AT THE LIBRARY: Washington Public Library celebrating anniversary

There was excitement, anticipation, and a rainstorm in the air 10 years ago in October when we opened the doors of the new Washington Public Library on the square. We were officially leaving the old library at 120 E. Main St. with many cherished memories and beginning a new era in our beautiful building at 115 W. Washington St. All of the planning, hard work, and money donated by the community, the library boards, the staff, and director-at-the-time Patrick Finney came to fruition that month. We are observing this auspicious anniversary with many festive events this month to celebrate.

Our big event will be an Alive After 5 and WPL reunion on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5-7 p.m. The Washington Chamber of Commerce and Washington Public Library's Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, and staff invite you to our gathering on the second level of the library. Hy-Vee and JP's 207 will provide refreshments, John Flannery will play the library's restored 1888 piano, and we hope to have several past library directors speak.

There will be no shortage of other free things to do in October. We will be holding two noontime concerts celebrating several of our Washington musicians. On Thursday, Oct. 3, we will host Randy Swift and The Tubador (Gary McCurdy) and on Thursday, Oct. 31, we will have a concert by Susan See on piano. You will have an opportunity to Meet The Police Department, an evening co-sponsored by the AAUW, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. This program will introduce the new members of the Washington Police Department and then they will hold a discussion on current public safety trends.

Our Star Wars Marathon is kicking off on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. On this and seven consecutive Saturdays, as we anticipate the release of the newest Star Wars film, the older ones will be shown in order on a big screen, free and open to families. The Iowa Center for the Book will present Earth's Bounty in Iowa: Then & Now on Thursday, Oct. 24, at noon. Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrber and Darcy Maulsby and participants can dialogue on Iowa's history of agriculture as well as the challenges and triumphs of farming. If you are looking to stock up your shelves with books for the long winter months, we will have a one-day book sale Friday, Oct. 25, starting at 10 a.m. We will be recognizing one of our local authors. Dave Stoufer will give a reading from his recently published, second book in a series, entitled 'Old Songs, New Tunes” on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. The library is going to be buzzing because patrons can still participate in regular programs like Sticks & Strings, Washington Writers' Workshop, Puzzle Club, Color Me Calm, and the A-Z Fiction Book Club. WEE Read will be in session as usual and there will be two early-out specials for school-aged kids including a Movie Madness and FriYah Fun! Check our calendar at www.washington.lib.ia.us for times and details.

We will have two exhibits. In the Helen Wilson Gallery will display Then & Now Photos of some regular patrons and a History of the Washington Public Library Project from 10 years ago. The second level cabinets will showcase some of our historic Scofield Collection.

Mark your calendars now and we will see you in October to celebrate our community and library!