Celebrate 50 Years of the Fire Station and Southwest Branch!

News Release

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2024

Lisa Lockheart, Rock Island Public Library publicity and outreach liaison, 309-732-7303, [email protected]

Celebrating 50 Years of the Southwest Branch and Fire Station #2- Wednesday, Sept. 25: 50 years ago, the Rock Island Public Library's Southwest Branch first opened as a tiny extension on the side of Rock Island Fire Station #2. To celebrate that golden anniversary, the library and Fire Department will host a public open house on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The drop-in event at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, starts with a banner-signing ceremony around 10:30 am involving Rock Island aldermen, library administration, Fire Department personnel, and members of the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District board.

A free Firefighter Storytime and truck tour for kids follows at 11:00 am.

Additional activities throughout the day include tours at 12:30 pm, complimentary refreshments, a commemorative library sticker and toy fire hat giveaway while supplies last, signing the birthday banner, trivia contest, a looping history video and photo opportunities with a "I Love My Southwest Branch" photo frame. Guests can drop in a ticket to win a free basket of library goodies assembled by the Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District board. The regularly scheduled Southwest Book Club wraps up the open house with a discussion of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner at 4pm.

The Southwest Branch first opened as a 1,500 square foot branch attached to the side of new Firehouse #2. Both were added to serve the needs of the growing neighborhoods of Southwest Rock Island. After a preview on September 24, 1974, the branch officially opened at 1:00 pm on September 25, 1974. An official ribbon cutting and public open house followed on Saturday, Oct. 12, 1974.

In 1989, the Milan-Blackhawk-Area Public Library District formed as a district library, ensuring a sustainable service contract for extending Rock Island Public Library services 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.

From 2000 to 2001, the branch expanded from 1,500 to 5,373 square feet, which added new bathrooms, a community room, children's room, computer lab, and study area. The branch's grand reopening took place August 2001.

The Open House is free and open to drop-in guests throughout the day.

For more information about library services and upcoming events for a wide range of ages, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library Facebook and Instagram social media sites.