All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All three buildings will reopen with the regular hours on Saturday, November 25th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 5:30pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) 9am to 5:30pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) 9am to 5:30pm.
Even though our physical locations will be closed, you can still access free digital content for all ages. Your Davenport Public Library card gives you access to free eBooks, digital audiobooks, magazines, movies, and music through Libby, Freegal, TumbleBooks, QC Beats, and Kanopy!
All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. All three buildings will reopen with their regular hours on Monday, November 13th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 8pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) 9am to 8pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) noon to 8pm.
Even though our physical locations will be closed, you can still access free digital content for all ages. Your Davenport Public Library card gives you access to free eBooks, digital audiobooks, magazines, movies, and music through Libby, Freegal, TumbleBooks, QC Beats, and Kanopy!
This month, our resource spotlight focuses on Bridge Appointments, a newly introduced service now available to Eastern Iowa residents through the Eastern Iowa Crisis Region System. While many are familiar with the crisis system’s emergency hotline, few may know about the additional support services it offers, all aimed at strengthening our communities.
Bridge Appointments were created in response to the lengthy and intimidating process many individuals face when seeking psychiatric care, especially if they are inconsistent with provider visits. So, what exactly are Bridge Appointments?
Bridge Appointments, as defined by the Eastern Iowa Crisis Region System, are appointments with a psychiatric provider to bridge the gap for individuals needing behavioral health medication. Through telehealth, individuals requiring these medications can receive a psychiatric evaluation and prescription, helping them until they can secure ongoing psychiatric care.
To qualify for this free service:
You must be an Eastern Iowa resident aged 12 or older.
It’s available to residents of Scott, Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, and Muscatine counties.
You must have a scheduled ongoing psychiatric care appointment before a bridge appointment can be scheduled.
A care coordinator will be assigned to assist you through the process.
No insurance is required, as the Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region funds the service.
If you need a bridge appointment referral, you can visit the Davenport Public Library, where a social worker can assist you. Alternatively, you can contact any Eastern Iowa Region Crisis System staff member.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or requires emergency assistance, please dial 988 or contact the 24-Hour CRISIS LINE at 855.581.8111.
Did you know that September is National Sewing Month? This came about in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan set out Proclamation 4976, which made September National Sewing Month.
Want to learn how to sew? We can help you here at the Davenport Public Library. In addition to the many books on sewing that the library has available for checkout, we offer something unique! At the Library | Main, you can find the Studio 321 Makerspace available for our patrons to use. The Library has created a Makerspace, which is a place in which people with shared interests, especially in computing or technology, can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment and knowledge. The Library Makerspace is designed to encourage individuals to innovate, explore their creativity and ingenuity, and to collaborate with and inspire others. What does this have to do with sewing, you might ask? Well…. the Studio 321 Makerspace has sewing machines available for you to use in the library!
The Heavy Duty 4432 sewing machine is designed with your heavy duty projects in mind, from denim to canvas. With adjustable presser foot pressure, you can also sew very lightweight sheers, and the stainless steel bedplate allows fabrics to glide over the machine with ease. Among the 110 stitch applications is a one-step buttonhole. The Heavy Duty 4432 features a 6.25″ sewing space (needle to tower) and 4.25″ height, free arm, extra high pressure foot lifter, and variable needle positions.
Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the Makerspace waiver. Anyone under 11 must have an adult present during use of the Makerspace.
Makers agree to follow safety protocols and all instructions including those from Library staff and equipment manuals. Some equipment may require training from a staff member.
An orientation session will be conducted by Library staff upon a maker’s first visit. For subsequent visits, makers may request training from staff, if needed, when making an appointment.
Reservations for the Makerspace may be made at the Public Service Desk, by calling 563-326- 7832, or by visiting the library’s website at www.davenportlibrary.com. Check in at the Public Service Desk on the day of reservation
Curious what else is available in the Studio 321 Makerspace? Look below!
All three Davenport Public Library branches will be closed Monday, September 4th in observance of Labor Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, September 5th.
Even though the physical libraries are closed on September 4th, you can still access our digital content and online resources with your Davenport Public Library card. You can use your card to access FREE digital materials, including eBooks, digital audiobooks, magazines, movies, and music online 24/7.
Whether you are looking for digital media materials for adults, teens, or children, Davenport Public Library has you covered. You can easily download an app to your mobile device or access these services online.
If you don’t have a Library card, you can register for a Digital Access Card that will give you immediate access to all Davenport Public Library online resources. Once you register, you will receive a temporary barcode number. Your account will be confirmed by the Library within two business days, and your permanent barcode number will be emailed to you. Be sure to choose “Digital Access Card” when you register online.
Curious what resources we have available?
Digital Content:
Libby – All you need to access eBooks, digital audiobooks, and digital magazines is your Davenport Public Library card. We recommend downloading the Libby app for best performance.
