At the Library 10/1/26

Quilt Walk Returns to the Community

by LeAnn Kunz

The Washington Public Library Quilt Walk returns this week, offering three days of beautiful quilt displays and fiber art exhibits throughout the community. After two successful Quilt Walks held during Fiber Arts February, this year's event will take place on October 1, 2, and 3, taking advantage of Iowa's pleasant autumn weather.

Participants can pick up a map and explore the exhibits at their own pace, visiting locations in any order:

Washington Public Library, 115 W. Washington Street
United Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main Street
United Methodist Church, 206 W. 2nd Street
Art Domestique, 118 S. Iowa Avenue

At the churches, visitors will have the opportunity to view more than 80 quilts created by talented community artists. Art Domestique's display window will feature stunning works by Mary Kaye Hymes.

The Washington Public Library will showcase the quilts of Carol Moellers in both the Helen Wilson Gallery and the Art Underground Gallery. With more than 20 years of experience as a professional quiltmaker and pattern designer, Carol has been published in McCall's Quilting, Quilter's Newsletter, and Sew Iowa. She has earned multiple awards at AQS, IQF Houston, Road to California, and Iowa and Minnesota state quilt shows, and she designs for prominent fabric and pattern companies.

Exhibit hours are:

October 1: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
October 2: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
October 3: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Whether you bring a friend or a vanload of fellow quilt enthusiasts, this community celebration of fiber arts promises to be a memorable autumn experience.

At the Library 9/17/26

Adult Services Position Opens at the WPL

by Tammy Valentine

The Washington Public Library is overflowing with a wide variety of materials and services that get used every single day. Some of the most used services include our remote printing servicecalled Princh, our free scan-to-email service, and our faxing ability which only costs $1.00 per page.These services help those needing prints for their job interviews, copies insurance paperwork, or to print a picture of their grandchild. When we hand over prints to our patrons, and they thank us with tears in their eyes because they didn’t know how to print something, we know we have done well by our patrons. Patrons may also need to scan forms into their email, which is available here for free. Some agencies require documents sent via fax instead of email, which we do here for so many people. When a fax is sent and received, and the patron receives their confirmation page, they really have a sigh of relief knowing the job has been completed successfully.

Our library has certainly shown love for the arts, with monthly concerts, ongoing art exhibits, and regular programs like Fiber Arts February and the Washington Writers Workshop. The concerts will sometimes see over 40 patrons attend, with performances by local schools and musicians from all over Iowa. People from other communities make a point to come in to see our art exhibits, which change regularly. These exhibits include artists from Iowa, along with Fiber Arts February exhibits which can include a quilt walk in October. The Washington Writers Workshop, led by LeAnn, attracts many writers from all over Iowa to come and work with our local writers.

One of our biggest additions, the Make IT Place, has become a gathering center for crafters, potters, and those who are learning to sew. The people attending programs have become patrons we see regularly and have even become our friends, which is really the purpose of this wonderful space.

I can’t say enough good things about our library, as I am leaving the library, opening it up for another person to put their unique stamp on the Adult Services Librarian position. I have learned so many skills and created special, lifelong relationships with co-workers and patrons. I especially want to thank my director, Cary Ann Siegfried, who has mentored me, giving me excellent guidance at every turn, and being the role model of someone I aspire to emulate.

As I have always said, I am the luckiest girl in the world.

At the Library 9/10/26

Welcome to the PlayIT Place!

By Alison Greiner

We’re excited to introduce a new space at the Washington Free Public Library designed especially for our youngest visitors—the PlayIT Place!

PlayIT Place is a free early childhood play space for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers. We created this space because we know that play is an important part of how young children learn and grow. Through pretending, building, climbing, creating, and exploring, children are developing language, motor skills, problem-solving abilities, social skills, and imagination.

And what better place for that than the library?

How does PlayIT Place work?

Bringing your child to PlayIT Place is easy! No registration is required. Families can visit during the library’s regular hours and enjoy the space whenever it is open.

When you arrive, simply stop at the library’s front desk. A staff member will have you complete the PlayIT Place User Agreement and Liability Waiver before your child plays. Once your family has completed the waiver, you’ll be ready to enjoy the space on future visits.

PlayIT Place is designed for children birth through age 5, and a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must remain with and supervise children while they play. The space is intended to be a place for children and caregivers to explore together—not a drop-off childcare area.

Come play, explore, and imagine!

Inside PlayIT Place, children will find opportunities for imaginative play, movement, hands-on exploration, and creativity. Whether your child wants to pretend, build something, explore the light wall, practice climbing and coordination, or simply play beside another child, there is something for them to discover.

We hope families will think of PlayIT Place as another part of what makes the library theirs. You can come for a story, choose some books, spend a little time playing, and head home—or make the library part of your regular routine.

There is no right way to play, and there is no expectation that your child will accomplish anything while they’re here. Just come, explore, and let your child play.

We can’t wait to see you in the PlayIT Place!

