Community Book Hunt Featuring MN Authors

To kick off the New Year, Washington County Library is hosting a virtual author series featuring Minnesota writers. Learn more about the authors and events on our calendar. 

You'll also have a chance to find a free book from each of these...

Our top checkouts and best loved books of 2020

The end of 2020 is near, and with it comes the change to reflect back on a year of reading. We've tallied the checkouts and gathered our staff favorites to present some of our best reads of the year. You can browse popular and recommended tiles f...

RBdigital e-audiobooks are moving to Libby

On November 12, Washington County Library will be moving digital audiobooks from RBdigital to the Libby app as part of our OverDrive collection. You will continue to be able to browse, borrow, and enjoy all the same great audiobooks you loved in the RBdig...

Creative connections: Art and books we want to re-read

Creativity in the arts opens doors to a different world outlook. We seek other’s ideas, especially at a time when we are focused inward due to COVID-19. Amy Zeuli, Andrea Garvey, and Sylvia Roman tell us what books they were inspired to read or ...

Creative connections: Art and children's books

Art, both in paintings and writing, speaks to the community in different voices. Yet both explore and light up the world through imagination, giving us the opportunity to examine ideas through a different perspective.

Kate Buechler, youth services libraria...

NorthStar Watermedia art exhibition at Wildwood Library

From October 3 to November 13, stop by Wildwood Library in Mahtomedi to see paintings on display with the NorthStar Watermedia Society's 6th annual National Juried Art Exhibition. 

Artists from 18 states will be represented in the exhibit...

Resources for your career and job search

Washington County Library is ready to help you conquer your job search, whether you’ve just started looking, are rethinking your career, or need help prepping for the interview. No matter your age or level of experience, we have something that c...

New databases offered through eLibrary of Minnesota

Beginning this month, Washington County Library is offering an updated selection of online tools through Minitex and the eLibrary of Minnesota (ELM). 

This update includes two exciting new online tools for kids from Capstone, a trusted children&am...

Resources on race for readers of all ages

In light of recent events in Minnesota and the difficult, necessary conversations they have prompted, staff at Washington County Library have assembled a series of lists highlighting books for all ages to help with this work.

As our colleagues at Saint Pau...

The top 10 ebooks we're reading while we stay home

Since mid-March, WashCoLib has seen a 41 percent increase in ebook checkouts on OverDrive and CloudLibrary. We thought it would be fun to take a peek at the ebooks that WashCoLib readers are downloading during quarantine.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia O...

Computers available by appointment at Washington County Library branches

Washington County Library branches will reopen with limited capacity on Monday, June 26. At that time, visitors will no longer need to make an appointment to use a computer. Learn more at WashCoLib.org/COVID19. 

Beginning Tuesday...

5 ways to celebrate Children's Book Week

Children’s Book Week celebrates books for young readers across the book world. This year’s Children’s Book Week, celebrated May 4-10, invites you to "Read. Dream. Share." the love of reading across your community.&a...

Check out popular magazines digitally with RBdigital!

While many users may only be familiar with RBdigital for audiobooks, the site also has a huge selection of digital magazines that are available with unlimited checkouts for new issues and previous titles. Digital magazines can also be checked-out as long ...

An update from Library Director Amy Stenftenagel

On Friday, March 27, Library Director Amy Stenftenagel sent the following message to all Washington County Library cardholders. You can learn more about the library’s response to COVID-19 and get an update on current services at WashCoLib.org/Co...

Beating cabin fever during COVID-19

Feeling a little cabin-fever? Kaylin Creason, a librarian at Lake Elmo Library, put together these free resources to keep you entertained and mentally healthy while you’re at home. Download or share the full infographic here!

Catch the opera (and...

Get library materials using curbside pickup!

Beginning Monday, June 29, Washington County Library branches will be open with limited capacity and reduced hours. Visitors can come to our buildings to pick up holds, browse materials, and use computers without an appointment. Learn more.  

A sm...

Modified services available during library closure

Update

On Tuesday, March 24, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to suspend all public-facing services at libraries and other county facilities through Tuesday, April 7. The library’s modified services, outlined below, will continu...

WashCoLib has a new mobile app!

We’re so excited to share that we have a new mobile app! With this new app, you can access your library account no matter where you are. The app also makes it easy to browse the library’s collections, check out or place a hold on items...

Our top checkouts of January and February

It’s time to look at some of our most popular checkouts of the year so far. The books that emerged as our most popular titles of 2019 continue to lead checkouts for the beginning of 2020, but one kids series was particularly dominant this month....

Nonfiction for fun! 14 librarian-recommended reads

This post was written by Cate Triola, a librarian at Park Grove Library in Cottage Grove. When she’s not matching readers with a great true story, she enjoys cooking and reading about ghosts. 

Just as with fiction books, what each nonfic...

Comic memoirs? Graphic biographies? 6 true stories to check out!

Comic memoirs? Graphic biographies? Many readers are familiar with the idea of comic books or graphic novels, but it can get a little trickier when you’re talking about true stories. But whatever you want to call it, illustrated memoirs and biog...

Newbery, Caldecott, and other award winning books

When it comes to picking the best books for kids, the number of choices can be a little overwhelming. Enter, the ALA Youth Media Awards!

The winners of these awards are announced each year at the American Library Association’s annual midwinter co...

Write, craft, learn at the library in February

Don’t let the wintry weather keep you inside all month –  February is a perfect time to get out of the house and learn a little something new. This month, we have a full slate of programs for adults that focus on writing, craf...

Get more for free with your library card!

When you think about using your library card, it's natural to think about what you can check out by coming into the library – books, magazines, video games, and more. But your library card also grants you access to digital tools and col...