Washington library continues to serve the public

The Washington Public Library has always been open to serve our public to check out books, do research, look for jobs, learn technology skills, watch a concert, wander through our art gallery, or simply relax and have time away from the outside world. We miss talking to our patrons every day, but we will continue serving the community via access to our digital collection and different activities on our Facebook and webpage. Our mission will continue to be providing educational, cultural, and social enrichment for all residents of the City of Washington and surrounding areas. It will just be done a little differently for this period of time while we are closed.

With the library being physically closed to the public, we are not able to provide physical book circulation or have programming in a face-to-face situation. Instead, we are providing tutorials on Facebook of how to use our digital collection so you can still use the library via our webpage www.washington.lib.ia.us and clicking on our digital collection. You will need a library card for utilizing these resources. Please call us if you've forgotten your library number. Our digital collection can be used for authentic resources for studying, creating resumes, looking for jobs, and downloading e-books and audiobooks. We are aware that not everyone has the internet. We do provide internet service at the library that extends beyond the walls outside into our parking area. Please feel free to use our internet in that area 24 hours a day.

As the weather gets nicer, we will be putting some print books outside for people to take one or two. If you know people that could benefit from donations from our Re-book room, please call us at 653-2726. The books from our Re-book room have been in isolation for a long time, and we feel they are safe to donate to people that are either homebound or children with no access to a home library.

We would like to urge creativity during this time of isolation. Reading books is a huge part of language, but writing is another big part of it. This is an optimum time to foster creative writing. Have kids write stories of their own creative nature. Find a topic, like a sprouting flower they see outside or a bug they saw crawl out of hiding from winter, and write a story about it and illustrate. If they'd like to share them to us at reference@washington.lib.ia.us, we will share them on our Facebook without using names. We all have to learn new ways to be creative. Keep watching our Facebook Page for story starters, more challenges, virtual concerts, art demonstrations, dance and art tutorials, and continuing information on how to navigate our digital resources. Please reach out to us with any questions on how to utilize Bridges or any other resources at 653-2726.