At the Library 12/25/25

 

Welcome to the WPL MakeIT Place Pottery Studio

By Beth L Swift

Technology Librarian AND Pottery Studio Supervisor

Pottery requires patience.  It takes about 3 weeks to take home your pottery.

(If everything is timely) What’s the hold-up?  

Creating, finishing, drying for 7 days, two-day bisque firing, coming in to glaze or take the initial class and then another two-days to glaze fire. 

Plus it’s all based on how full the kiln has to be to light it up.  

As our MakeIT Place Pottery Studio is getting busier, we’ve had many questions about 

independent use processes.  The pottery process is fascinating but it involves a few

steps from beginning to end.  Even after one is “certified”, if it's been a month before you come back in, the whole thing can seem overwhelming and can feel like you are starting over. Try to come in soon after certifying to feel more confident.

Pottery requires patience. 

Here is the basic process in a little more detail.   

1. PREPARE  CLAY Cut and weigh the appropriate amount of clay for your project. Fill out a payment slip completely and submit it to the upstairs desk for payment after you are done. If you need to restart a project, do not reuse clay; return the used material for proper reclaiming and cut fresh clay to maintain consistency, quality and reduce cracks and breakage from air pockets. 

2. FORMING THE PIECE — WHEEL OR HAND-BUILDING For wheel-thrown work, begin by firmly centering the clay, maintaining even moisture while pulling walls, and shaping the vessel with controlled hand pressure. For hand-building, choose the appropriate method—slab, coil, or pinch construction—and ensure joins are scored, slipped, and compressed for structural integrity. 

3. TRIMMING OR CARVING AT LEATHER-HARD STAGE Once the piece becomes leather-hard, refine its form by trimming excess clay to create a clean foot and balanced silhouette. This step enhances both aesthetics and function while ensuring the piece sits evenly after firing. Carving hand-built pieces creates texture and interest. 

(Steps 1-3 can take anywhere from 1 day to a week depending on how soon you can let your piece set to leather hard to finish it)

4. DRYING PERIOD ( 7 DAYS) Place works on boards or bats lined with newspaper to prevent sticking and allow airflow underneath. Move pieces to the correctly labeled drying shelf and attach one dated drying slip per piece. Drying gradually over a full week minimizes cracking and ensures readiness for bisque firing. (There may be a few days after your 7 days of drying before the 1st bisque fire happens)

5. BISQUE FIRING Fully dried pieces undergo their first firing, transforming fragile greenware into durable bisqueware. This step prepares the clay body to accept glaze and strengthens the piece for handling during glazing. (48 hour process)

6. GLAZING (REQUIRES ONE GLAZE CLASS FOR FIRST TIMERS) The glaze class teaches fundamental knowledge of glaze chemistry, application methods such as dipping, brushing, and pouring, and the correct procedures for placing glazed ware onto firing cart/shelves. After one class, you can make a reservation according to your schedule. 

7. GLAZE FIRING The final high-temperature firing melts glaze into a smooth, glass-like surface, completing the ceramic transformation. Pieces are allowed to cool slowly inside the kiln to avoid thermal shock. (Another 48 hour process) Glaze can be applied AND fired on the same day.  The only wait time is dried glaze which is usually 10-20 minutes.

   

8. FINISHED POTTERY PICKUP Completed works will be held at the Circulation Desk for pickup. Studio staff will notify you once your pieces are ready. Please retrieve your finished pottery promptly to keep storage areas clear and maintain workflow efficiency.

As you can see, even if all the creating, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing lines up PERFECTLY, it is a two-three week process from start to finish. 

Yes, pottery requires patience but it is so worth it. 

Important points: 

We TYPICALLY do any firing starting on the anticipated Saturday at noon.  It takes approximately 48 hours to heat up and cool slowly.  That means, generally on the following Monday afternoon, your piece is ready for the next step whatever that may be.

Where can you check for anticipated firing dates and classes?                                                                The WPL online event calendar, the printed monthly event calendar, the posters in the pottery room and the firing shelves.     

