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!

At the Library 11/6/25

Discover the Weekly Scoop from the Washington Public Library

By

Beth Swift, Technology Librarian

The Washington Public Library (WPL) has made it easier than ever to stay connected with what’s happening in your library and what’s new on the shelves — thanks to the weekly newsletter published through Wowbrary.

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What is Wowbrary and why subscribe?

Wowbrary is a free weekly email newsletter that highlights new arrivals — books, movies, music — at your library. For WPL patrons, subscribing to Wowbrary offers these benefits:

• Be the first to know: Get a regular roundup of what’s newly added to the WPL collection — titles you may not yet have noticed. (Southeast Iowa Union)
  
  

• Save time: Instead of checking the catalog or browsing in the library, your inbox brings the updates to you.
  
  

• Reserve quickly: When you see something you like, you can place a hold right away — and beat the rush.
  
  

• Stay engaged: The newsletter often highlights upcoming programs and services at WPL — giving you more than just new titles. (Southeast Iowa Union)
  
  

• Tailored for readers: The format is designed to be easy to scan, featuring covers, mini-descriptions, links to reviews or catalog holds.
  
  

In short: subscribing means you’ll never miss what’s new or interesting at the library — whether you’re a casual reader or a dedicated library enthusiast.

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How to sign up   

Getting started is simple:

1. Visit the Wowbrary sign-up page for your library — you’ll find it at the Wowbrary website: “Sign up for your free weekly email about the newest books, movies, and music at the Washington Public Library.” (wowbrary.org)
   
   

2. Enter your email address (and confirm it). Then you’ll receive an activation email.
   
   

3. Click the activation link in the email to confirm your subscription.
   
   

4. Once confirmed, you’ll receive the newsletter weekly — delivered right to your inbox.
   
   

Also, you can visit the WPL website (look for a newsletter or “What’s New” section) to access the sign-up link and sometimes past issues or sample newsletters. (washington.lib.ia.us)

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A few important notes (and tips)

• The email arrives once a week (often on the same weekday each week) so you can expect a regular cadence. For example: The Southeast Iowa Union article noted the WPL newsletter landing every Tuesday. (Southeast Iowa Union)
  
  

• Check your spam or junk folder — Since it’s an automatic send-out from the library’s newsletter system, sometimes the email may land in spam. If you don’t see it in your inbox each week, make sure to add the sending address to your “safe list” or mark the message as “Not spam”.

If you were subscribed to the WPL newsletter in the past through constant contact, you were automatically switched to Wowbrary!  However, it may have gone to your spam folder. Make sure to check your spam folder and add the address to your “safe list” or mark the message as “Not spam”.

• If you change email addresses, you’ll want to update your subscription to continue receiving the newsletter.
  
  

• If you ever decide you no longer want to receive it, you can unsubscribe (typically via a link in the newsletter).
  
  

• Even if you don’t subscribe, you can still visit the library’s website to see what’s new. Subscribing just means it comes to you every week — one click away.
  
  

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Summary

Subscribing to Wowbrary via the Washington Public Library is a smart move for anyone who wants to stay in the loop. You’ll get weekly alerts about new titles, library programs, and services — delivered straight to your inbox. To sign up, simply visit the Wowbrary website or the library’s website, enter your email, confirm your subscription — and you’re set. Just remember to keep an eye on your spam folder and mark the newsletter as “safe” so you don’t miss a thing.  Let us know if you have any questions or need help! Call 319-653-2726 and someone will be glad to help you!

At the Library 10/24/25

 

Who Is It? : the WPL presents photos from the Memory Lab Project Ridiculous Day, 1957, names unknown By Mark Keedy   The Memory Lab at the Washington Public Library Make-It Space will host a casual gathering to help identify people, places and events in photos scanned from old Washington Evening Journal film. The session is the first of many planned to help add details to unpublished photos from the collection now being archived. Mark Keedy, a former Evening Journal intern photographer and writer, heads up a project to preserve images from 1957 to 2004, and will lead the “Who Is It?” session on a big screen in the Make IT Place in the lower level of the Library on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 2-3:30 pm. “We’ve scanned and identified thousands of images so far,” says Keedy. “But we’ve also found interesting photos that were never published, and some published photos that include people who were not identified in the original captions.” The captions, he says, are gleaned from the Journal Archive found on the web at seiowa.advantage-preservation.com. “The site has been tremendously useful, but we’d like to fill in some of the blanks,” he added, “and we’ve already found that community input is a valuable resource.” Librarian LeAnn Kunz will help facilitate the session, and says the format is expected to be casual and fun. “We’ve seen photos that no one except the original photographers ever saw,” she said, “and learning more about them is delightful.” She said that participants will see some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the project. The discussion may include ideas on how volunteers can contribute to the project. No pre-registration is needed, but seating may be limited to about 30 people. Kunz also notes that most of the equipment being used for the Evening Journal project is available to adult library patrons with a brief introduction to the process. The Memory Lab is used for creating digital files of photos, film negatives and slides, and also has equipment available for transferring home movies and videos to computer files. In addition, there are specialized devices for scanning books and audio tapes.  Tours of the Memory Lab and other resources of the Make-It Space are available on request. You can also follow the Washington Public Library Memory Lab Facebook page to see some of fabulous photos being digitized.

At the Library 10/23/25

Come Be Creative @ Community Clubs!

by Tammy Valentine

    The fall season seems to be a very creative time for everyone, but especially for the library.

Today during our Community Calligraphy session, we shared our tips and tricks while 

practicing our own calligraphy. Linda gave us a few tips that we can all use. She said to relax, 

breathe, and enjoy the process. She also said to not worry about mistakes and to not always 

point out the mistakes, as nobody will notice anyway. One thing she does differently is that 

she practices on the couch, all curled up, as opposed to sitting flat-footed at a table. Her 

words gave us all good feelings that we can practice in our own way, imperfectly but happily. 

The assignment for our next session is to write out a poem by Robert Frost, Nothing Gold 

Can Stay. It is short and sweet and perfect for calligraphy. 

    Later this month, our Community Crafternoon session meets on October 28 at 1 pm.  We

will be having a mini-lesson with Julie Mangold on Junk Journaling. We are

very excited to have Julie returning to once again teach us how to create junk journals.

We will have newcomers to junk journaling along with others who love to create

journals of all kinds. Some of us will even be incorporating what we have learned in

our Calligraphy class. So, no matter where you are in journaling, join us to create something 

unique to you. Register for the mini-lesson online www.washington.lib.ia.us or just show up 

with your own projects. Sharing is the best part of these meetings.

    On November 18, we will combine our Community Calligraphy and Crafternoon sessions to 

accommodate busy holiday schedules. We will use our junk journals to add some beautiful 

writing in the form of the poems we copied. We will also use our junk journals to give bullet 

point journaling a try! You are welcome to attend with your own projects or to join the mini- 

lesson. Come and be creative with us!