At the Library 2/12/26

Renew Your Library Books with 2-Way Texting

By Beth L Swift, Tech Librarian

Keeping track of due dates just got easier! Our library’s automated system allows you to renew your borrowed books directly from your phone using the Gabbie 2-Way Texting.

 No calls, no queues, no stress—just a few taps.

Whether you’re at home, at work, or on the go, renewing your library items has never been more convenient.

Why Use the Automated Renewal System?

The automated renewal system is designed to save you time and help you avoid overdue fines. With the Gabbie 2-Way Texting system you can:

• Renew eligible books
  
  

• Check due dates
  
  

• View your borrowed items
  
  

• Manage your library account without visiting the desk
  
  

• It’s fast, secure, and user-friendly.

How to Renew Your Books Using Gabbie 2-Way Texting

Once you receive the notification about having items due, simply reply using ONLY

the command choices given.  The reply options are; 

RENEW DUE

OR 

RENEW ALL

The system does not recognize RENEW without the ‘due’ or ‘all’ nor will it recognize any additional wording within that specific message.  For example, replying, “RENEW ALL PLEASE” or adding “Thank You” negates any automatic renewal. But we appreciate the effort of chivalry. 

Other Commands

Text or reply STATUS to discover if or what items are out on your account.  You do not have to wait for a notice from the library first. You can initiate these conversations! 

(Disclaimer: I use LIBBY which is why I do not have any physical items out) (Just sayin’)

You may text or reply HELP and it will repeat the reply options again. 

STOP is definitely a command you can use but why would you?  This is useful.                   TEMU is annoying.

Using the proper replies will make renewals happen even while the library is closed!            Avoid unnecessary charges! Even if text conversation prompts a “library is closed” message, it will still get delivered to a librarian during open hours.

At the Library 2/3/26

Fiber Arts February Has Arrived!

 By LeAnn Kunz

Fiber Arts February has arrived and we have some fantastic things for you to enjoy all month at your Washington Public Library. This annual celebration is possible with the help of those in the community who have a love and appreciation for fiber and textiles and are willing to share their talents and pieces. This year we are offering a large number of exhibits and several workshops that are all free and open to the public. We kick off the month with Sticks & Strings at noon on Friday, February 6.  Participants can bring their own crochet, knitting, and sewing projects, etc. to work on and enjoy fellowship with other fiber artists. Also, on February 6 we will be featuring Grace Tully in a Living Window. Grace is a spinner and weaver and will be demonstrating spinning yarn in the front windows of the library from 8 am to 4 pm. She is also planning two other dates for the Living Window, which includes February 21 from 9 am to 1 pm and February 26 from 8 am to 4 pm, so you will have lots of opportunities to see her spin.

For workshops, we are hosting two, 3-part sessions of Sewing a Foundation Piecing Quilt Block with Jean Frazer in the Make IT Place. The first session is already full, but we still have spots available on February 17-19 at 5 pm for learning how to sew a “Candy Heart Box” quilt block using a foundation piecing technique. Register on our February events calendar. There are 6 spots available and you need to be certified on our machines to take this class. If you are not yet certified, participants can simply come at 4:30 pm on the first day of class for a lesson in threading our machines and winding the bobbin

On Saturday, February 21 at 9:30 am we will offer Clever Little Books with Mary Patterson. Partipants will each make a small, hardbound, blank book from start to finish, with your choice of cover designs and page color. Free and all materials will be provided, but if you have paste papers or scrapbook papers you’d like to use for your cover, bring it. Actual examples of this book form are on display at GunnySac Designs on the north side of the square in Washington. There are 12 spots available for this workshop and you can register on our February events on the website at www.washington.lib.ia.us.

