At the Library

Award-winning Independent Filmmaker 
Steven T. Berry To Present at the WPL

 by Tammy Valentine                                                      

    One of the best things about working at the Washington Public Library is having the opportunity of meeting very talented people. We often have musicians, artists, authors, photographers and writers visiting us.

    On April 5^th we have the pleasure of featuring Steven Berry, writer, author, and filmmaker.  Steven is the son of artist Jean Berry, whose artwork hangs in the library. He is also the brother of Venise Berry, who participated in our Author Fest last year.  Meeting this family has been a great pleasure and an inspiration for how creativity can be encouraged throughout a family.

    Steven is an award-winning independent filmmaker who writes, directs, and acts. Steven worked on the Iowa Public Television series “Telling Our Story-Black History Segment”, Episode 3, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2022.  

    On Saturday, April 5^th, he will attend the library’s Washington Writer’s Workshop at 10 am to speak on screenwriting, then he will give two presentations on his film work starting at 11:30 am including "Influential Impact: The Cyclization of Black Films" and "In Front of & Behind the Camera: An Acting/Directing Retrospective." Steven Berry’s presentations will be an interesting introduction to filmmaking as the following weekend, April 12th and 13th, is the Farm to Film Fest.

At the Library

 How Important are LSTA Funds to the Washington Public Library?

by Cary Ann Siegfried

    Because of the recent Executive Order signed on 3/14/24 to eliminate or reduce the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), we've had some questions recently about whether our library receives federal funding through the IMLS. The quick answer is, no we do not receive federal dollars that we can spend in our budget. The real answer is a little more complicated.  

    The IMLS administers the Grants to States program which is authorized through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The LSTA was enacted in 1996 and the Grants to States program uses a population based formula to distribute more than $160 million among the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) every year (the entire budget of the IMLS is about $295 million, this makes up over half the the IMLS budget). SLAAs are official agencies charged by law with the extension and development of library services and generally are the state libraries in each state. SLAAs may use the funds to support statewide initiatives and services, and they may also distribute the funds through competitive subawards to, or cooperative agreements with, public, academic, research, school, or special libraries or consortia (for-profit and federal libraries are not eligible). In Iowa, the funds have most recently been spent on state-wide initiatives that impact virtually every public library in the state. 

    The State Library of Iowa, over the last few years has averaged about $2.1 million dollars annually in LSTA funding (this is a little less than half their annual budget). The attached images (provided by the State Library of Iowa) outline how this funding is spent.  So while we do not receive actual federal dollars in our annual budget, LSTA funds provide us many FREE and SEAMLESS services that our patrons use every day. Here are some highlights: 

• Probably the service most important to many of you that is funded by LSTA funds is  the Bridges (i.e. Libby) eBook, eAudiobook and eMagazine service.  Each month over 2,000 items are checked out on Libby by WPL patrons. The platform fee and magazine collection is paid with LSTA funds while content fees (i.e. purchases of eBooks and eAudiobooks) are paid by the libraries who participate in the service.

• Because of LSTA funding, we were able to remove the $2 fee for most Interlibrary Loans because of the FREE courier service provided-- so you get whatever book you want from anywhere in the state-- sometimes in just days. Last year we processed over 700 interlibrary loan requests for our patrons and loaned over 100 books to other libraries. 

• Our library event calendar, program registration service, meeting room booking and Wifi monitoring system is provided FREE.  

• Our website hosting and content management system (and the training to maintain it) is FREE to us.  

• LSTA also funds the structure and marketing materials provided by the State Library for our Summer Reading program.  

• The professional development offered by the State of Iowa to new library directors and staff is invaluable, especially in small towns where there may not be anyone local to train the new director.  

    Yes, most of the items listed above are replaceable, though at a cost– our library could purchase our own calendar and event system; we could host our own web server and buy a content management system; we could create our own summer reading theme and design and could package ILL books and send them through the USPS. Of course, we would need additional local funding and quite a bit of staff time to manage all of this, both the initial implementation as well as the ongoing tasks.

    Unfortunately, the Bridges consortium is not likely to survive in its current form and quality with a loss of LSTA funds. Certainly, the platform fee could be split between participating libraries, but it’s likely that this would place Bridges participation out of the price range for many libraries and the loss in participation would make it even more difficult for all of us to afford. This service is exactly the type of offering that LSTA funds were intended for– to bring digital services to states with a high rural population. 

    At this point, it’s important to stress that the LSTA Grants for States program has NOT been discontinued. This program is required by statute and the way the Executive Order was stated, the intention was to reduce IMLS functions to those that are required by statute. And the most recent appropriations bill has funded the IMLS through September 2025.  This is an issue that public libraries across the state of Iowa will be watching closely.  The Washington Public Library is funded primarily through City of Washington property tax revenue, with smaller allocations from Washington County and from the Washington Free Public Library Foundation. 

