County to include Park Grove Library renovation in 2022 bond

Washington County has planned for a $5 to $6 million renovation for the existing Park Grove Library facility in the most recent Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The Board of Commissioners held a workshop to review a draft of the 2020-2024 CIP on Tuesday, Oc...

Additional time allows for Park Grove Library location discussions

The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted the final 2019 – 2023 Capital Improvement Plan at their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 11, which removed the Park Grove Library building project from the list of projects slated for funding in 2019....

Existing libraries offer inspiration for future of Park Grove Library

Nearly 70 people attended the second community engagement meeting for the Park Grove Library building project on Monday, April 16. 

Jennifer McMaster of HGA Architects gave a brief presentation at the start of the event, highlighting some of the m...

Nearly 90 people attend first community engagement meeting

More than 90 people visited Park Grove Library on Tuesday, March 20 to offer their ideas about how to building a new library of the future on the site. At the open house event, visitors were invited to write down answers to five questions on posters aroun...

Community engagement events scheduled for Park Grove Library

Residents and patrons are invited to contribute their thoughts and opinions through a series of community meetings that will be conducted in early 2018. 

The community engagement events are scheduled:

Tuesday, March 20, from 4 - 7 p.m. at Park Grov...

Architecture firm selected for Park Grove Library project

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Hammel, Green, and Abrahamson, Inc. to design a new building for Park Grove Library in Cottage Grove. 

Target Completion Date: Fall 2020

The Park Grove Library was built at its current location on Hemingway Avenue in Cottage Grove in 1984. When the building was evaluated by Washington County Public Works, it was estimated to need millions of dollars in future repairs, not including updates...

Valley Library remodel set to begin September 9

Renovation of a new home for Valley Library is set to begin on September 9 and should be finished by late-November. 

In July, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a construction agreement with Kraus-Anderson to relocate and expand...

Kraus-Anderson will construct new Valley Library next door to current site

On July 9, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a construction agreement with Kraus-Anderson for $836,580 to relocate and expand Valley Library in Lakeland Plaza, where the library is now.

The new location will be directly adjacent to the ...

Board of Commissioners will consider moving Valley Library within Lakeland Plaza

At an upcoming meeting, the Washington County Board of Commissioners will consider moving Valley Library to a new location in Lakeland Plaza rather than expand the library through renovation.

In November 2018, the Board of Commissioners approved a new 10-y...

Target Completion Date: Summer 2018

Valley Library has been in its current location in Lakeland for close to 30 years. The current location needs physical improvements for energy efficiency, accessibility, and to address general wear and tear of the building. The library space needs improve...

Wildwood Library celebration postponed to summer 2021

A grand opening celebration for the new Wildwood Library has been postponed until 2021.

Although Washington County Library staff and partners would like to celebrate the new library with an official grand opening ceremony, current COVID-19 restrictions rel...

Wildwood Library to reopen July 20

Wildwood Library will officially reopen to the public with limited capacity on Monday, July 20.

As with all Washington County branches, the new library will reopen with limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, visitors can enjoy picking...

VIDEO: May 2020 construction tour at Wildwood Library

Now that construction at Wildwood Library has mostly moved inside, it can be harder to see the amazing progress being made at this new building. 

This video tour showcases the spaces inside Wildwood Library before we start bringing in furniture, a...

Colorful details are being added at Wildwood Library

The personality of Wildwood Library is starting to show as contractors begin implementing some of the more artistic and colorful details.

Contractors have installed a warm, wood ceiling as well as light fixtures and large windows that let in lots of natura...

Library staff tour Wildwood Library construction

On March 3, Washington County Library staff took a tour of the new Wildwood Library. Staff with Washington County Building Services shared construction progress so far and highlighted what the finished space will look like.

The main entrance to the library...

County Board approves contracts for new Wildwood Library

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved contracts July 2 for building a new Wildwood Library in Mahtomedi.

The new library will be built on the current library site; the library will close July 20, and be closed for about a year for construct...

Target Completion Date: Fall 2020

The Wildwood Library was built at its current location on Stillwater Avenue in Mahtomedi in 1990. When the building was evaluated by Washington County Public Works, it was estimated to need millions of dollars in future repairs, not including updates to t...

Jazz and Friends National Day of Community Readings

On Thursday, February 25, communities across the United States join The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools program for Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings in support of transgender and non-binary you...

Celebrate Black History this month and all year long!

Are you looking for ways for your family to celebrate Black History Month? Our librarians have compiled three lists of exceptional books for you: 

• Black Joy
• Contemporary Voices
• Black History

There are also a variety of online resources that might hel...

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...

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...

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....

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...