The library is excited to be focusing this year on a large variety of fiber arts exhibits during the month. Artist Erik Jon Olson returns to the Helen Wilson Gallery on the second level of the library with a new exhibit, From Refuse to Resource. Using quilted plastic waste, Olson merges environmental advocacy with contemporary art. His work challenges viewers to reconsider not only their relationship to plastic, but also to consumerism, mass consumption, and capitalism. His entire process follows a practice of minimal waste. Using secondhand sewing machines, each piece is assembled entirely from discarded plastics and overstock or leftover thread. He even saves every bit of scrap for incorporation into future works, reinforcing the message of sustainability in the art itself. The results are amazingly beautiful “quilts”. We are fortunate to have this exhibit from February-March of 2026.

In our lower level gallery, Art Underground, we are featuring Grace Tully and Leslie Bruch. Both artists are weavers and also practice other fiber arts. Beauty/Useful by Grace Tully will showcase everyday objects such as rugs, towels, shawls, and scarves that are handmade at a slow pace that allows her to have joy in the fibers and tools she uses to knit, sew, spin, and weave. She is also displaying some of her gorgeous homespun yarn.

Leslie Bruch is primarily a weaver and her exhibit is titled The Curious Weaver: a Journey in Tapestry. She will display handwoven tapestry created on traditional looms, incorporating non-traditional and castoff materials. Her intricate pieces will showcase beauty in the overlooked. Both Tully and Bruch’s exhibits will be up during the month of February.

Our foyer display, The Possibility of Beads by Sandy Lnenicka, will overflow into our second level Siegle cabinet. This exhibit will present mind-boggling pieces in bead weaving and design, including not only jewelry but also sculptures. Every piece is made from simple fishing line, beads, needle and thread, but the results are far from simple. They are extravagant and elegant.

The WPL continues its partnership with Art Domestique during Fiber Arts February. Mary Kay Hymes returns to show off another quilt exhibit, but this time they are wearable! Stop by the  Art Domestique Gallery during the month to view Artistically Created Quilted Wearable Jackets. You will be amazed at her creativity and artistry.

Last year I began the tradition of a Community Fiber Art Project with Hoopla, and this year we have created a new project with the Bubbleverse! Early in the summer of 2025, we put out a call for fiber artists to create “bubbles, orbs, globes, spheres” etc. from fiber. We received more than 36 fun and colorful “bubbles” that were recently assembled into one gigantic art piece hanging in the skylight shaft at the library. Patrons can view it from the first level looking up or the second level looking down It is a dreamy, bold and vibrant exhibit. Stop by and get lost in the Bubbleverse!

Also every year, the regular group of Sticks and Stringers unveil a whimsical exhibit for children and adults alike to enjoy.  We have been hard at work over the past months creating Fantazmo, a magical world complete with a castle, dragons, fairies, imps, and unicorns. Make sure to bring your kids and enter in the drawing to win some of those fun fiber pieces.

Stop by the Washington Public Library or call 653-2726 if you have any questions about the upcoming events and exhibits and celebrate Fiber Arts February 2026 with us!

At the Library 2/5/26

Blind Date With a Book is Back!

by Jenisa Harris

Single? In a relationship? “It’s complicated”? No matter! During the entire month of February, you can head to the Washington Public Library and have a blind date with a book!

“Blind Date with a Book”, is back, and it’s not just for adults this year! Teens will have their own

selection of books. “Blind Date with a Book” will go on the entire month of February. Just select a wrapped book from our “Blind Date with a Book” display and check it out. Take it home, unwrap it, and enjoy! If you don’t like the book, simply return it to the library. Its feelings won’t be hurt.

These books are specially chosen by the library staff as being particularly deserving of a date with a willing reader. From romance, nonfiction, mystery, history, or out of this world fantasy! Inside the cover of each book will be a “Rate-your-Date” card for you to fill out after you are finished reading your book. You can tell us if your “Blind Date with a Book” swept you off of your feet, was love at first sight, or a total dud.  After you fill out your “Rate-your-Date” card make sure you drop it in the Blind Date with a Book box that will be at the front desk of the Library. The more books you read and the more “Rate-your-Date” cards you fill out and turn in the more chances you have of winning a sweet treat! At the end of the month we will draw one of the “Rate-your-Date” cards and that lucky patron will win!

