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Library Card Design Contest |
What does the library mean to you? Maybe it’s a favorite book. A place to do homework, learn a new skill, research your family history, or settle into a quiet corner. Maybe it’s storytime, a book club, a movie night—or simply knowing there’s always something new to discover.
Help us design a library card!
In 2027, Stillwater Public Library turns 130. As part of our year-long celebration of the stories, people, and community that have shaped the library since 1897, we’re inviting local library cardholders of all ages to design a limited-edition library card. Winning design(s) will debut in early 2027.
Your design might highlight an aspect of the library or literacy, or simply reflect what the library means to you. Create your design by hand using colored pencils, markers, or paint, or design it digitally. Designs must be original, previously unpublished, and not AI-generated.
The contest is open to Stillwater, Bayport, and Washington County Library cardholders.
Entries are due Saturday, October 31. Entry forms are available online or at the library. Learn more and download an entry form.
We can’t wait to see what the library means to you!
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| Learn More & Download Entry Form
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| Shape the Future of Library Spaces | Stillwater Public Library is exploring possibilities for improving the Children’s Library and the Meeting/Event Wing. We want to hear from you before ideas are developed further.
Take the short survey by Wednesday, September 30, share your thoughts on the interactive sticker board in the library, or stop by Wednesday, October 7, from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. to chat with Collaborative Design Group (CDG) and library staff. The session will be held near the Info Desk and coincide with the Foundation’s free coffee.
Your experiences and ideas will help inform the planning process.
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| Take Survey
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| What Books Tell Your Group’s Story? | In 2027, Stillwater Public Library will celebrate 130 years of serving our community. To mark the occasion, we’re creating a community-curated list of 130 Books of Impact.
We’re inviting local groups and organizations to share the books that have informed, inspired, challenged, or changed them. Think book clubs, faith communities, civic organizations, schools, sports associations, service clubs, nonprofits, businesses, and more.
Choose up to 10 titles—fiction or nonfiction, for children or adults, classic or contemporary. Include the author and, if you’d like, a sentence or two about why each book was selected.
If you’re part of a group, gather your fellow members and make a list! Submit your group’s recommendations by Thursday, October 1.
We can’t wait to see what books have made an impact on our community.
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| Submit Your Book Picks
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| Browse Library Classes & Programs | Looking to learn something new? Connect with others? Create?
Browse our online Fall Catalog for programs happening through December. From engaging classes and creative workshops to author visits, history programs, and reading events, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s a sampling of what’s happening in October: - October 1: Finding the Women in Your Family Tree
- October 3: Author Margi Preus Discusses Mystery Writing and The Shrew Detective
- October 6: Steen Metz: A Holocaust Survivor Shares His Story (Online)
- October 8: Shared Spaces: Enriching the Minnesota Experience
- October 15: Wet Felted Bugs
- October 22: Mystery Youth Writing Contest Author Visit & Celebration Night
- October 23: Changes to Medicare 2027 with Minnesota Aging Pathways
- October 29: Spooky Movie Night with Steve Schroer
There’s plenty more to discover!
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| Explore the Catalog & Register for Programs
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DISCOVER YOUR NEXT READ |
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Get a Jump Start on Your Fall Reading | Check out BookPage, a monthly magazine filled with book reviews, author interviews, and features covering a wide range of readers and interests. Each issue includes reviews of more than 80 new books, making it a great way to discover something you might otherwise miss.
New issues are available each month at Stillwater Public Library. Pick up a copy and see what catches your eye! |
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| A View of the “River Rooms” (1900) | What can you spot in this view of the St. Croix River?
Taken in 1900 by Frederick Holcombe, the photograph is described as The River Rooms near Natural Landings in Stillwater, Minnesota. The view is looking southwest.
The River Rooms were sections of the river used to hold and sort floating logs during the logging era. Timber companies used natural landforms and manmade barriers to enclose areas in the river for separating logs according to their owners or destinations before the logs continued on to sawmills.
Look closely, and you can make out the city of Stillwater, including a grain elevator, probably the Woodward (Commander) Elevator, and the courthouse cupola.
Holcombe was an award-winning amateur photographer and banker whose photographs documented everyday life in Stillwater from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. His work offers a remarkable glimpse into the people and places that shaped our community.
This photograph is part of the Frederick Holcombe Historical Photo Collection in the St. Croix Collection Room at Stillwater Public Library. You can explore this image and many others depicting life in Stillwater whenever the library is open.
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