Author: Site Administrator

Here is a gallery of photos from the 2025 Tween Lock-In.

I drove to Marysville on Thursday April 17 and Friday April 18 to attend a workshop for the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.  Washington Public Library will host this exhibit from December 19, 2025 through January 30, 2026, on the library’s second floor. Voices and Votes will be displayed at six different locations throughout Missouri in 2025. We’re fortunate that Washington was selected as one of the locations. Voices & Votes: Democracy in America explores the foundational principles of American democracy, tracing its roots from the country’s beginnings and examining key questions that continue to shape our nation today: Who has the right to vote? Representatives from all six exhibit locations were present. Together, we learned how to setup the exhibit. Fourteen people required four hours for setup. The next day we took a tour of the exhibit, and reviewed ideas for local matching exhibits and ideas for programs that complement the exhibit. This exhibit isn’t possible without partnerships. The Smithsonian developed this as part of their Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program. Missouri Humanities sponsored this program by making grants available throughout the State of Missouri. Finally, Washington Public Library had to apply for the grant and bring their energy to the program, and add local partners such as Downtown Washington. Bringing Voices and Votes to Washington required partnerships between National, State, and local institutions. Exhibits like Voices & Votes don’t just happen. Like Democracy itself, they are a complex relationship between partners, working towards a common goal of promoting Democracy in America. Thank You to the Smithsonian, Missouri Humanities, Downtown Washington, all our partners, and the citizens of Washington who have supported this library for 100 years and counting. Nelson Appell

Washington Public Library was Awarded a Technology Mini Grant on October 28, 2024. This grant will replace the public access computers with 15 new public computers. The grant was awarded in the amount of $19,783.00. The Friends of the Library donated $5,000 worth of monitors to the library in 2024, some of which will be used for this project. Thank you to the State Library and the Friends of the Library for partnering to upgrade the library’s public computers, which will benefit all patrons ability to access the Internet and print documents. “This project is sponsored by the Missouri Library Association’s Access & Innovation Fund grantprogram, which aims to enhance, support, and develop library technologies and innovation thatimprove patrons’ access to library services. The Missouri Library Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization operating topromote library service, the profession of librarianship, and cooperation among all types oflibraries and organizations concerned with library service in the State of Missouri.”

Washington Public Library was awarded a $4,080 Access and Innovation Grant through the Missouri Library Association. This grant is awarded to “…enhance, support, and develop library technologies and innovation that improve patrons’ access to library services.” This Grant will be used to purchase learning technologies for checkout aimed at children. The library will use these funds to purchase 14 Playaway Launchpad Tablets and 20 Playaway Whazoodle! Audio Listening devices. These will be shelved downstairs in the Juvenile Spotlight shelf. These will be available in early 2025. Girl playing with a Playaway Launchpad Tablet. The Whazoodle! Thank You to the Missouri Library Association for this award and for helping Washington Public Library reach out with new technologies. “This project is sponsored by the Missouri Library Association’s Access & Innovation Fund grantprogram, which aims to enhance, support, and develop library technologies and innovation thatimprove patrons’ access to library services. The Missouri Library Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization operating topromote library service, the profession of librarianship, and cooperation among all types oflibraries and organizations concerned with library service in the State of Missouri.”