Celebrate 50 years with Rock Island Public Library’s Southwest Branch

The Rock Island Public Library’s Southwest Branch first opened as a tiny extension on the side of Rock Island Fire Station #2’s building 50 years ago. Now the library and Fire Department are marking the occasion with a free public open house on Wednesday, September 25 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road.

The event kicks off with a banner-signing ceremony around 10:30 a.m. featuring Rock Island aldermen, library administration, fire department staff and members of the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District board. At 11 a.m., kids can enjoy a free Firefighter Storytime and truck tour.

The day includes tours at 12:30 p.m., free refreshments, a commemorative library sticker and toy fire hat giveaway while supplies last, signing the birthday banner, a trivia contest, a looping history video, photo opportunities with a “I Love My Southwest Branch” photo frame and a chance to win a free basket of library goodies from the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District board. The regularly scheduled Southwest Book Club ends the open house at 4 p.m. with a discussion of “The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner.

The Southwest Branch began as a 1,500 square foot branch attached to the side of new Firehouse #2. Both the firehouse and the library were added to serve the needs of the growing neighborhoods nearby. A preview was held on September 24, 1974 and the branch officially opened the next day at 1 p.m. An official ribbon cutting and public open house was held on Saturday, Oct. 12, 1974.

In 1989, the Milan-Blackhawk-Area Public Library District was created as a district library to ensure a sustainable service contract for extending services from the Rock Island Public Library to the surrounding Milan and Blackhawk Township areas. Residents of this special taxing district receive the same benefits and library services as anyone living in Rock Island.

The branch expanded between 2000-2001 from 1,500 to 5,373 square feet, adding new bathrooms, a community room, a children’s room, a computer lab and a study area. The branch’s grand reopening took place in August 2001.

For more information about library services and upcoming events for a wide range of ages, click here or call (309) 732-READ. Click here for activities at the Southwest Branch.

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