All firing dates are ANTICIPATED and subject to change as there has to be enough to fire in order for the kiln to fire correctly and evenly.

Due to limited space, we can only hold pottery in any form for a limited amount of time. We make substantial effort to contact everyone before its disposal or sacrifice for demonstration and learning opportunities. Your communication is crucial! You can always call to make arrangements. 

We would LOVE to take you on a  tour of the Pottery Studio! (appointments appreciated)  Jenisa and I are the Pottery Studio Supervisors and we will do our best to answer questions.  We don’t have all the answers but we have the best resources to get them!

See you soon.

    

At the Library 12/18/25

 

From HOOPLA to BUBBLEVERSE:
Community Fiber Arts Projects on the Move

by LeAnn Kunz

HOOPLA, the largest piece that has ever been created by the Washington fiber art community, was installed at the Washington Public Library during Fiber Arts February 2025 and now it is "on tour"!  A portion of the HOOPLA hoops are now on exhibit for viewing at Halcyon House through the end of December.

During the summer of 2024, I distributed 15 inch plastic hoops to members of Sticks & Strings, a group of local fiber artists that gather monthly at the library to work on their projects and share them. The group has existed for over 20 years and I asked them, as well as any other interested fiber artists in the community, to create a piece of fiber art by crocheting, knitting, sewing, weaving, etc. within their hoop. During the 6 month span, 81 individual hoop art pieces by 18 fiber artists were submitted.

In early January 2025, five of the artists spent two days, over four hours total, putting the parts into one whole. We had to figure out color and style combinations, the engineering and construction aspect, and then assemble and install these in the skylight shaft area of the library. Hoops were strung on fishing line and hung in strips across the shaft. Some hoops were also hung on the shaft walls and in the second level windows. We named it HOOPLA and it was a grand and colorful exhibit that carried the spirit of Fiber Arts February.

HOOPLA brought in many visitors to the library during February and the following six months. In September the exhibit was disassembled. The artists were allowed to take their individual pieces home and several of them are repurposing their creations for the upcoming 2026 Community Fiber Art Project that was recently launched.

The concept for the newest dream fiber art exhibit is BUBBLEVERSE and I am calling for individual fiber artists to create "stiffened" bubbles, orbs, spheres, globes that will be united into one giant fiber art piece for Fiber Arts February 2026. If you would like to participate, please create your pieces by knitting, crocheting, sewing, weaving, etc. Pieces can be a variety of sizes but should hold their shape. Drop them off at the library with your name and contact information by January 15, 2026. Volunteers from Sticks & Strings will be assembling them into one giant piece in the skylight shaft for exhibition.

Help us create the next big thing for Fiber Arts February! 

At the Library 12/11/25

Learn How to Use the Computer
via Digital Learn

by Tammy Valentine

 

Recently, the library asked patrons to complete a survey to use for our new strategic plan. 

The information gathered was very interesting and helpful in letting us know what you want 

and need. The one question that jumped out to me was what 3 priorities you wanted us to 

focus on. The top 3 priorities turned out to be physical materials, downloadable media,

and lifelong adult learning. The last answer is what I am going to focus on for adults who want 

to continue learning. Every single day a patron comes in and says they know nothing 

about computers. They might be embarrassed but often they are frustrated. They may

have important documents that require them to be printed, then emailed or faxed back. That 

patron feels lost due to their lack of computer knowledge, but we can help!

You can find Digitallearn.org on our website by hovering over the Research & Learn

tab, then scrolling down to and clicking Learning Resources. What you will see is

Mango Languages, Mometrix, and Digitallearn. Just click the link to Digitallearn.org to

begin learning about computers. “If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, 

are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, we have the tools to 

help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed.” --

Digitallearn.org.

This is a great resource for patrons who need help with computers. Feel free to come

into the library to help get you started on your new learning journey!

