Celebrate National Library Week with us!

Starting April 7, pick up a Library Trivia entry form here or at the Library.

Fill it out and return it to us by 5:00 PM, April 14. You’ll get a reward and find out more about some of the wonderful services we have available for you!
Creation Studio Drop-Ins
Mondays, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
All ages can stop by and make crafts and projects in The Creation Studio. No registration required. Supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public
Library.

April 1: Blackout Poetry
April 8: Decorated Clothespin Magnets
April 15: Binary Bracelets
April 22: Earth Day
Brown Bag Lunch
Attendees can bring their own lunch to enjoy during the concert. Beverages will be provided. Brown Bag Lunch is supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.

John Heasly
Friday, April 19, 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Join us as John Heasly and Jerry Schroeder strum their acoustic guitars and ukulele on pop songs from the 60’s and 70’s, Celtic songs and several originals.

The Matt Barber Experience
Friday, May 31, 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

With a passionate, uplifting style reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, and Michael Bublé, Mr. Barber delivers songs known and loved with a sincere, meaningful approach. His passion for his music comes through in every song. At this special performance, Matt will perform a variety of classics from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Free Comic Book Day
Saturday, May 4

Free comic books are available for all ages from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Creation Studio!

Saturday Morning Cartoons
Saturday, May 4, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

We’re celebrating Free Comic Book Day by resurrecting Saturday Morning Cartoons! Saturday morning used to be the event children looked forward to all week. This year, for Free Comic Book Day, it will be again! We will be showing a variety of superhero cartoons suitable for all ages. Come watch some cartoons with us!

Drawings on Diversity: Representation in Comics
Saturday, May 4, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Expansions in comics authorship at the end of the twentieth and into the twenty-first century have led to key evolutions in content and to increased diversity and inclusive representation. Dr. Brittany Tullis’ talk traces these developments as they arise and expand in both North and South America, offering a transamerican perspective on the topic of diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on Latin/x American comics.

The Cultural & Social Significance of Star Wars
Saturday, May 4, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Eric Rowell will discuss the cultural significance of the Star Wars Universe and its impact on our society. The presentation will focus on the roles of individual characters and their impacts.

Art-To-Go with the Figge
Saturday, May 4, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Let’s celebrate the life of the comic! Come join the Figge Art Museum for a discussion on comics and then students will get the chance to develop their own works in a hands-on activity. The event is free and all materials are provided, so just bring yourself and get those creative juices flowing! This program is best suited for children ages 10 and up. Registration is required and can be done online , by calling 563-344-4175, or at any service desk in the Library.

Free Comic Book Day is supported by:
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Storytimes are filled with stories, songs, rhymes, exercises, parenting tips, and more! We will be on break from all storytimes starting April 29. Storytimes will resume on Monday, June 3.
Preschool Storytime
Mondays, 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
For children ages 3 to 5.

Tales for Tots
Mondays, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
For children ages birth to 3 and a caregiver.

Yoga and Stories
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Experience your favorite stories told with yoga poses and demonstrated by certified yoga instructors. Recommended for ages 3 through 10 years old. Be ready to join in the fun! Parents are welcome too! Funding for Yoga and Stories provided by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.

Child’s Play | Create : Explore : Experience
Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Child’s Play consists of a 15-minute storytime complete with books, rhymes, and songs followed by 30 minutes of imaginative playtime. This program is best-suited for ages 2 to 6 years old, but all ages are welcome to attend.
Reading Assistance Dogs
Thursdays, April 4 and May 2, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Children have the opportunity to read aloud to dogs from Quad City Canines. This is great practice for kids and helps them build their vocabulary and build self-confidence. No registration is required.
LEGO Club
Saturday, April 6, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Come enjoy a morning of free-building with Lego blocks.
Story Travelers
Saturday, April 13, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Story Travelers Book Discussion group is for those in grades 2 - 4. This month’s book is Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins. Pick the book up at the Youth Services Desk and read it before the book discussion. Discuss and do activities based on the book at the meeting. Registration is required and can be done online , by calling 563-344-4175, or at any service desk in the Library. Funding for Story Travelers is provided by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
After School Kids Lab
Wednesdays in April, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

This is an opportunity for school-age kids to have fun on early-out Wednesdays. The After School Kids Lab will alternate between making crafts, doing science experiments, playing games, and learning new skills. Drop in any time between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM to create, have fun, or explore something new! No registration required. This program is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library. 

