Join a conversation about the Vietnam War at Bayport Legion

Twin Cities Public Television, Washington County Library and Washington County Veterans Services invite you to a community conversation that explores the Vietnam War and its legacy from several points of view on Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30 – 8...

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the library

Ever wonder why “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers”? Or who advised to “gather ye rosebuds while ye may”? Spend some time reading poetry, and you might be able to answer those questions! ...

Get started with Job & Career Accelerator

Washington County Library offers a number of databases and tools to help job seekers or career explorers get ahead. One popular database is Job & Career Accelerator, an online job search and training resource you can access using your library card.&am...

A Day at the Library: Kerri Maher, Hardwood Creek Library

Kerri Maher is a library services assistant at Hardwood Creek Library in Forest Lake. She has been working for Washington County Library since 2016.

Library Services Assistants, or LSAs, are the people who sit at the service desk, assisting with checkouts ...

A Day at the Library: Henok Fanta, R.H. Stafford Library

Henok Fanta is a library services supervisor at R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury. He’s been working for Washington County Library since January 2018. Before coming to the library, Henok worked for the Washington County WorkForce Center.

11:45 a.m. | I che...

A Day at the Library: Kristin Jones, Park Grove Library

Kristin Jones is a librarian at Park Grove Library in Cottage Grove. She’s been working for Washington County Library since 2008. Before becoming a librarian, Kristin worked as a clerk and an assistant librarian.  

It’s 9 a.m. on a Monday, and bef...

Jobs, careers, and technology programs in April

As part of our April spotlight on the jobs and careers resources available at the library, we wanted to highlight the classes and programs we offer that can help you improve your job search, or just ad new skills to your resume when you go on the job mark...

Spotlight On... Jobs and Careers

Whether you’re considering a career change, job hunting, or just wondering what to be “when you grow up,” Washington County Library has tools, resources, and programs to help you navigate these important life decisions.

Tap in...

April community engagement events for building projects

In March, Washington County Library held the first round of community engagement meetings for projects at Park Grove, Wildwood and Valley libraries to gather community input on what residents hope to see in new library facilities.

Interested residents have...

Great reads for the armchair traveler in all of us

One of the great things about being a reader is that you can travel to exotic places (and times!) without ever leaving the comfort of your armchair. 

As part of our spotlight on travel resources this month, we’ve rounded up the lists of ...

Spotlight: Check out digital magazines and audiobooks

Save money, reduce clutter, or keep your carry on light the next time you travel by checking out digital magazines and audiobooks from the library using RBdigital. 

Washington County Library’s RBdigital magazine collection contains over ...

Spotlight: Use Transparent Language free with your library card

Getting ready to take a trip and want to learn a few simple phrases before you go? Need a refresher on the French or German you learned in college? Know a teenager who could use a little extra help in their high school Spanish class? 

Before you p...

Our most popular books of February 2018

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that doesn’t mean the readers of Washington County were any less active. Here are some of our most popular titles in romance, graphic novels, and children’s CDs from February 2018.&am...

ALLDATA is back!

Automotive do-it-yourselfers, rejoice. The ALLDATA database is back and available on library workstations once again to help you with your automotive repair and maintenance. 

ALLDATA is a comprehensive database resource that includes step-by-step ...

Spotlight: Explore the world with travel-themed storytimes

As part of our monthly spotlight on the travel resources available at the library, we'll be offering a number of travel themed storytimes this month. 

Join us at one of these fun programs to explore new places through stories and songs without eve...

Spotlight On...Travel

Washington County Library can help you explore new places, or prepare for a great adventure, all through tools and materials available to you as a library cardholder. If you plan to travel for an upcoming Spring Break, or just want to get away from it all...

Spotlight: New-ish book club becomes official

Nine members of the Friday Morning Senior Book Club gathered at R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury on the second Friday in February to discuss their latest book, as they have for many years. But for the group that has been coming together since 2006, this ...

Spotlight: Book club picks available through Ebooks Minnesota

Book clubs interested in getting their next read through Ebooks Minnesota, an online ebook collection of more than 2,500 titles available to all Minnesotans, have a new resource at their disposal. 

Ebooks Minnesota has created Book Club Kits for t...

Community input sought on library building projects

Washington County Library is asking residents who live near or use the Park Grove, Wildwood, and Valley libraries for their input as the library system moves forward with individual building projects at each of these three locations. Community engagement ...

Spotlight: Why Ebooks Minnesota is a perfect tool for book clubs

Ebooks Minnesota is an online ebook collection for all Minnesotans. The collection covers a wide variety of subjects for readers of all ages, and features content from Minnesota's independent publishers, including some of our best literature and nonfictio...

It’s not too late to join in on Winter Reads

With two weeks left in our annual Winter Reads program, there’s plenty of time to add your book review to the entries for a chance to win a reward book pack. It’s easy to participate in the seasonal adult reading program. Simply stop b...

Spotlight: Checking out Instant Book Club Kits

Oh, book clubs. Love to be in one, hate to organize one? Well, look no further than the Washington County Library Instant Book Club Kits. Everything you need to get started for your own book discussion group is included in the kit’s canvas bag. ...

Our most popular books of January 2018

Curious what other readers in Washington County have been checking out so far this year? We’ve got you covered! Here are some of our most popular titles in nonfiction, audiobooks, and children’s fiction from January 2018. 

Nonf...

Spotlight: Finding book recommendations using NoveList Plus

Ever wonder how librarians are able to offer a perfect book recommendation in any genre you desire? In addition to being book lovers, many also rely on tools like NoveList Plus, a collection of read-alike recommendations that is also available to Washingt...

Read to Me totes offered to new and expectant parents

Thanks to a partnership between Washington County Library and Washington County Public Health and Environment, new and expectant parents utilizing the county’s Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program will receive a tote bag full of useful reso...

Video games provide a gateway to the library

Last fall, Washington County Library launched a new addition to our physical collection – video games! When the games for PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Wii U began circulating in October, we hoped they’d be embraced by current library u...

New library cards designs unveiled

All Washington County Library patrons are invited to pick a card, any card from seven newly designed library card options (click HERE to see the designs up close). The recently redesigned library cards offer patrons a chance to choose a library card that ...

Spotlight On...Book Clubs

Washington County Library offers great resources to help you launch or sustain your book club. Our tools can suggest your next title based on your clubs’ preferences, or offer up books written by Minnesota authors. We have book club kits that do...

Behind the Scenes at the Library: Tech Services

This piece originally ran on Washington County's employee news site in December 2017.

They talk like a team, they work like a team, but, most importantly, they feel like a team.

Marti Nystrom, Char Haukom, and Luann Corcoran are the people behind the scenes...

County Board hires firm for Valley Library study

Read on...

Grand re-opening marks new chapter for Lake Elmo Library, Washington County Library

The hard work of many partners came to fruition on Saturday, Jan. 20, when the Washington County Library system opened the doors of Lake Elmo Library as its newest branch location.

Washington County Library conducted a grand re-opening to celebrate the tra...