So stop by the Washington Public Library the month of February and you might fall in love with literature.

At the Library 1/29/26

No Shelf Control:
a New Way to Book Chat

 

by Tammy Valentine

Most people who work in a library love to share their love of books with anyone walking in the door. Many times, I have had these discussions which have led to great author recommendations from patrons. It is always fun to then share the information with other patrons and see their eyes light up with the prospect of a new author.

Seeing how so many people talk books online we decided to create a special place for our patrons. We created WPL’s Online Book Chat No Shelf Control! This group is comprised of Washington residents, WPL patrons, or people with ties to Washington. The purpose of this online book chat is to create a community, one of book lovers who have ties to Washington. Washington residents have always been a close community and the library is excited to expand our connection to you.

WPL’s Online Book Chat No Shelf Control is a place you can share what you are currently reading, just finished, or didn’t finish. It is also a place to share reviews, good or bad, as it is always interesting to hear what people think about a book you loved or hated. The conversations that will ensue will be most interesting, I am sure. Also, feel free to ask for recommendations from other people for a specific author, genre, or series. You never know when you might get a recommendation that ends up being one of your favorite books of the year.

No Shelf Control is up and running on Facebook as a group that you can join today! To join our Facebook group just answer a few questions and wait to be added to the group. Many of you are already part of a Facebook group and know how they work. If you don’t have experience with Facebook groups and need help just call us at 319-653-2726 and we can walk you through it.

At the Library 1/22/26

Noon Concert Series continue in 2026 on WPL's 1888 Piano

John Flannery & Jessica Faselt at Noon Concert

by Alison Greiner

If I were asked what my favorite parts of the Washington Public Library are, I know without a doubt that our piano and Noon Concert Series would be right at the top of that list.  Music has always been one of the most important parts of my life.  I truly can’t imagine a world without music.  It brings me great joy to work in a library that celebrates the arts and actually owns one of the most beautiful grand pianos I have ever had the opportunity to play.

These concerts and our piano are special parts of our library because one person had a dream of having a piano in our previous location.  Susan See had a vision of what is now reality.  Here is an excerpt from an email Susan sent a few years ago describing how the piano idea came about.

“When we lived in Washington, and years before the new library was built, I approached Patrick Finney, the head librarian at the time, with the crazy idea of putting a piano on the second floor and having free concerts.  

Instead of rolling his eyes or laughing at the idea, he told me that a new library might be in the works and to hold on to that "piano idea."  When the right time came, I got permission from the board to see who might be interested in paying for a grand piano.  Within twenty-four hours, we had the money we needed.  Jean Potratz generously offered to pay for the piano, and Margaret Wolf paid for the duet bench and the cost of having two handcrafted music stands designed and made.  What a thrill!”

Thankfully, Susan See had an idea and acted on it.  The piano and the concerts have become a staple in our library and community.  

As we continue our tradition of the Noon Concert Series, this year we have decided to change the schedule.  Our concerts will now be the first Thursday of each month at noon.  Make sure you are on the lookout for bonus concerts that may occur at other times of the year.  We are hoping this new schedule will allow those with conflicts with our previous schedule to attend and also give performers new opportunities to share their talent.

The trio “My Romance” will perform at our next concert on Thursday, February 5th.  Make sure you come and enjoy some great music and the opportunity to hear our piano in action.  Invite others you know, as it is sure to be a perfect way to start out our 2026 Noon Concert Series.

