At the Library 6/25/26

Adults Have a Summer Reading Challenge Too!

by Tammy Valentine

There is nothing like a book, something special to hold, enjoying the feel of the pages, admiring the cover art, anticipating the story that will unfold. Books have been my companion for as long as I can remember. For those of us who were the quiet kids that kept to themselves, books were our sanctuary. I have loved reading since I was young, which I can prove with the books that were given to me as gifts when I was turning 5. I am part of a wonderful club of readers and we have banded together to participate in the Adult Summer Reading Challenge!

For the challenge I created a poster so that I can track our progress during June and July, all of us shooting for the goal of 220,000 pages. As you can see by the little notes with each person’s name we have many people on the team, a team that continues to expand. It’s never too late for you to join us. The readers make up people who are voracious readers, reaching 800 pages a week or more. There are people who read under 100 pages per week, remember every page counts! As you may guess, most people are somewhere in the middle. But the goal is ONLY to read, to enjoy an adventure on the page and in your mind.

All readers love to talk about the books they are reading, the books they have read, and the tall pile of “when I get time” books. I am no different. I use Libby for most of my reading and as I was scanning my holds, I discovered one book, by Allen Levi, is so popular that there are 2,350 people waiting to read one of 67 copies! But I am patient and will be thrilled when it finally becomes available. Libby’s audiobooks have helped me get in reading in the form of audiobooks. Due to a lack of time and tired eyes, audiobooks have given me the gift of experiencing so many books in a unique way, for which I am grateful. One of my favorites is
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. If you loved the book, you should listen to the audiobook. There is nothing like hearing that accent that whisks you away to the culture and heat of the south.

So, the summer reading challenge is moving right along. The number of pages that adults have read is 55,172! Patrons have been so excited to give me their numbers and see our progress. If you’d like to join us just give the library a call or stop in to sign up. All YOU have to do is READ!                                

At the Library 6/18/26

 

Behind the Scenes at the WPL

By Alison Greiner

When most people think about the library, they picture shelves full of books, storytimes filled with laughter, community events, and friendly faces at the circulation desk. They see families checking out books, students working on projects, friends gathering for programs, and community members stopping in to use computers or ask questions.

But have you ever wondered what happens in the background to make all of these pieces fit together?

While the building may be quiet, the work of the library continues behind the scenes. Library staff are busy with the many tasks that help keep the library running smoothly and ensure that our community continues to receive the services and programs they enjoy.

One of the most visible parts of our work is caring for the collection. Returned books are checked in, sorted, repaired when necessary, and placed back on the shelves. New books, movies, and other materials are ordered, cataloged, labeled, and processed before they ever reach our shelves. Staff also spend time evaluating the collection to make sure we are offering materials that are current, useful, and interesting to our patrons.

Much of our time is spent planning programs—often months in advance. Storytimes, craft programs, book clubs, Make IT Place events, concerts, guest speakers, Summer Reading activities, and special events all require a great deal of preparation. We research ideas, order supplies, create promotional materials, coordinate schedules, prepare activities, practice program delivery, and set up spaces. Even a one-hour program may represent many hours of work before anyone walks through the door.

Many of our programs also involve partnerships with local organizations, businesses, schools, and volunteers. Building those relationships takes time, but it helps us provide opportunities that enrich our community and bring people together.

The library is also a place where people come for help. Every day we assist patrons with technology, online forms, printing, faxing, scanning, job applications, research questions, and much more. Staff spend time learning new technologies and resources so we can better assist the people who rely on us.

Beyond direct patron service, we maintain our website and social media pages, create displays, update calendars, prepare newsletters, and respond to emails and phone calls. We work on reports, budgets, grant opportunities, and long-range planning. We organize supplies, maintain equipment, and look for new ways to improve services and meet the changing needs of our community.

Some evenings, you might find staff moving furniture to prepare for an event the next day. Other times, we may be assembling craft kits, testing equipment in the MakeIT Place, decorating for a special program, or discussing ideas for future activities. There are countless small tasks that most visitors never see but that help create a welcoming and successful library experience.

One of the things we love most about library work is that no two days are exactly alike. A morning might begin with processing new books and end with helping a patron learn a new technology skill. We may spend part of the day planning a concert, preparing for a children's program, helping someone discover their next favorite author, or solving a problem we never expected when we walked through the door.

Libraries have changed a great deal over the years, but our mission remains the same: to connect people with information, resources, opportunities, and one another. Whether someone visits to check out a book, attend a program, learn a new skill, use technology, or simply enjoy a welcoming space, we want them to feel that the library belongs to them.

So the next time you visit the library, know that the books on the shelves, the programs on the calendar, and the welcoming spaces you enjoy are the result of many hours of planning, preparation, creativity, and teamwork.