At the Library

  

Thursday Noon Concert Series at Your Washington Public Library

by Alison Greiner

Chad Elliot performs at the WPL

    I had a friend from out of town visit me at the library last week who had never been in our library before.  She was taken aback by our space's beauty, openness, and comfortable atmosphere.  She commented on how the light shines through our vast front windows and makes everything glow.  I would have to agree.  One can't help but be warmed and refreshed once they enter.  Of course, I had to give her the whole tour, and I made sure I showed her my favorite spot.

    Upstairs, near the windows, we have a restored Steinway & Sons piano that was originally built in 1888.  It is a marvelous instrument.  It's a grandiose statement in size, but it is probably one of the best-sounding pianos I have ever heard.  Listening to and playing such a fantastic instrument is such a treat.  Since libraries are usually quiet, there are limited times we allow the piano to be played. Still, we savor those times when you hear lovely music playing in the background.

    If you haven't attended one of our Thursday Noon Concert Series on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, you need to put that on your must-do list.  They start at 12:00 p.m. and go until 1:00 p.m. We have all kinds of performers from our area, not only pianists. It is always a delightful way to spend the noon hour. You can always see the upcoming performers on our event calendar or in the event section for the library on our Facebook page.

    If you are interested in performing, you can get more information at the library desk. The librarians can explain the process our music committee uses to review and approve various musicians and give you any other information. We also have a piano marathon in December. Pianists can sign up for a half-hour slot to play the piano throughout the day. Make sure you keep your eye out for that at the end of the year.

    Come in and enjoy a comfy, quiet spot to read in the library, or stop in over your lunch hour on the second and fourth Thursday of the month for a chance to hear one of our noon concerts.  See you there!

Thursday Noontime Concert Series

At the Library

     

Spring Into Something New at the Library!

                    By Mia Schrock

        Spring is finally here! The days are getting warmer, the sun lingers a little longer in the sky, and there’s a fresh energy in the air. It’s the season of renewal, a time to clear out the old and welcome in something new. While many people associate spring with deep cleaning and decluttering, it’s also the perfect opportunity to refresh your mind, pick up a new hobby, or dive into a subject you’ve always wanted to explore. And what better place to start than the library?

    At the library, we offer countless resources to help you step outside your comfort zone and try something different. Our second-floor non-fiction section has books covering nearly every topic you can imagine—whether you want to learn how to bake sourdough bread, start a vegetable garden, or pick up a new language. If you’re looking for a more leisurely way to explore something new, why not experiment with a different book genre? You might just discover a new favorite!

    But the opportunities don’t stop with books. The library is also a place for hands-on learning and creativity. Our Make-It Place has become a hub of excitement, offering engaging workshops in clay-making, sewing, painting, and other creative projects. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, these classes provide a welcoming space to learn, create, and connect with others in the community. Plus, they’re a great way to unwind and embrace the joy of making something with your own hands.

    We also host a variety of other programs throughout the month. Whether it’s a book club, a writing workshop, or a live music performance, there’s something for everyone. If you’re not sure where to start, visit our website and check out our event calendar, where you can explore upcoming classes and register for those that interest you. 

    So this spring, I encourage you to embrace the season of new beginnings. Read a book outside your usual genre, learn a skill you’ve always been curious about, or take a class just for fun. And if the first thing you try isn’t for you, there are endless possibilities waiting. You never know what you might discover about the world—or yourself.

    Come visit us at the library and start your next adventure!

           

At the Library

 Dreaming of Seeds

by LeAnn Kunz

    After the bitter temperatures we experienced last week, many of us are dreaming of spring. That means gardening! It is fun to start planning what you want to plant when the soil starts to thaw. We have several books in our collection on devising gardens and we just received some brand-new books on the topic.

    One way you can start planning is to look through your seeds in storage. I just brought up the library’s seed exchange boxes from our reserve, taking inventory with hopes that the seeds are still viable. Every year we encourage our community to plant seeds, grow plants, and finally harvest the seed for the following year. In this process, we hope you will consider donating seeds to our Seed Exchange Library. Sharing seeds is such a wonderful way to promote gardening, whether someone is a pro or a beginner. Plus, harvesting seed is not difficult with many plants. For example, I plant zinnias every year from seeds that I harvest myself. When autumn rolls around most of the zinnia flower heads dry out naturally on the stems and I simply cut off those tops. I also cut blossoms that are not yet dry and dehydrate them in the sun. All of these go into a dry container which I store indoors in a cool cupboard. In the spring, or sometimes earlier, I take the dried blossoms and pull them apart, revealing seeds that are ready to be put in the ground! Some other flower seeds that are easy to harvest are sunflower, marigold, poppy, and coneflower. You can easily harvest seeds from vegetables you grow such as tomato and pepper seeds or pumpkin and squash seeds. As long as you harvest only mature seeds, dry them, and store them well, you can become a regular seed harvester. You might even become addicted to the process. 

