Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month’s book is While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger
Pick up a copy at the circ desk, or find it on Hoopla or Libby

Have any questions? Contact Holly!

Got a sewing machine gathering dust? Not sure where to begin? Bring it along to this hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop where library staff and a local sewing enthusiast will help you get to know your machine and take the first steps into the world of sewing. Please note, machines must be in working order!

Embrace the unexpected with Chaos Embroidery, a laid-back, creative program where there are no rules—just thread, fabric, beads, trinkets, and your imagination! Instead of following a pattern, participants will stitch freely, layering colors, shapes, and textures to create something totally unique.

Whether you’re brand new to embroidery or already love to stitch, this is a great chance to experiment, relax, and see where your creativity takes you. The result might be abstract, colorful, a little messy—and completely your own.

This event has been rescheduled and will now take place on Monday, August 3rd. Click here to learn more.

The Port Byron Historical Society and the Village of Port Byron are planning an event to celebrate the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the signing of the U. S. Declaration of Independence. A free social event, Trivia Time, is set for Sunday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m. at the River Valley District Library. This will be a time for our local area citizens to reflect on the history of our country. Attendees can participate in an informal trivia contest, where we can also learn about the Declaration of Independence, the founding of our country, and the state, regional, and local history. This will be free and open to all ages.

The PBHS is also planning some history talks at our monthly meetings on May 13, June 10, and July 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the library to review our natural and cultural history as we lead up to our semiquincentennial celebration.

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month’s book is Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Pick up a copy at the circ desk today!

Have any questions? Contact Holly!

Create your own mini bookshelf in this fun, hands-on library program! Participants will design and decorate a small bookshelf that’s perfect for holding tiny books, trinkets, and keepsakes.

Use a variety of craft materials to customize your shelf and make it uniquely yours with decorative touches and creative details. Whether you love books, crafting, or both, this program is a great way to make something special to take home!

Get ready for a delightfully deceptive art experience! Join professional artist and baker Miss Alice for a hands-on workshop where creativity meets illusion. Participants will learn how to use lightweight spackling and cake decorating tools to transform everyday objects into realistic “cake” creations that look good enough to eat (but definitely aren’t!).

Miss Alice will guide you step-by-step through techniques for piping, texturing, and adding decorative details, helping you turn ordinary items into eye-catching works of art. Perfect for teens and adults of all skill levels, this program is a fun way to explore mixed-media art and learn something totally unique.

Join Naturalist Becky Baugh from the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center and learn how to identify local mushrooms and which seasons and habitats they can be found. You will also learn recipes and ways to preserve the mushrooms for future use.

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month’s book is TBD, so keep an eye on this page for details!


Have any questions? Contact Holly!

STOP THE BLEED® is a national campaign to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. It is a public/private partnership led by the Department of Defense and many other stakeholders.

Marybeth Eggers, a member of the Stop the Bleed Coalition, will be leading this class on emergency response preparedness. Attend this program to receive the skills and hands-on practice you need to stop a life threatening bleed until emergency personnel arrive. This program has limited capacity, and registration is required for attendees.

Get creative with a fun mixed media project! Combine canvas, paint and buttons to create a cute Spring-themed piece of art.

Learn to paint alongside experts from Three Dragons Design! More details about the painting are to be determined. Visit their Facebook page to see guided paintings we’ve done in the past!

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month, we will be reading Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes.
Pick up a copy at the front desk, or find it on Libby or Hoopla!

Have any questions? Contact Holly!

Got papers piling up? Stop by Shred It Day and safely dispose of your unwanted documents! The Shred-It Truck will be on-site to handle large quantities of paper. No need to remove staples or paper clips. Just bring your boxes and bags of documents and Shred-It will take care of the rest! Have any questions about what can or cannot be shredded? Visit their Website!

Have any other questions? Contact Holly.

Create a beautiful mosaic using upcycled puzzle pieces! Puzzle pieces will be pre-cut into easy to work with shapes. Participants can choose from several pre-made templates, or create something entirely unique!

Drop by the library to create an elegant tiny garden in an antique teacup!

This event has reached maximum capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please call the front desk, or email marketing@rivervalleylibrary.org

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month, we will be reading Ellie Cosimano’s, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. Find it on Libby, listen to the audiobook on Hoopla, read it on the palace project, or check out a physical copy at the front desk!

Do you love plants but lack a green thumb? No problem! Join us at the library to craft your own pseudo-succulent using wire, beads and clay!
This event has reached maximum capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please call the front desk, or email marketing@rivervalleylibrary.org

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month’s book is The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett. Pick up a copy at the front desk or find it on Libby or The Palace Project!

February is American Heart Health month! Rapids City Fire Protection District and Quad Cities HEARTSafe Coalition are coming to River Valley District Library to present a potentially life-saving "Hands Only CPR" class. This program will show you the basics of what to do while awaiting first responders in the event of a heart-related emergency. We recommend this class for anyone age 10 and up. For more information and opportunities to learn about this, check out www.qcheartsafe.org

Kick off Valentine’s Week at the library by joining in the viral trend of painting your partner. No peeking until you’re both finished!

Bring in your favorite record and take turns listening to your favorite songs while we paint vintage records for a funky throwback craft!

Join us for a stimulating conversation and coffee! The River Valley Readers meet on the 4th Saturday of every month on the second floor of the library, after regular library hours. This month, we will be reading Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale. Pick up your copy at the front desk, or find it on Libby!

Join us for an informational presentation led by Christopher J. Carpenter, PhD, a Professor in the School of Communication and Media at Western Illinois University. This program will help patrons understand the role of digital platforms in accessing health information, how to discuss online health information with healthcare providers, and will offer resources from trusted websites and databases.

“Vision Boards” New Year New You! Create a “vision board” collage inspired by your goals and dreams for 2026!  Drop in any time between 5 and 7, all supplies will be provided.

Teacup Candles” Create a custom candle in a vintage teacup. Perfect for your own home décor, or to give as a gift to a loved one!

*This event has reached maximum capacity. To be added to the waitlist, please contact marketing@rivervalleylibrary.org, or call the front desk.

Due to popular demand, we have added an additional afternoon session of this program. Sign up for the 2pm class here.

Teacup Candles” Create a custom candle in a vintage teacup. Perfect for your own home décor, or to give as a gift to a loved one!

*This event has reached maximum capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please call the front desk, or contact marketing@rivervalleylibrary.org

Use materials supplied by the library to decorate your very own holiday doormat!
*This event has reached maximum capacity. To be added to a waitlist, please contact the front desk, or email marketing@rivervalleylibrary.org

Formerly Blue Suede Book Club, the River Valley Readers meet on the fourth Saturday of every month. Join us for a stimulating coffee, and an even more stimulating discussion! This month’s read is tbd, so keep an eye out for updates. Never been to book club before? Check out our blog to Read Along with Blue Suede!

Have any questions? Contact Holly!

Get ready to give your beloved book a dazzling transformation at this interactive event! Using tiny rhinestones, you'll embellish various elements of a book cover, adding a unique touch of glamour and flair to your reading collection. Bring your own book, or take one from our Friends of the Library Book Sale. Hard cover and paperback books both work well for this program. When choosing a book, look for covers with simple designs and a few standout elements—sometimes, less is more! Due to the dexterity required and the use of strong glue, this event is intended for participants aged 13 and older.