Freegal Music – Freegal Music gives you access to millions of songs from over 40,000 labels. Stream 24-hours a day. Download up to 5 songs per week.
TumbleBooks – Both children and their parents will enjoy this online collection of animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joys of reading in an exciting, new format they are sure to love.
QC Beats – Built in partnership with Bettendorf Public Library, St. Ambrose University Library, and River Music Experience, QC Beats is an online streaming audio collection of original music featuring Quad Cities musicians and artists.
Kanopy – Kanopy provides a variety of popular and classic movies, documentaries, and foreign films to stream. Kanopy Kids includes parental controls. The Great Courses present a wealth of learning.
In addition to our digital content, we also have a wide variety of online resources and tools available for you to use. Whether you are interested in starting a business, purchasing a new car, looking for a place to move in retirement, or helping an elderly parent get the services they need, we’ve got resources and to assist you.
Have fun exploring and we will see you back in person on Tuesday, September 5th!
This month the Online Reading Challenge travels to New York City. Our Main title for September is The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. (This book takes place partly in the New York Public Library!) Here’s a quick summary from the publisher.
In New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis’s latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roils the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces.
It’s 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn’t ask for more out of life—her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she is drawn to Greenwich Village’s new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club—a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women’s rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. And when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she’s forced to confront her shifting priorities head on . . . and may just lose everything in the process.
Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she’s wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie’s running begin disappearing from the library’s famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-averse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage—truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library’s history.
We are starting a new segment on the blog: a monthly social work spotlight submitted by the library’s very own social worker, Quinn! This month our resource spotlight will focus on families as August marks the back-to-school period for families within the Davenport Community School District. As the new school year begins, many families encounter challenges in ensuring a seamless transition while also securing the well-being of their loved ones. Statistics reveal that 33% of families in the Quad Cities struggle to meet their fundamental needs.
YWCA Quad Cities Empowerment Center, part of YWCA Quad Cities, is a place dedicated to providing essential resources that support families in overcoming challenges and ensuring their well-being as they work towards their goals. The center is designed to help families and individuals stay out of poverty long term. Its mission is to uplift women and their families by offering various resources and opportunities designed to be easily accessible.
Serving as a pivotal resource hub, YWCA Quad Cities Empowerment Center is a sanctuary for women and families seeking support and individualized assistance plans. These plans help identify impactful solutions that resonate for each individual fostering confidence, independence, and self-worth regardless of age, gender, race, or geographic location and promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.
These, amongst others, are the services provided by the YWCA Cities Empowerment Center:
A Clothing Closet, which contains all types of clothing for women, men, and children.
An Immediate Needs Pantry, which includes a variety of shelf-stable food items, cleaning and laundry supplies, feminine products, hygiene products, and baby items like food, formula, diapers, and wipes.
A Learning Center, which offers access to computers, printers, free Wi-Fi, and various continuing education programs, all provided free of charge. Additionally, the center offers resume and job search assistance.
Crisis funding is available for those in immediate need when resources permit.
ThePlace2B, a drop-in center located at the Rock Island YWCA facility, which offers resources to at-risk and homeless youth.
YWCA Quad Cities’ Empowerment Center is currently located at 1225 E River Dr., Ste 140, Davenport, IA 52803; a move to a much larger facility is in the near future – you’ll definitely want to stay tuned for more information on this. To learn more about YWCA Quad Cities and its programs and services, please visit their website at www.ywcaqc.org or call 563-340-0310 for more information or to seek assistance.
The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center is pleased to announce a new index search website, Special Collections Indexes, which will replace our “Local Database Search”. It features over 35 indexes to historical and genealogical resources held in Special Collections. Users will be able to search across the indexes using Search All Indexes page or search individual indexes depending on the information need.
We encourage you all to explore this new resource for accessing historical and genealogical materials.
Special Collections Indexes was created by the Davenport Public Library’s Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center and Information Technology Department to provide greater access to local historical and genealogical resources by publishing indexes to these materials. Indexes were compiled by the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society volunteers, library volunteers, and the Special Collections staff. Through this dedicated work, over 35 indexes are available for research use. Resource categories include cemetery records, religious institutions’ records, military records, Scott County records, local newspaper articles, local history publications, additional resources, and Iowa patents and inventors.
Search Tips
General Search Techniques
While searching this site, use spelling variations for names, places, and subjects. List these out before the search and cross them off as each one is searched.
If a specific search is not returning results, try expanding the search by removing search conditions. Search with as little data as possible to return all possible results, including misspelled words, abbreviations, etc.
When searching for a person omit entering a first name to see all possible first name variations in records results.
Search All Indexes
Enter a last name, a first name, a single keyword, and/or year in the appropriate search box. Click on the blue “Search” button at the bottom of the form. The results will displayed in a separate sections organized by its resource categories. Each index is listed separately. If an index has returned results, it will display “Search has __ matches” on the left side of the column. Click on the “Click to view results” button on the right side to view the index’s results. Scroll the entire page to see all resource categories.