    As I anxiously wait for spring, I have recently been looking for other seed I can harvest right now from produce that I purchase at the grocery store. Did you know you can harvest lemon seeds? I had a lemon tree for awhile that I grew from seed. It never produced fruit, but it was a fun little tree to put out on the patio in the summer. I am planning on trying grapefruit seed next, as well as starting an avocado pit in a glass of water. I find that the process is sometimes just as fun as the product.

    With your generosity, we can continue to exchange seed with others in Washington with our WPL Seed Exchange Library. You can donate store-bought or harvested seeds, in packets or in bulk, ornamentals or edibles. You might also find a seed treasure from our stash you have been looking to try in your dream garden. Let’s share and grow together!

At the Library 2/20/25

 Beauty and Community at Your Library!

by Tammy Valentine 

    I was delighted when LeAnn told me I was next to write our At the Library column,

which would be due on Valentine’s Day. Having Valentine as my last name has always been 

fun for me, making February a special month. Even though February is usually such a bleak-

weather month, we are fortunate to have added some beauty to the library. LeAnn’s Fiber  

Arts February has always been a big hit, adding beauty to the inside of the library as well as 

around our square. You must take a look around the square as well as inside the library to  

see all the beauty of the fiber arts displays. They are breathtaking!

    

    A program that has added warmth to February is the Community Calligraphy Club. One of 

our purposes of the Make IT Place was to create a sense of community, bringing people 

together with common interests. This led to LeAnn and I creating a Community Calligraphy  

Club. The program has brought together people of all ages, creating a very 

engaged  community. This self-directed program has been well received by people who have 

had experience with calligraphy as well as those who have never done calligraphy at all. As 

we  say, “We are all in this together”, each person helping another. If you would like to 

attend, check out the calendar on our website for the program dates and times. It would also 

be helpful to contact the library in advance, so we can be sure to have the materials you 

will  need to get started.

    Speaking of creating community, the All Iowa Reads winners have been announced. This 

program brings readers all over Iowa together, reading the same titles. The adult fiction  

winner is Timothy Johnston, of Iowa City, who won with Distant Sons. The copies of

the book will be coming soon so contact the library if you’d like to check out a copy and 

to participate in the discussion on March 17  at 6pm. Nothing feels like community than the 

whole state of Iowa reading together!

At the Library

"Tell Us Your Story" Podcast is Telling Washington Stories!

Gary Murphy Tells His Story
on WPL Podcast

by Alison Greiner

    Do you have a favorite podcast that you like to listen to? Have you heard about a podcast but always wondered what it was about?

  

    A podcast is a digital audio file shared on the Internet. It is often shared in episode format so the listener can follow along with the latest installment. Sometimes, podcasts have one person speaking, and sometimes, multiple people speak.

  

    With the addition of the recording studio in our Make IT Place here at the library, LeAnn Kunz and I have started a library podcast called “Tell Us Your Story.”  Our podcast gives us an opportunity to interview people in Washington who have a story to share. The people of Washington are a big part of what makes our town special. We hope that this podcast will be a way for us to ensure that we are keeping these stories so people can continue to hear them for years to come.

  

    To create our podcast, we needed to take a few steps. Once we had the idea for what our podcast would be about, we needed to make sure we knew how to use the equipment in the recording studio. Luckily, Craig McClenahan and John Flannery were there to help out. After a few lessons on how to ensure everything was working properly, we were ready to record!

  

    At first, we were a little nervous about how it would go, but it has been easier than we expected.  Once we get to talking with our guests, it becomes easy to let the conversation flow.  We record our interviews in a program called Audacity.  It is an editing program.  Usually, there aren’t many changes to make. The edit feature helps splice together multiple interviews for one episode. Once we edit, the next step is to add it to Spotify.  Spotify is a free place where we can keep our podcast so the public can access it.

Barb Swift & Krista Kessell Tell the 
Story of Carlton Bump

    So far, we have seven episodes in our first season.  You can find our latest episode by following this link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/312pfyc5fwdfqn5otnebtnzmi/episodes/Journey--10-000-Stitches--and-Inspiration-e2uddvt 

    We would love for you to follow us on Spotify and like and share our podcast.  Sharing our podcast will spread the word to others so more people can learn about the wonderful people in our town.

Nancy Albert Talks
About Fiber Arts February

Mary Kay Hymes Interviews About
Her Upcoming Presentation for 
Fiber Arts February