April 3: Book Bingo
April 10: Cup Stacking
April 17: Origami
April 24: Strawbees
StorytimesBook Explorers: Junior/Senior Book Club

This book club is geared for grades 4-10. Participants will meet once per month to review the selected book. Participants will choose the upcoming months’ titles. Registration is required and can be done online , by calling 563-344-4175, or at any service desk in the Library. Attendance at each monthly meeting is not required, but highly encouraged. Funding for Book Explorers is provided by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
Saturday, April 6, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Saturday, May 18, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Young Adult Tabletop Roleplaying
Tuesdays and Thursdays in April, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Young Adult Tabletop Roleplaying will not meet on Tuesday, April 30.

Interested in Dungeons and Dragons or the Pathfinder roleplaying game? Then come out each Tuesday and Thursday in April to see what adventures are brewing up at Bettendorf Public Library. Campaign spots fill up fast, so talk to Jesse or John for more information. Rather run your own adventure? We can help you out there as well.
Magic: The Gathering Club
Wednesdays in April, 2:45 PM - 5:00 PM

The trading card game Magic: The Gathering is popular the world over. If you have never played before then stop by and learn. If you are already a fan then come show off your favorite decks. We play all kinds of formats such as Standard, Pauper, and Commander.
 
Read Local: Misty Urban
Wednesday, April 10, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Misty Urban is the author of two short story collections, A Lesson In Manners and The Necessaries. Along with creative nonfiction she has published several works of medieval scholarship, including a co-edited volume of essays on the fairy woman Melusine. She teaches writing at Muscatine Community College, manages femmeliterate.net, and is current president of Writers on the Avenue. In her spare time she writes historical fiction. Read Local is a partnership between the Bettendorf Public Library and the Midwest Writing Center.
Get Lit

Get Lit is a book discussion group for adventurous souls. We meet at Crawford Brew Works, 3659 Devils Glen Rd., Bettendorf. Get Lit is supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.

The Moor’s Accoun t by Laila Lalami
Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Tuesday, May 14, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Mystery Book Discussion

Books are available for loan on a first-come basis at the previous month’s Mystery Book Discussion and after that at the Information Desk. Supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.

Secret Life of Anna Blanc by Jennifer Kincheloe
Saturday, April 13, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Quite Ugly One Morning by Chris Brookmyre
Saturday, May 11, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Contemporary Books Discussion

Books are available for loan on a first-come basis at the previous month’s Contemporary Books Discussion and after that at the Information Desk. Newcomers are always welcome. Supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.

Victoria the Queen by Julia Baird
Wednesday, April 17, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

So Big by Edna Ferber
Wednesday, May 15, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Victoria the Queen by Julia Baird
Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Middle East Lecture Series with Art Pitz

Dr. Art Pitz will be discussing the complex and hot-button topics relating to the Middle East in a series of lectures that is a partnership between Bettendorf Public Library, Davenport Public Library, and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities. The Bettendorf lectures are sponsored by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library