At the Library 12/4/25

 

Stay Connected to Your Library

WPL Events on Facebook

By Alison Greiner

At the Washington Public Library, we’re always working to make it easy for you and your family to stay informed about upcoming events, new programs, and all the good things happening in our building. Whether you’re looking for story times, book clubs, hands-on activities, or special events for all ages, here are the best places to stay connected.

1. Facebook Page Posts

Our Facebook page is one of the quickest ways to see what’s going on day-to-day. We post reminders, highlights, photos, and updates to help keep our community in the loop. If you enjoy scrolling for updates as they happen, this is a great spot to stay connected.

 

2. Facebook “Events” Section

If you want the clearest, most organized view of everything coming up, be sure to visit the Events tab on our Facebook page.

There, you’ll find a full list of upcoming library programs—with dates, times, locations, and details all in one easy-to-browse place. You can even click “Interested” or “Going” so Facebook will send you reminders!

3. Library Website Events Calendar

For the most complete and detailed overview, visit our Events Calendar on the library website.

This online calendar includes:

• All upcoming programs
  
  
• Registration links (when required)
  
  
• Full program descriptions
  
  
• Details about room locations and age groups
  
  
• Any schedule changes or updates
  
  

  

  WPL website registration

  
  

It’s also the best way to learn more about the library in general—services, collections, resources, and special projects.

No matter how you prefer to get your information—scrolling on Facebook or bookmarking our library website—you’ll always find accurate, up-to-date details about what’s happening at the Washington Public Library. We love seeing our community engaged, informed, and excited about all the programs we offer. Stay connected, and we’ll see you at the library!

At the Library 11/27/25

Kids Are Learning 3D Design In the WPL Make IT Place

Ornaments Designed and Printed in 3D Club

by Jenisa Harris

    The Washington Free Public Library has officially launched our brand-new 3D Print Club, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with our community! This club is designed to introduce kids and teens to digital design, basic engineering ideas, and hands-on technology in a fun, creative way. 

    Each week, we dive into Tinkercad, an easy-to-use online 3D modeling program. We start with the basics—building shapes, designing simple objects, and learning how to turn their ideas into real, printable files. For many of our students, this is their very first experience with design software, and it’s amazing to watch how quickly they catch on. 

    The interest has grown faster than I ever expected. Kids love seeing something they imagined on a screen turn into a real object right in front of them. Every session includes a new challenge—keychains, ornaments, and figurines. 

    Beyond the fun, this club gives kids the chance to build real skills in critical thinking, measurement, problem-solving, and STEM concepts. They also learn how to collaborate, share ideas, and help each other—something that’s just as important as the tech piece. 

Brinn & Myles show off their 3D ornaments

 

    We will be offering this club again in February! If you’d like more information, reach out to us at the Washington Free Public Library or visit our website. I can’t wait to see what our young creators come up with next!

Dexter shows off his 3D ornament

Cameron shows off his 3D ornament

At the Library 11/20/25

 

WPL Library Cards Are Free To Everyone, 

Even If You Are Just Passing Through! 

By Marissa Reisen

The library gets all the latest titles for our patrons to check out!

Did you know that you don’t have to live in Washington to get a library card at the Washington Free Public Library? You don’t even have to reside in Washington County! That being said, not all library cards are the same, though a large portion of their differences aren’t something that patrons will notice. The different types of cards (there are technically 12 in our system) are mostly a representation of where the patron lives so that information can be reported to the State Library of Iowa. And on the flipside, even if we are your local library, you can get a library card at other libraries in Iowa. 

A little background before we dive in too deep: Iowa Code 8A.222 requires cities and counties to provide financial support for public libraries. As long as your city or county contributes, you have access to library materials statewide! Here at the Washington Free Public Library, we serve as the “local library” to residents of the city of Washington, as well as the cities of Ainsworth and Brighton, and all rural Washington County residents. The Wellman Public Library serves the city of Wellman, and the Kalona Public Library serves Kalona, and Riverside contracts with them. West Chester contracts with the Wilson Public Library in Keota. Crawfordsville contracts with the Winfield Public Library. (This can change if the city decides to contract with a different library but is accurate for fiscal year 2025-2026). Even if we aren’t your “local library” you can still get an Open Access library card here at WFPL. This card gives you limited borrowing privileges, mostly to the physical books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs in our collection, so you do still need a card from your own local library to access the digital content available via Libby. 