At the Library 9/3/26

Early Out Hangout: Free Friday Fun at the Washington Public Library

by Jenisa Harris

Early Out Fridays are more fun at the Washington Public Library! Early Out Hangout offers free activities for students in grades K–12 on Fridays when school lets out early. Each week brings something different, giving kids and teens a place to spend their afternoon creating, learning, exploring, and having fun with friends.

September kicks off with Movie Madness on Friday, September 4, from 1:45–3:10 p.m. We’ll be watching How to Train Your Dragon! Students can settle in and enjoy the movie with friends at the library. This event is free and open to students in grades K–12, and no registration is required.

On Friday, September 11, from 1:45–2:45 p.m., Early Out Hangout continues with Craft & Construct. This hands-on program combines creativity, building, and play. Kids can get crafty with art supplies or put their engineering skills to work building with LEGOs. Craft & Construct gives participants the freedom to use their imaginations while practicing creativity and problem-solving. The program is free, open to grades K–12, and no registration is required.

The month wraps up with Maker Mentors on Friday, September 18, from 1:45–2:45 p.m. Maker Mentors connects young people with local professionals who share their careers, skills, and experiences. It gives kids the opportunity to learn from real-world experts, ask questions, explore different careers, and discover new interests.

For September’s Maker Mentors program, Linda Drish will demonstrate the potter’s wheel and introduce participants to the world of ceramics. Kids will get an up-close look at how a potter transforms clay on the wheel while learning more about pottery and the creative process.

Early Out Hangout is free and open to students in grades K–12. Activities and registration requirements may vary from week to week, so families are encouraged to sign up for the Washington Public Library’s newsletter. The newsletter includes upcoming event information, reminders, activity details, and information about whether registration is required.

Whether your child loves movies, art, LEGOs, pottery, or simply spending time with friends, there’s something new to discover during Early Out Hangout at the Washington Public Library!

At the Library 8/27/26

A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes

By Marissa Reisen

Every September, libraries across the country celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month, and your Washington Public Library will be spreading the joy across the community all month long! This year’s theme is “A library card hits all the right notes!” which emphasizes that no matter what your tastes are, you can find something to enjoy at the library. Helping to share that message is Icelandic-Chinese composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey, who is serving as honorary chair for sign-up month. An avid reader herself, she founded her own book club in 2022. Libraries have celebrated Sign-Up Month since 1987 when then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, stated: “Let’s have a campaign… Every child should obtain a library card and use it”. The American Library Association took the words to heart and worked with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science to initiate the campaign following receipt of an $85,000 grant from the Reader’s Digest Foundation.

Libraries aren’t just physical books anymore - here are some of the things you can enjoy with your library card:

BOOKS: (We do like to stick to our roots and have a phenomenal selection of physical books for you to choose from - everything from the new hits to the contemporary classics). But physical books aren’t all! Your library card gets you access to Libby, where you can find even more books in digital form. Have access to an entire library at your fingertips wherever you are!
Audiobooks: whether you want a digital copy or a book on CD, we’ve got you covered with an amazing selection.
Kanopy: a streaming service featuring documentaries, movies (old classics and newer releases as well), shows, live music performances and more, all free with your library card!
The Make-It Place: your library card opens the door to a world of creativity with everything from a buttonmaker to a laser cutting glow forge and a recording studio. We have classes all month long, so get a library card and come find your new passion!
The Play-It Space: a fun new area just for the littles in your life. Play, explore, and learn in this beautiful new space!
We also have DVDs, music CDs, mobile hotspots, and craft kits, all ready for you to check out with your library card.

This year, we have partnered with businesses across the community to bring extra incentive to your library card! Your library card will get you even more benefits all month long.

https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card

https://www.library.illinois.edu/ala/2015/08/24/library-card-sign-up-month/

At the Library 8/20/26

Discover Washington’s Past—Without Going Far

by Cary Ann Siegfried You don’t have to be a serious genealogist to enjoy digging into local history. Maybe you’ve wondered who lived in your house 100 years ago. Maybe you’re trying to identify a relative in an old photograph, find an obituary, learn more about a downtown building, or settle a family debate about something that happened in Washington decades ago.

A good place to start is the Genealogy & Local History page on the Washington Public Library website. We’ve gathered a growing collection of resources there that can help you explore both your family’s history and the history of our community.

Start with the experts: Washington County Genealogical Society

The Washington County Genealogical Society maintains an extensive collection of genealogical and local history materials in the Grayson Archives on the lower level of the Library. The Society and the Library are separate organizations, but having the collection right here in the Library makes it a wonderful resource for local researchers.

The collection includes local family histories, cemetery records and many other materials that you aren’t likely to find through a simple Google search. Some other popular items include old City of Washington City Directories and yearbooks from local high schools.

Not sure where to begin—or researching Washington County from hundreds of miles away? Genealogical Society volunteers can also conduct research for you. The current research fee is $10 per hour, with photocopies available for 25 cents per page, plus postage when needed.

Ancestry at the Library

You may already be familiar with Ancestry, the popular subscription genealogy website. What you may not know is that the Library provides access to Ancestry Library Edition while you are in the Library.

Ancestry Library Edition gives researchers access to many of the same historical records found through a personal Ancestry subscription—including census records, birth, marriage and death records, immigration records, military records, directories and much more.

