Library Events
Adult Craft: Mini Gallery Wall
Create your own tiny masterpiece! Design a charming miniature gallery wall by painting a canvas to resemble a wall, then arrange miniature frames filled with tiny works of art to create a one-of-a-kind display. All supplies will be provided, and no artistic experience is necessary.
River Valley Readers Book Club
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. The book to be discussed will be announced soon!
Senior Social hour: Stories with Sofia
We are partnering with "Stories with Sofia" for a senior social hour! Seniors are invited to join us for an hour of laughs, music and memories. Bring a friend, or make some new ones! Light refreshments provided.
Adult Craft: Broom Wreaths
Make a seasonal hanging decoration using a 36” cinnamon twig broom! The library will provide fabric flowers, ribbon, spooky charms, and other accessories to add a touch of autumn to your home.
Introduction to Mah Jongg
Curious about Mahjong but not sure where to start? Join us for a two-hour introductory lesson designed especially for new players! Learn the basics of this classic game in a relaxed, welcoming environment and get ready to start playing.
The lesson will be taught by Dave Igleheart, who, along with his wife, Peg, has taught approximately 70 Quad City residents how to play Mahjong!
Experienced Mahjong players are also encouraged to join us as volunteer guides to help our new players learn the game and get comfortable at the table. Whether you're brand new to Mahjong or an experienced player willing to share your skills, we'd love to have you!
Pinterest Ghost Totes
Get crafty at the library! Holly will walk us through this fun and easy pinterest craft, and patrons will leave with a spooky new tote bag. This program is intended for adults.
Spooky Movie Bingo
Halloween isn't just for kids! Celebrate the season with an afternoon of classic comedy, bingo, and spooky fun.
We'll watch the 1930s classic short film Laurel and Hardy: Murder Case, a 30-minute spooky comedy that's appropriate for all ages. As you watch, mark off your bingo card whenever something on your card appears in the movie. Get a bingo and win a small prize!
Joanne Hachtel will kick off the program with a brief introduction to Laurel and Hardy, along with a few Halloween jokes. Punch and light refreshments will be provided.
River Valley Readers Book Club
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. The book to be discussed is “The Sun Down Motel” by Simone St. James. Pick up a copy at the front desk today!
Mah Jongg Monday
Learn and play American Mah Jongg at the library! The library will provide two game sets (sets accommodate 4 players each), participants who have a Mah Jongg set to share are encouraged to bring them. New to Mah Jongg? No problem! We expect to have a few experienced players who will share their knowledge, and patrons interested in “just looking” are invited to observe as well. Please note, a 2026 Mah Jongg card is required to play. You can purchase these at https://nationalmahjonggleague.org
Mah Jongg Monday
Learn and play American Mah Jongg at the library! The library will provide two game sets (sets accommodate 4 players each), participants who have a Mah Jongg set to share are encouraged to bring them. New to Mah Jongg? No problem! We expect to have a few experienced players who will share their knowledge, and patrons interested in “just looking” are invited to observe as well. Please note, a 2026 Mah Jongg card is required to play. You can purchase these at https://nationalmahjonggleague.org
Veterans Luncheon
Join us for a special Veterans Luncheon as we honor and celebrate the service and sacrifice of our local veterans. This gathering offers an opportunity for veterans and community members to come together for an afternoon of appreciation, connection, and fellowship.
Fall Finger Foods
Fall is the perfect time for cozy flavors and tasty little bites! Join us as we make a variety of fall-themed finger foods that are perfect for sharing, snacking, or your next autumn gathering. Come cook, create, and enjoy a taste of the season!
Mah Jongg Monday
Learn and play American Mah Jongg at the library! The library will provide two game sets (sets accommodate 4 players each), participants who have a Mah Jongg set to share are encouraged to bring them. New to Mah Jongg? No problem! We expect to have a few experienced players who will share their knowledge, and patrons interested in “just looking” are invited to observe as well. Please note, a 2026 Mah Jongg card is required to play. You can purchase these at https://nationalmahjonggleague.org
River Valley Readers Book Club
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. The book to be discussed will be announced soon!
River Valley Readers
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. We will be reading "The Berry Pickers" by Amanda Peters. It's available on Libby, and also on Hoopla as an audiobook.
Salsa Dancing for Beginners
Ready to learn something new? Join Michael from Salsa Essentials and Melissa of Acroyoga for a fun, beginner-friendly salsa dance class! During the first hour, you'll learn the basic steps, turns, and rhythms of salsa in a welcoming, no-pressure environment. Then, stay for an hour of open dancing to practice your new moves, meet fellow dancers, and enjoy the music. No experience necessary, and no partner required. Register now to secure your spot!
Chaos Embroidery
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.
River Valley Readers
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!
Sewing with a Machine for Beginners
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!
POSTPONED:Chaos Embroidery
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.
PBHS Trivia Time
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.
River Valley Readers
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!
Mini Book Shelves
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!
Cakefy It!
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.
Local Mushroom Identification with WAPSI
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.
River Valley Readers
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 Training
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.
Adult Craft: Button Flowers
Get creative with a fun mixed media project! Combine canvas, paint and buttons to create a cute Spring-themed piece of art.
Guided Painting with Three Dragons Design
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!
River Valley Readers
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!
Shred-It Day
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.
Mosaics Using Upcycled Puzzles
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!
Teacup Gardens
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
River Valley Readers
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!
Forever Succulents
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
River Valley Readers
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!
Hands Only CPR
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
Paint Your Date
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!
Upcycled Record Craft and Vinyl Show-and-Tell
Bring in your favorite record and take turns listening to your favorite songs while we paint vintage records for a funky throwback craft!
River Valley Readers
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!
Improving Online Health Literacy
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
“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.
Tea Cup Candles
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.
Tea Cup Candles
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
