, Jan. 7, Main Library Community Room. (This class repeats at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 3.)

• Getting to Know Your Apple iPad or iPhone: 2:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 8, Main Library Community Room.
• Getting to Know Your Kindle Fire: 11:00 am on Friday, Jan. 9, Main Library Community Room. (This class repeats at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, at 6:00 pm on Monday, Feb. 2.)

Attendees at any of these classes should bring their devices along. Each class covers basic functions, settings, organizing apps, tips on other uses, and more general information. All library classes are free and open to the public. Instruction is aimed at adult learners. Children and teens must be accompanied by an adult.

For more events at Rock Island Public Libraries, check the calendar on the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow the library on Facebook or Twitter, or call 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.