Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
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Washington Public Library
Mar. 20, 2025 1:54 pm
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Located at 115 West Washington Street, the Washington Public Library boasts a collection of 37,786 books, movies and CDs, and a digital collection of over 297,440 items.
Patrons to the building can check out materials, access free Wi-Fi or participate in regularly organized public events and activities for both adults and children. In the building’s basement is the Washington County Genealogical Society, which boasts an extensive collection of genealogical materials for area residents. Art and culture exhibits are regularly displayed in the Helen Wilson Gallery on the second floor.
The institution also hosts myriad events, like regular Thursday noon concerts and weekend writers workshops, as well as longer series of events, like Fiber Arts February, and a popular summer reading program.
Other features of the public library include an extensive genealogical research collection, reservable meeting rooms, and a puzzle cart. And last year, it added a robust makerspace, complete with 3D printers, pottery wheels, a small recording studio, sewing machines, a memory lab and other creative amenities.
Make sure to check out the mural on the back of the building, in the alleyway. The library is open 8 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 319-653-2726.

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