Results may be printed using the browsers’ print options.
Search All Indexes does not include the Iowa Patents & Inventors index.
Search Individual Indexes
Use the Search Builder to create your search. Select the “Add Condition” button under Search Builder. Select the “Data” drop down-menu to choose an options to search (“Data” options vary by index). Then select the “Condition” drop-down menu and always select “Contains.” Enter a “Value” term corresponding to the “Data” selected, such as last name, first name, corporate name, year, or keyword. Press Enter on the keyboard to return results.
Example search: “Last Name” was selected for “Data”; “Contains” was selected for “Condition”; “Donahue” was entered for the “Value.”
Search results will be listed in a table of entries pointing to a resource to find more information.
Results may be downloaded as a PDF document or printed by using these icons.
Advanced searches are created by clicking on “Add Condition” button to add additional rows of “Data,” “Condition,” and “Value.”
Did you know that the library hosts three Little Free Libraries (LFL) around the city? Well, we do!
Thanks to the generous donations of our community and the hard work of our FRIENDS organization, materials are made available to distribute through these weather-proof boxes.
I take care of the Duck Creek LFL. I normally stock it weekly, usually on Monday nights. I collect a mix of children’s, teen, and adult items from the library and drive to Duck Creek to fill up the box.
Typically, about one to one-and-a-half feet of books need to be restocked. But on one recent visit, I found that the shelves of the LFL had been decimated. There were less than a dozen books left! Fortunately, I had just enough books in my supply box to fill the library back up.
Upon arrival.
After re-stocking.
As a steward, I’ve stocked “my” LFL mostly with popular reading choices: Grisham, Connelly, Blume, and various other kids’ authors. But, included among these titles there are some personal favorites that stand out in my mind:
vintage Little Golden Books. They go like hot cakes!
a 1960’s version of Amelia Bedelia. Oh, Amelia Bedelia, who drew a picture of the drapes when she was asked to close (draw) them.
a pristine board book about colors.
a hardback Richard Bachman title. “Bachman” is the name Stephen King wrote under in the late 70s and early 80s.
dictionaries. I simply LOVE giving away reference books!
Tragically, some books that catch my eye are simply too unwieldy to be stocked. For example, atlases. They are just too large for the shelves.
I encourage you to visit one of our LFLs and browse the current items. You might just find an interesting title. If you do, take it. Visit again to see what is on offer the next time.
Our Little Free Library locations:
Duck Creek Park (across from the Stampe Lilac Garden)
Sunderbruch Park (at the Telegraph St. entrance)
Fairmount Street Bus Stop (across from the Fairmount Library)
“You can’t tell whether people are gay by what they look like. And gay or straight aren’t the only two options.”
― Alice Oseman, Heartstopper: Volume One
It’s been a long time since a book has hit me hard in the feelings, leaving me gasping for air. Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper: Volume Oneleft me wrecked and immediately grabbing for the other published volumes. Oseman has written an incredibly cute story that deals with heavy topics respectfully while being simultaneously gorgeously written and drawn. The romance is a slow burn, but so relatable. This LGBTQ+ series is a must read as it represents people of all genders and sexualities in an adorable, wholesome, and sweet way, while still presenting tough issues that teens and adults go through on a daily basis. If I could make this required reading, I would!
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. He is a highly-strung overthinker who was accidentally outed as gay last year. Last year was incredibly hard for him, but thank goodness for the older boys who stepped in and stopped the worst of the bullying. People still say unkind things to him, but it’s not nearly as bad as it was the year before.
Nick Nelson is in Year 11 at the same school. He is a soft-hearted rugby lad, not afraid to fight for the underdog, while simultaneously being cheerful and affable. He doesn’t know Charlie very well, except as the kid who was outed last year and was bullied for a couple months. They haven’t even talked to each other.
When a chance meeting pushes the two boys together, Nick and Charlie quickly become friends. They discover things that they have in common, even more compounded when Charlie joins the school rugby team on Nick’s behest. It doesn’t take long for Charlie to start falling for Nick. Charlie thinks he doesn’t have a chance since Nick is straight and he’s heard rumors of a girl he has a crush on. As time goes on, love works its magic on the boys, showing them that good things come to those who wait.
So far, there are four published volumes in the Heartstopper series with the fifth volume set to be published in November 2023 and a sixth volume is in the works as announced by the author.
Want to talk about Heartstopper: Volume One with others? Join See YA!See YA is our adult book club with a teen book twist. See why so many teen books are being turned into movies and are taking over the best seller lists. Registration is not required. Books are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Eastern Avenue library. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at Eastern at 6:30pm. Our next four months of books are listed below:
All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All three buildings will reopen with the regular hours on Saturday, November 25th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 5:30pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) 9am to 5:30pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) 9am to 5:30pm.