Thank you for supporting your library. We are honored to serve this wonderful community. Whether the doors are open or closed, we are always working to make the library a place where everyone feels welcome, inspired, connected, and valued.

At the Library 6/11/26

 Beat the Summer Slide with
Washington Free Public Library's
Summer Reading Program

By Jenisa Harris

As the school year comes to an end, children look forward to summer fun, family vacations, and a well-deserved break. However, educators often see a phenomenon known as the the summer slide—the learning loss that can occur when students are not regularly reading and engaging their minds during the summer months.

Research shows that students can lose 2 to 3 reading levels and academic skills they worked hard to gain during the school year. Just a few months without regular reading can make it more challenging for children to start the next school year feeling confident and prepared. The good news is that summer reading is one of the most effective ways to prevent summer slide. The Washington Free Public Library's Plant a Seed Read Summer Reading Program encourages children, teens, and adults to keep learning all summer long through books, hands-on activities, and engaging community events. Reading for just 20 minutes a day can help maintain literacy skills, expand vocabulary, improve comprehension, and foster a lifelong love of learning. Summer reading isn't just about books. Library programs provide opportunities for children to explore science, art, nature, creativity, and community connections. These experiences help keep young minds active while making learning fun.The library's goal is to collectively read 450,000 pages during June and July. Every page read helps children strengthen their reading skills while contributing to a community-wide achievement.

WPL's Summer Reading Club is free and open to everyone. Whether your child is an avid reader or just beginning their reading journey, the Washington Free Public Library offers a welcoming space to discover new books, learn new skills, and stay engaged throughout the summer.

Join us as we Plant a Seed and Read this summer and help prevent the summer slide—one page at a time. For more information about Summer Reading and upcoming events, visit the Washington Free Public Library or contact library staff.

At the Library 5/28/26

 Happy Birthday to The MakeIT Place!

Next month, we’ll be celebrating the second birthday of The MakeIT Place — and what an incredible two years it has been!

When we first opened the makerspace, we hoped it would become a place where people could learn new skills, explore creativity, and try out equipment they might not otherwise have access to. What we’ve discovered is that The MakeIT Place has become something even more important: a place where community is created alongside the things people make.

Over the past two years, certified users have logged an amazing 4,648 hours using the space. We now have 328 certified users, and 3,255 people have participated in programs, workshops, and classes connected to The MakeIT Place.

Those numbers represent far more than pottery pieces, laser-cut projects, or 3D prints. They represent conversations, friendships, collaboration, and the confidence that comes from learning something new. We’ve seen people teach one another techniques, share ideas across generations, and discover talents they didn’t know they had.

The impact of The MakeIT Place has also extended far beyond the walls of the makerspace itself. The 1,264 volunteer hours logged at the library in the last year have been primarily connected to MakeIT Place activities and projects. That spirit of volunteerism and shared ownership has helped us begin one of our most exciting community history initiatives: the Washington Evening Journal photo digitization project. Volunteers and makerspace tools are helping preserve and share local history for future generations.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking ahead. Makerspaces (and public libraries!) are always evolving, and we want The MakeIT Place to continue growing in ways that serve our community’s interests and needs.

What would you like to see added, changed, or expanded in The MakeIT Place? Are there classes, tools, technologies, or creative opportunities you’d like us to explore? We’d love to hear your ideas as we plan for the future.

Thank you to everyone who has taken a class, volunteered, experimented with a new tool, or simply walked through the door curious to learn. The MakeIT Place belongs to the community, and its success over the past two years is something we’re proud to celebrate together.

At the Library 5/21/26

 Another Successful Sinking

by Beth L. Swift

The Washington Public Library hosted its second memorable evening of history, music, and dining on April 14, 2026, with “Titanic Dinner: A Night to Remember.” Held on the 114th anniversary of the infamous Titanic tragedy, the event welcomed 45 guests, many dressed in the persona of an actual Titanic passenger whose name and brief biography they had drawn in advance.

Upon arrival, passengers were greeted by the Captain, Mark Keedy, while Newsboy Casen Randall distributed copies of the April 16, 1912, Post St. Louis Dispatch newspaper reporting the ship’s tragic sinking. Fortunately, this evening’s headline was much happier.

A live band performed authentic period Irish music arranged by Randy Swift, helping transport guests back to 1912. Passengers mingled over light hors d’oeuvres, introduced themselves by their historic identities, and likely discovered that making small talk is much easier when one arrives with a ready-made backstory.

Guests then enjoyed a modern interpretation of meals inspired by Titanic’s First, Second, and Third Class dining experiences. Catered by Mary Blosser, the menu offered a creative and flavorful glimpse into life aboard the famous ship, without requiring anyone to actually cross the Atlantic.