Lecture 1— Iran versus Saudi Arabia: What’s at Stake?
   Monday, April 1, 6:30 PM at Bettendorf Public Library
Lecture 2—Existential Environmental Challenges
   Monday, April 8, 6:30 PM at Davenport Library-Eastern Ave. (6000 Eastern Ave.)
Lecture 3—What does Syria’s End Game Look Like?
   Monday, April 15, 6:30 PM at Bettendorf Public Library
Lecture 4—Israel and the Palestinians: Is the 2-State Solution DOA?
   Monday, April 22, 6:30 PM at Davenport Library-Eastern Ave. (6000 Eastern Ave.)
Adult Chess Club
Tuesdays, April 2 and May 7, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Please join us at the BPL Adult Chess Club! Open to ages 16 and up, stop in to play some casual games of chess. This group will be a great place to learn the game, meet new competition, and play un-rated games of standard, blitz, rapid, or any other variant. Adult Chess Club is supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Floral Arranging Class
Tuesday, April 9, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Join Trish Thobe, designer and owner of Flowers by Jerri, to create an arrangement of fresh flowers! All materials are included in this hands on creative floral arranging class. The class is for ages 13 and up. Registration is required and can be done online , by calling 563-344-4175, or at any service desk in the Library. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Community Connections: Green Fire - Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time
Thursday, April 18, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Join us for a special screening of the Emmy Award-winning Aldo Leopold documentary Green Fire. Following the film, there will be a discussion with Thomas Dean, Senior Presidential Writer/Editor at the University of Iowa and a Land Ethic Leader, trained through the Aldo Leopold Foundation. This program is funded by Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities with additional support from the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Trax from the Stax: It was 50 years ago...
Thursday, April 18, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

It was 50 years ago... Abbey Road and the rocky path for The Beatles in 1969. The Beatles’ last recorded album, Abbey Road, is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. Join KALA Radio’s David Baker for a discussion of all things Beatles in 1969-- from the issue of The Yellow Submarine soundtrack to the famed “Rooftop” concert and, of course, Abbey Road. Trax from the Stax is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
World Affairs Council - Know Your Rights: Immigrant Rights with the ACLU of Iowa
Tuesday, April 23, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Laws vary from state to state and knowing our rights can empower us. Everyone in the United States has constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status. Kylie Gottschalk from the American Civil Liberties Union will cover basic constitutional rights in addition to specific information on immigrant rights. This program is co-sponsored by the Bettendorf Public Library and the World Affairs Council.
Drop in Resume Assistance
Monday, May 6, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Do you have questions about what to put on your resume? Drop in anytime between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to meet with Black Hawk College Career Services staff for resume tips. No appointment needed. Participants will be able to ask questions and work on their resume, so please bring your resume as well as a flash drive. Flash drives are available for purchase at the Information Desk for $8.
Community Connections: Walt Whitman Live!
Thursday, May 16, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

In this one hour program, Walt Whitman, portrayed by Dr. Bill Koch, will highlight major poems from his poetry collection, Leaves of Grass. Bill Koch received a Ph.D. in American Studies from St. Louis University and is an adjunct professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Northern Iowa. This program is funded by Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities with additional support from the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Resume Writing Assistance
Thursday, May 16, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Do you need help writing your resume? Dr. Storey from Black Hawk College Career Services will be at the library from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM to provide resume writing assistance on an individual basis. An appointment is required, please call the Information Desk at 563-344-4179 to make an appointment. Appointments will be ½ hour in length. Please bring your resume, or a list of employers, dates and job titles, as well as a flash drive. Flash drives are available for purchase from the Information Desk for $8.
Trax from the Stax: Steve Couch Presents Comedy Music from the 60s to Today
Thursday, May 16, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Local musician/entertainer Steve Couch will discuss what he looks for in comedy songs and what he finds clever or humorous. He’ll use examples of his own music and other better-known musical comedians and their classic comedy songs. Join us as Steve discusses what people used to think was funny through what people think is funny today! Trax from the Stax is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
World Affairs Council - The Global Midwest
Tuesday, May 21, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Dr. Chris Strunk, Assistant Professor of Geography, Augustana College, examines the new geography of immigrant and refugee settlement in the rural Midwest in the context of the region’s long history of global connections. This program is co-sponsored by the Bettendorf Public Library and the World Affairs Council.
April
In April, the upstairs display walls will have student artwork from Bettendorf Middle School.


May
In May, Riverbend Photo and Video Club will display their work on Wall D. The remainder of the display areas will be devoted to Free Comic Book Day.
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Pages is the Bettendorf Public Library Information Center newsletter. It is also available in print and large print. For Pages information, call 563-344-4191 or email mlevetzow@bettendorf.org
Phone: 563-344-4175
Fax: 563-344-4185