At the Library 1/15/26

 Swapping and Sowing Seeds this Winter!

by LeAnn Kunz

It is time to think about gardening! Wait, you are saying, it is winter in Iowa. Yes, it is winter in Iowa and we want the community to swap some seeds to build your inventory for spring and teach you some winter sowing techniques. The library and P.L.A.N.T. (People Learning and Nurturing Together) are sponsoring a Seed Swap event on National Seed Swap Day, Saturday, January 31, from 9 am to 12:30 pm at the Washington Public Library.  P.L.A.N.T. is a non-profit that brings together volunteers, rental gardeners and visitors, creating opportunities for hands-on learning and relationship building. The organization’s emphasis on accessibility and education helps remove barriers to gardening and encourages participation from people with a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Besides the community garden, P.L.A.N.T. also offers gardening events, including this one with your Washington Public Library. Your and your entire family are invited to come-and-go as you please to swap seeds, share seed stories, color and create plantable seed art, and take a winter sowing workshop. 

The main event is the swap and if you have seeds to share, bring them in a labeled container with crop type, variety, and year grown. Also bring extra ziplock bags or seed envelopes for sharing. If you do not have seeds to share, but would like to try or plan to do some gardening, stop in! You are still allowed to pick up some seeds from those available from P.L.A.N.T. and learn about the community garden in Washington and/or find some seeds in the WPL's seed library. 

As part of this day we will also offer two Winter Sowing Workshops with Emily Hughes, one at 9:30 am and one at 11 am. Winter sowing combines a low-effort, nature-propelled germination method with an opportunity to recycle common household waste items as mini-greenhouses. This is suitable for beginners and established gardeners alike. In the workshop you will learn how to winter sow seeds. Bring a milkjug. Seeds and soil will be provided. 

Register for the Winter Sowing Workshops @ https://washington-ia.whofi.com/calendar/event/5619870?method=embed

In addition, adults and children (those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult) can come and create plantable seed art! Stop in between 9 am and 12:30 pm. You will be coloring then  gluing seeds to your piece to create a miniature masterpiece. These are great to display on refrigerators until spring. Then, simply rip up your art, put in the ground, water, and see your masterpiece come to a second life in a few weeks! All supplies provided for this fun activity.

Mark your calendar for this free event sponsored by the Washington Public Library and P.L.A.N.T.

At the Library 1/8/26

National Sci-Fi Day Display @ Your WPL

by Marissa Reisen

Set your blasters to stun in honor of National Sci-Fi Day, celebrated annually on January 2 (renowned sci-fi author Isaac Asimov’s birthday). WPL is poised and ready to fuel your sci-fi journey this month with our first level display devoted to the genre! 

Think sci-fi is just outer space laser battles? It’s that and so much more! Science fiction blends science - everything we know to be fact - with fantastical elements that wonder what all it can, or even WILL be some day. Elements from classical sci-fi can be seen all over our modern world today. Not too long ago subjects like instantaneous global communication and artificial intelligence made the best sci-fi, and today it’s our reality.

Whether you’re looking for a classic or a modern day marvel, we’ve got everything from what many consider to be the original sci-fi novel - “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, to our newest simulacrum - “When We Were Real” by Daryl Gregory, and run the gamut with everything in between. Shelley’s well-known story, published in 1818, tells of Dr. Frankenstein, who pieces together a creature from spare parts and brings it to life, only for it to grow more out of control and monster-like as it searches for a mate. This book questioned the morals and ethics of what we could and should do as human beings, which is a key component of many science fiction novels. When only our imagination limits what we can do, how far is it acceptable to take these actions? Gregory’s novel tells the story of two friends who embark on a cross-country journey shortly after a global announcement that revealed that the world they’re living in is a simulation. The bus they’re traveling on is full of quirky characters who are all having their own revelations in light of that information. Of course, if neither of those are quite what you’re looking for, we have plenty of books with outer space laser battles!

While science fiction may not seem quite so far-fetched in this day and age, you can still escape to another world with ease. If you can’t find quite the story to quench your palate here in the library, live your own sci-fi adventure and check out a book on Libby! And if you get a taste for sci-fi and want to dive in further, there is a SciFi Book club here at WPL that meets multiple times throughout the year.