Clyde Pearce presented a fascinating slideshow on Iowa’s connections to the Titanic, sharing stories of both survivors and victims of the disaster. His program added depth and local meaning to an already immersive evening.

The night also featured an unexpected twist when two tornado warnings sent everyone to shelter in the library’s lower level. While it was not part of the original itinerary, the delay gave guests a chance to tour the Art Gallery and MakeIT Place downstairs, spaces many had not previously explored. One might say the evening included a brief, unscheduled “lower deck excursion.”

Despite the weather interruption, the event was widely regarded as a success, blending education, community, music, food, and just the right touch of adventure into a truly unforgettable night.

Many thanks to the volunteers who made this successful:  Mark Keedy (Captain), Casen Randall (Newsboy), Ruth Jones (server), Clyde Pearce (presenter)  Randy Swift, Tom McNamar, Byron Stevens, Scott Teater, Holly Rehyner, (live music) Nancy and John Faselt for their display, Jess McClelland (photographer) James Erbacher (displaying of his Lego Titanic ship) (and photographer and he who named this article) and Tammy Valentine whose work behind the scenes made this huge event possible.

At the Library 5/14/26

Iowa Author to Visit the WPL!

Many of you may recall the fear and uncertainty that swept through Iowa when two local Des Moines paperboys were abducted in the 1980s. Johnny Gosch was abducted in 1982 while delivering papers and he was one of the first missing children to ever appear on milk cartons. Eugene Martin went missing in 1984 and both cases are still opened, but unsolved. Despite the tragedy of these crimes, these cold cases helped shape national missing children policies and the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

Iowa author Kali White VanBaale was a child visiting the Des Moines area when the second abduction occurred and recalls in staying a hotel across the street from where Eugene Martin was taken. She distinctly remembers being frightened and worried, knowing that someone was stealing children, and that memory haunted her for years to come. From this came the idea for one of her most popular novels, The Monsters We Make.

Kali White VanBaale is the author of three novels including The Monsters We Make, and the newest collection Release of Information and Other Linked Stories. She’s the recipient of an American Book Award, the Iowa Author Award, and two State of Iowa major artist grants among others. She’s the editor-at-large of The Past Ten essay journal and print anthology, and writes the column Minding the Gaps for the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Kali is a core faculty member of the Lindenwood University MFA in writing program where she was named adjunct professor of the year in 2022. 

Join us on Saturday, May 30 at 10 am as Kali White visits the Washington Public Library as our May Author Spotlight. She will read from her new short story collection, answer audience questions, and sign books. Copies of her work will be available for purchase.

www.kaliwhite.com

Facebook&Instagram: @kaliwriting

Substack "Minding the Gaps": @kaliwriting

At the Library 5/7/26

 Pivot!

by Tammy Valentine 

PIVOT! This is the word of the day, everyday, here at the Washington Public Library. It seems when a plan is made, something comes up requiring last minute changes. The team I work with every single day is the best at making those changes positive, always resulting in a better version of the original idea.

Pivot number one. As the library representative for the art committee, I am usually the first to hear from artists about any changes with their exhibit schedule. I received last-minute exhibit changes, which ended up with the LIBRARY STAFF stepping up in a big way! We will be creating an art display in the Wilson Gallery for the months of May, June and July. “Summer Reading Through the Years” is the title of the exhibit. We will be documenting the creation of this exhibit, as it will be done piece by piece instead of installing the complete work. This will be our very first exhibit as a team and I am so excited to see what we come up with.

Another pivot is that the art committee has a new display space that we are responsible for, which is the Dallmeyer Display Case on the 2 nd level in the Dallmeyer Reading Lounge. This display case is original to this building and previously held the Scofield collection and the Native American collection, both of which moved to our new display cases. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Fred Stark offer to fill the empty case with items from his very extensive collection of Washington historical memorabilia. As a side note, Mr. Stark was my band teacher so must be called Mr. Stark by me. Just like the library staff exhibit, due to the very short notice Mr. Stark will be working on this display over the course of a few weeks. But we are fortunate that this exhibit will be up through December of this year, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy it.

Our last art committee pivot is for the Art Underground Gallery. When the artist scheduled for May and June wasn’t able to share their work I reached out to the current exhibitor, Donavon Swift, and he offered to extend his scheduled time for us. Because I’ve heard how much people have enjoyed artwork for tattoos, I am excited that Donavon’s work will stay up longer.

The one thing that worked out according to plan is Clyde Pearce’s foyer display! The display is about radiation, based on a lifetime of working in this complex field. Clyde will also be giving a program titled “Radiation Art” on May 4 th at 6pm. I know that by the time you read this May 4 th will have passed. But don’t miss this amazing display!

Keep your eye out for the development of these exhibits!