There are some important differences. Ancestry Library Edition is designed for research in libraries rather than for maintaining your own personal family tree. You won't have all of the personalized features of a regular Ancestry account, and access is available only while you are at the Library. But if your main goal is searching historical records, it can be an incredibly useful resource—and there is no subscription charge to you.

Read the news from decades ago

Want to know what Washington residents were reading in 1935? Looking for a wedding announcement, obituary, business advertisement, high school sports story—or just curious what was happening around town during the year you were born?

The Southeast Iowa Digital Archive provides free online access to digitized newspapers from Washington County and the surrounding area, including many years of the Washington Evening Journal. Because the newspapers are searchable, you can look for a family name, business, address, organization or event and see what turns up.

See Washington through the newspaper photographer’s lens

Newspapers tell our community's story in words, but photographs tell another part of that story.

The Library is currently building the Washington Evening Journal Photo Archive, a digital collection of photographs taken by WEJ photographers. Eventually, the collection will include photographs spanning 1957 through 2004. At the moment, our digitization work has reached 1966, with thousands more negatives still waiting their turn.

These aren't just photographs of major news events. They document everyday community life—schools, businesses, organizations, celebrations, sports, construction, local personalities and ordinary moments that otherwise might have disappeared from view. While many of these photos were published in the newspaper, others were never published and may have never been seen by anyone other than the photographer.

Try searching for a family name, a business, a school or an organization. You never know who—or what—you might find.

Research the history of a Washington building

Curious about the building where your favorite downtown business is located? Own an older home on Washington's west side?

Our local history page also provides access to research and photographs created as part of historic preservation projects involving the Washington Downtown Historic District and Westside Residential Historic District.

The Downtown Historic District materials include Iowa Site Inventory forms and photographs prepared during a 2011–2012 research, survey and nomination project funded through a Historic Resource Development Program grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa. Buildings are indexed by address, making it easy to look up a particular property.

Similar resources are available for the Westside Residential Historic District, providing a fascinating starting point for homeowners—or anyone interested in Washington's architecture and changing neighborhoods.

Explore Iowa history beyond Washington County

You'll also find a link to the State Historical Society of Iowa, whose collections and online resources can help take your research beyond Washington County. Statewide historical records, photographs, documents and research tools can help fill in the gaps when your family—or your research—takes you elsewhere in Iowa.

What will you discover?

Local history doesn't have to mean writing a family genealogy or doing academic research. Use these resources to:

Find the newspaper announcement from your grandparents' wedding.
Learn what businesses once occupied a downtown storefront.
Research the history of your house.
Look for photographs of a parent or grandparent when they were young.
Find out what was happening in Washington on the day you were born.
Research a local organization, school, church or business.
Track down an obituary or cemetery record.
Browse old newspapers simply for the fun of seeing advertisements, prices, fashions and community news from another era.

And sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for in the first place.

Visit the Library's Genealogy & Local History page and start exploring. Washington has more stories to tell—and we're working to make more of them easier to find.

At the Library 8/13/26

Boomers Break the Internet—On Purpose This Time

by Beth Swift, Tech Librarian

WASHINGTON, IOWA — Reports that technology belongs exclusively to younger generations have been officially debunked after millions of older adults were spotted using smartphones, streaming television, joining video calls, and sending messages containing more emojis than their grandchildren.

Experts confirm that “boomers” are not technologically helpless. Many helped introduce personal computers into workplaces, adapted from rotary phones to smartphones, and survived decades of printer error messages without throwing the printer out of a window.

“The idea that older people can’t use technology is ridiculous,” said one 72-year-old tablet owner while simultaneously checking the weather, ordering groceries, and ignoring a family group chat.

Technology skills are not determined by age. They are developed through access, practice, patience, and occasionally asking, “Where did the button go after the update?”

Cybersecurity warnings also apply to everyone. Scammers target people of all ages with fake delivery notices, romance schemes, urgent bank messages, phony job offers, and suspicious links promising free prizes or concert tickets.

Before clicking, pause and check the sender. Never share passwords, verification codes, any personal or financial information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Remember: if a message says “ACT NOW!” in seven different fonts, perhaps do not act now.

Need a Little Tech Help? Ask the Library!

Have a new iPad, Kindle, or device that seems to have a mind of its own? Want help setting up an email account or learning how to use library resources such as Libby, Kanopy, Mango, or Mometrix? Curious about MakeIT Place and what you can create in this fabulous space?

The Washington Public Library offers walk-in times on Tuesdays from 4pm-6pm and Thursdays from 10am to Noon. Individual technology-help appointments are also available upon request for these questions and more.

Library staff are happy to help with general technology questions, but they cannot assist with private or sensitive matters such as banking, taxes, Social Security, medical records, legal forms, or anything involving personal financial information.

Basically, if it requires your password, your bank account, or a deep breath before clicking “submit,” library staff may need to step back.

Individual appointments are available by calling 319-653-2726.

Technology is for all ages. Somewhere right now, a teenager is teaching a grandparent how to use an app while the grandparent explains how to restart the Wi-Fi.