Spring into May with Rock Island Library Events

From a Hunger Games escape room to free comic books, there's a lot of reasons to visit the Rock Island Public Library this week.

Groups of three to five players can still register for Hunger Games escape room games on Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29 at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. One-hour time slots are available for ages 10 and up between 5pm and 8 pm. Each group gets 45 minutes to solve the puzzles and escape the room. To register, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org or call. Library staff will contact participants to set a time for your group. May the odds be ever in your favor!

The cartoon "Steamboat Willie" first appeared November 18, 1928, launching a long career for Mickey Mouse. On Wednesday, April 30, and May 7, the library will show 16 cartoons in the public domain with Parts 1 and 2 of "The Birth of Mickey Mouse," at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19^th Street at 2pm. To see each day's list of cartoon showings, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org. As society has changed over 96 years, many cartoons will not reflect modern attitudes.

Saturday, May 3 is Free Comic Book Day, and the library celebrates with a giveaway of comics for all ages, and a cartoon drawing class with local caricature artist Bill Douglas. Visit the Rock Island Downtown Library from 11 am to 2pm to grab a free comic while they last. Attendees of all ages can learn how to create a comic book page with the Draw with Bill cartoon class, offered from 12:30 to 2pm, also at the Downtown Library. The drawing class is free, and registration is required. To sign up, visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org or call 309-732-READ.

To match with the drawing theme, the library is also offering an online Illinois Libraries Present talk with youth author/illustrator Dan Santat. The free online talk for all ages is offered from 2pm to 3pm on Saturday, May 3, and is suitable for school ages, teens, and adults. Santat has written and illustrated 100s of books, including The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again). His latest works include the best-selling graphic novels, The Aquanaut and A First Time for Everything. He is also the creator of the Disney animated hit, The Replacements. To register and receive the participation link by email, visit the library website or call.

Library after-school programming also continues on Tuesdays at the Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street, and on Thursdays at the Southwest Branch, both from 3:30 to 4:30pm. Each week, the library offers a new afterschool activity for elementary-school ages. This week, the activity celebrates May Day.

Other continuing events include 10:30 am storytimes for ages 5 and under on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Watts-Midtown Branch, and at 11 am on Wednesdays at the Southwest Branch.

Library events are free and open to all. For more information about library events and services, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-7323 (READ,) or follow library social media pages.

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