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| Introducing Kanopy |
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We’ve now added the streaming service Kanopy to our digital library! With a library card from Stillwater, Bayport, or Washington County libraries, you can access a wide selection of films, TV shows, documentaries, and educational content—available anytime, anywhere!
Each month, Kanopy users have access to 30 "tickets" that can be used to stream content. Most movies require between two and four tickets per title, while TV series typically require five tickets per season. The checkout period is 3 days for movies and 3-5 days for a TV series.
Kanopy is available exclusively to Washington County, Bayport, and Stillwater library cardholders. To use the service, users create an account with their email, name, and a password. Accounts are for library card holders 18 and older and must comply with Kanopy’s terms and conditions.
Getting started with Kanopy is easy.
Computer: To stream videos on your computer, visit the Kanopy website.
Phone: To stream on your phone or tablet, download the Kanopy app for iOS or Android devices.
TV: To stream on your smart TV, use the Kanopy app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and more.
Once you select “Washington County Library – Minnesota,” log in with your library card number and PIN. Then, create a Kanopy account using your name, email, and password, allowing you to log in across multiple devices.
Streaming with Kanopy is another way your library card saves you money and enhances your life. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re able to offer services like Kanopy that wouldn’t be possible without the strong support of our community.
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In the Gallery |
The bold colors and minimalist lines of Ian Valor's works are on display in the gallery through April. The art explores the question "Am I just seeing things?" and plays with perception to challenge how we see and interpret the world.
Ian grew up in Stillwater and spent countless hours poring over the library's art books. Meet Ian at the artist reception on Thursday, March 20 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. |
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Discovery Room |
The Discovery Room will transform into a garden oasis in mid-March. Pretend play will be in full bloom as visitors grow and sell veggies and flowers at our Garden Center.
The Discovery Room is open during library hours for kids and caregivers to play and learn together.
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Friends Book Sale & Donations Drive |
The Friends of the Library's Spring Used Book Drive and Sale is coming this April! Donate your gently used books on Saturday, April 5, at the library parking ramp. The sale kicks off with a members-only preview on Wednesday, April 9, from 5-7 PM and opens to the public Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12. All proceeds support library materials, programs, and services. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to support the library and find your next favorite book! |
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GET CREATIVE ... WITH THESE BOOKS |
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“Every artist was first an amateur.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
March is National Craft Month. Try a new craft or start a project with our collection of books on arts and crafts of all types. |
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| One-on-One
Tech Help Fridays | Fridays
2 PM |
Register
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| Medicare Counseling (Individual Sessions) | Monday, March 3 (First Monday of Month) 10 AM - 1:30 PM |
Register
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| Shelf IndulgenceBook Club | Monday, March 10
(Second Monday of Month) 6 PM |
Register
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| Healthcare
Directives | Wednesday, March 12 6:30 PM |
Register
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| Mystery
Book Club | Wednesday, March 19
(Third Wednesday of Month) 6 PM |
Learn More
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| Acrylic Class with Karen Chan | Thursday, March 20
(Online) 5:30 PM |
Register
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| Spring into Summerwith Master Gardeners | Wednesday, March 26 6:30 PM |
Register
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| Jigsaw
Puzzle
Competition |
Saturday, March 29 10:30 AM |
Register
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| Introduction to Foraging | Wednesday, April 2 6:30 PM |
Register
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| St. Croix River Trip Planning 101 | Thursday, April 3 6 PM |
Register
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| PreschoolStorytime | Wednesdays 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM |
Learn More
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| Baby & Toddler Storytime | Thursdays 10:30 AM
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Learn More
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| Chess Club | Tuesday, March 4 & 18
(First & Third Tuesdays) 4 PM |
Learn More
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| Second Saturday Storytime | Saturday, March 8 10:30 AM |
Learn More
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| Teens Write Reviews with The Loft
| Wednesday, March 19 4 PM |
Register
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| Birds on Branch with Silly Millies | Saturday, March 22 10:30 AM |
Register
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| Owl Pellet Dissection | Wednesday, March 26 3 PM |
Register
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| Family JigsawPuzzle Competition | Saturday, March 29
2 PM |
Register
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| Family Book BingoComing in April! | Saturday, April 19
2 PM |
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COMMUNITY READ - APRIL 2025 |
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Nothing to See Here |
Get ready for April's Big Read! The NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley is a one book, one community program that brings together residents from throughout the St. Croix Valley around a common book.
This year’s pick is Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. This is the story of 28-year-old Lillian Breaker who accepts a job to look after ten-year-old twins who burst into flames when angry or upset. Everything Lillian knows about love, family, and empathy is upended.
“It’s a giddily lunatic premise, one that author Kevin Wilson grounds with humor and deadpan matter-of-factness…But what dazzles most are the warmly rendered dynamics of an ad hoc, dysfunctional family that desperately wants to work” (USA Today).
Wilson “distracts you with these weirdo characters and mesmerizing and funny sentences and then hits you in a way you didn’t see coming” (New York Times Book Review).
This “big-hearted” and “bizarre” novel (Chicago Review of Books) is a “funny and touching fable about love for kids, even the ones on fire” (Kirkus).
Borrow Nothing to See Here from the library or pick up a free copy at ArtReach, located directly across from the library's 4th Street entrance.
NEA Big Read Events at Stillwater Public Library March 17-23: Reveal the Art of Cover Design, an interactive traveling exhibit
April 22, May 8, May 22: Three-part book study of The Anxious Generation
April 25: Book Discussion of Nothing to See Here
April 29: Narrative Healing with The Loft Literary Center
Learn about other events centered around the themes in the book, including an evening with author Kevin Wilson.
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| Minnesota Digital Library:
Contributor’s Choice 2025 |
Twenty years ago, Stillwater Public Library became one of the founding contributors to the Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) online collection of historical images. To celebrate this milestone, the library was invited to choose a favorite image for the MDL’s Contributor’s Choice exhibit. After reviewing nearly 4,000 images submitted from our St. Croix Collection, the library selected a photograph by Frederick Holcombe from 1901, depicting a lively street fair.
Holcombe's photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into Stillwater’s past, capturing the vibrancy of the event, which attracted thousands of attendees. The fair featured musical performances, street dances, trapeze artists, tent shows, animal exhibits, and more. One of the most exciting spectacles was a daily balloon ascension, during which a lady balloonist soared into the sky before parachuting back to the ground. On one ascension, the performer landed in the water unable to swim but was quickly rescued by nearby boats. The fair concluded with a grand masked carnival, a fancy-dress parade, and a lively confetti battle, inviting everyone to join in the festivities.
Holcombe’s photograph not only captures the lively crowd but also provides a fascinating glimpse into the fashion and daily life of the time. The men are dressed in suits, women in dresses, and everyone is sporting hats and gloves, providing a stark contrast to modern attire at similar events. Many of the buildings visible in the photograph remain standing today, although they have since been remodeled and repurposed. The photograph also highlights the electric power and streetcar lines that were introduced in Stillwater in the late 1880s.
The significance of this image extends beyond its historical value. In 2023, inspired by the photograph, Cory Buettner, owner of Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop, recreated the 1901 street fair during Main Street's construction closure, bringing the community together. The event’s success led to the continuation of the street fair in 2024, further highlighting how historical photos like Holcombe’s can inspire modern community-building and cultural preservation. Holcombe’s collection, now digitized and available through MDL, continues to preserve Stillwater’s rich history for future generations, helping the community stay connected to its past while shaping its future. |
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