So, what does your library card get you if we’re your local library? Unlimited BOOKS! Physical and digital both. And audiobooks, CDs and DVDs, hotspots, crafting items (we have small looms that your kids can check out to make potholders and other projects (my kids LOVED this!) A library card also gets you access to our amazing MakeIT space! We also have databases for you to use including Mango Languages, Mometrix e-Library, and a video streaming service called Kanopy.

You don’t have to have a card to utilize our computers, internet, printing, or meeting spaces. Nor do you need one to explore our art collection, check out the ReBook room, or visit the Grayson Archives, so come take a look!

Washington Public Library cards are free for all!

Here are some interesting statistics on current active cards:

Washington residents with library cards: 2296
Ainsworth/Brighton residents with WFPL card: 199
Rural Washington County WFPL cards: 867
Open Access cards: 724

For more detailed information on the different types of library cards at WFPL, you can go here.

As always, getting a library card at WFPL is free with a current ID. Stop in and take advantage of this free service that will enrich your life!

At the Library 11/13/25

 Could you love Libby even more?!

by Cary Ann Siegfried

We’ve recently finished up a survey to help with crafting the Library’s new strategic plan for 2026 through 2029.  When we asked you what you loved most about the library and didn’t want us to change, many of you responded:  Libby!!!

For the few of you not “in the know” about Libby:  Libby is the app that allows library users to listen to eAudiobooks, read eBooks, or browse eMagazines that are provided for our library users through the State Library of Iowa’s Bridges consortium. The titles available are purchased from a company called Overdrive and are selected by librarians throughout the state of Iowa. 

All of the libraries participating in the Bridges consortium contribute funds annually for the titles that are purchased.  (FYI: not ALL libraries in the state participate, there are some libraries– Iowa City for example– that have their own collections purchased from Overdrive or other vendors).  Libraries that participate in Bridges contribute over $500,000 per year through a formula-based fee; the Washington Public Library contributed $2,064 to the consortium this year for new materials. This gives Washington residents access to over 162,000 items in the Bridges collection!

For the last few years, the Washington Public Library Foundation has generously chosen to fund enhanced access to eBook and eAudiobooks through Bridges/Libby. The contribution from the Foundation allows our library get eBooks and eAudiobooks in the hands of Washington patrons more quickly.

• How this works:  Our library director looks at the list of holds periodically that WPL patrons have placed for Bridges titles.  If there are more than four (4) holds on a title, we’ll buy a copy that will be immediately available to fill ONLY WPL holds– so the first WPL patron on the holds list will receive the opportunity to check out the item immediately; when they’re done with it the item will go the the next WPL patron…. and on and on until all WPL holds are filled.  Only when there are no more WPL patrons waiting on the holds list will the copy be available for patrons in other libraries. 

• What this means for you:  When you place a hold on that book that you’re anxious to receive and it says “available in several months,”  don’t be discouraged– if the book is also popular with other patrons, you may go from several months to either immediately or in a couple weeks in an instant. So place that hold!

• And there’s more good news:  Overdrive recently implemented what they call a “pay per use” model where the Library can offer their patrons simultaneous access to certain titles (selected by the library) and the library only pays a minimal fee for each checkout. New and popular materials will have a higher fee ($9-$10/checkout) which is not an cost-effective choice for WPL, but older, lesser known titles may have a lower fee ($1-2 or so) and are very cost-effective as opposed to buying the title ($40-50) and seeing it check out only once or twice. Feel free to give us a call and see if the book you’re looking for may fall into that category.

We’re glad that you love Libby and we hope that you’ll continue to enjoy the benefits that a Washington Public Library card offers you!