Spooky Fun at Rock Island Public Libraries!

With a chill in the air, Halloween can't be far off. Families can enjoy free "spooky season" events together at Rock Island Public Library locations this October.

Can You Escape? Reservation spots are still open for Friday, Oct. 18 and Monday, Oct. 21 Escape Room games at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Teams of 3 to 5 players have 30 minutes to figure out the clues to "Creepy Doll's Cabinet of Curiosities." To set up a time slot between 5pm and 8 pm, call Youth Services Librarian Emily Tobin at 309-732-7315. More information is available on the library calendar. The Escape Room is intended for teen, adult, and family audiences.

Spooky After School Activities: After school activities for elementary school ages take a spooky turn, with pumpkin stencil making and a Halloween-themed book selection. Elementary After School activities are offered every Tuesday at the Watts-Midtown Branch and most Thursdays at Southwest, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Each week offers a new activity. Participants will make Jack-O-Lantern stencils at the Watts-Midtown Branch on Oct. 22, and discuss a children's graphic novel, The Bailey School Kids: Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots, Vol. 1, on Oct. 29 and 31. (No after school activity at the Southwest Branch on Oct. 24 due to a special event conflict.) For more dates in the ongoing drop-in series, visit the library calendar.

Halloween Party Storytime: Families with toddler and preschool-age children can enjoy a special Halloween Party Storytime, at 10:30 am, Friday, Oct. 25, at the Rock Island Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30^th Street. The special holiday storytime offers Halloween tales, activities, and a craft. Wear a costume for extra fun. This free event is for ages five and under with a parent or other caregiver. Reservations are not required.

Ghost-Hunting: If you're really into "things that go bump in the night," check out the Paranormal Investigation Night for teens and adults at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19^th Street. Sign up is still open for the event, which runs from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Follow along with QC Haunts & History and S&S Paranormal Investigations as they conduct a paranormal investigation at the historic library building, first opened in 1903. Registered participants will practice basic investigation techniques in various areas of the library. Registration is extremely limited. To see if spots are still available, visit the library website or call 309-732-7341.

Check out the Library of Things: Finally, if you're not able to sign up for that last event, you can conduct a do-it-yourself investigation by checking out one of the library's EMF electromagnetic field) detectors. Part of the Library of Things collection, these special items (and many more) may be checked out with a valid library card from an Illinois Quad City public library. These special items must be returned in person to the location from where they were borrowed.

All Rock Island Public Library events are free and open to all. Some do require registration. For details, visit the library calendar.

For more information about other library events, check the Rock Island Library website, call 309-732-7323 (READ,) or follow library social media pages.