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

Jazz Vocalist Nnenna Freelon  

Saturday, April 11, 3 p.m.  

Enjoy an afternoon of jazz music at the library. Six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon is hailed as the "international voice of Jazz." She has shared the stage or recordings with Jessye Norman, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Take 6, Al Jarreau,  and the Count Basie Orchestra.  This event is part of the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist series and is sponsored by Friends of the Moline Public Library.    

Molly Brown: More Than Unsinkable  

Monday April 13, 6:30 p.m.   

You won't want to miss this dynamic one woman show featuring Barbara Kay as  the Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Margaret "Molly" Brown was not only a 

survivor of the Titanic shipwreck disaster of 1912, but also a social reformer who fought for the rights of women, children, and workers. Registration is required for this event.  Visit the 2nd floor Reference Desk or call 309-524-2470 to register. This program is made possible by an award from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly.   Sponsored by Friends of the Moline  Public Library.

A Trip to the Ballpark

Friday, April 17, Noon

The Quad City River Bandits baseball team will be the topic of a visual presentation by its general manager Andrew Chesser.  Bring your lunch or just come, sit, and learn about a great local sports organization.  This discussion is part of our Noonday Program series. No registration is required, open to all ages.

Astronomy Day

Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

An afternoon of astronomy fun for all ages.  Program features Star Lab Indoor Planetarium Shows from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Cosmic Kitchen Demos at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., speaker Alan Sheidler at 3 p.m. talking about "The Coolest Things in Astronomy", displays including moon rocks and other items on loan from NASA, solar   observing (weather permitting), children's crafts, door prizes and refreshments. Presented and sponsored by the Popular Astronomy Club.

All Iowa Reads Author Robin Oliveira

Thursday, April 23, Noon

Meet 2015 All Iowa Reads author Robin Oliveira as she discusses her novel My Name is Mary Sutter on Thursday, April 23 at noon. Robin will share her inspiration to write this Civil War era novel, her research process, and the historical and fictional characters that bring her story to life. She will also share her discoveries from her eight years of research and writing, including slides and photos of rare Civil War hospital artifacts from the National Archives. To register for this event, visit the 2nd floor Reference Desk or call 309-524-2470.

Shred Day

Saturday, April 25, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Save time while you protect your identity. You may bring up to two containers of personal papers for secure shredding by the ARC of the Quad Cities Area secure document destruction (NAID certified). Shredding will not take place at the library.

As part of Augustana College's expanded educational opportunities for its students and faculty, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson will speak on Saturday, March 21, 2pm, on the topic, "A Faith Big Enough for an Epic Climate Crisis!" at Ascension Chapel.

Dr. Wilson is the global moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) which was founded in 1968 as a church which welcomed, and was led by, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Christians.  MCC today has a presence in over 40 countries.  Dr. Wilson was part of the first LGBT faith delegation to meet with White House staff in 1979, and served as a member of President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

MCC was the first to publically celebrate same-sex marriages and were the originators of World AIDS Day. Today, MCC is breaking new ground by working across all lines of difference and at the intersection of issues to make the world a better place for all living creatures. In 2014, Rev. Wilson was named as one of the spokespeople for Blessed Tomorrow, a team of twenty-one top ecumenical and interfaith leaders to spearhead an effort to mobilize religious communities to address environmental concerns. Blessed Tomorrow emerged from EcoAmerica MomentUs, a group that invited Rev. Wilson to join in 2013 as they began to formalize their strategy to secure grassroots support through faith groups to work toward climate solutions in their congregations, communities, and homes.

As Dr. Wilson writes,

"The question for us today is, can we unpack our own queer stories to read the signs of the times and become leaders in this movement to make this planet home for every living creature -- not just human creatures?"