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November/December 2026 | LIBRARY NEWS |
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| Youth Writing Contest Winners |
Mystery solved! Meet our winners! Twenty-three young writers, ages 8-12, entered Stillwater Public Library’s Youth Mystery Writing Contest, submitting original stories inspired by one of two prompts. One was based on The In-Between and the other on The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly, both middle-grade novels by award-winning author Rebecca Ansari.
Rebecca visited the library on October 22 to announce the winners. With so many imaginative stories to read, choosing the winners was no easy task!
The grand prize winner was Ellie Polasik for “The House on the Corner of Maple St.” The runners-up were Anika Wriskey for “Iceberg, Boat, and Me,” Viviana Chapman for “From the Past,” and Grace Heinrich for “The Multiverse House.” Rebecca praised Ellie’s story for its beautiful descriptions, voice, and its scary, perfectly incomplete ending. She also recognized the runners-up for their vivid details, creative plots, humor, and imaginative twists.
Congratulations to Ellie, Anika, Viviana, Grace, and all 23 writers who took on the challenge!
A special thank-you to Rebecca Ansari for judging the contest and to Laura Hammond, English teacher at Stillwater Middle School, and Kari Larkey, 3rd grade teacher at Lily Lake Elementary School, for encouraging their students to enter. We appreciate all the teachers who inspire a love of reading and writing. Keep reading, keep writing, and keep those mysteries coming!
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| Read the Winning Stories and Learn About the Authors
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| Friends and Foundation Unify | Exciting news! The Friends of the Stillwater Public Library and the Stillwater Public Library Foundation are joining forces.
Together, these two organizations will strengthen their ability to support the spaces, books, and programs you care about for years to come, building on their shared commitment to helping the library make an even greater impact in our community.
And book sales are here to stay! Mark your calendar for the next sale, November 18–21.
Thank you for all you do to support the library. Whether you borrow books, attend events, volunteer, or make a financial contribution, your involvement makes a difference. With your continued support, Stillwater Public Library will remain a welcoming, accessible, and vibrant place for our community to learn, connect, and grow.
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| Celebrate this Merger and Share a Gift Today
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| Many Ways to Give Back | As the season of giving approaches, Stillwater Public Library is partnering with local organizations to make it easier to support our community. Whether you donate warm clothing, give a new toy, or donate blood, every act of generosity makes a difference.
Help Neighbors Stay Warm
The library is a collection site for the St. Croix Valley Optimist Club's Winter Clothing Drive, benefiting Valley Outreach. We’re accepting new and gently used coats, winter boots, sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves, as well as new socks. Drop donations in the collection bin on the library’s lower level through mid-December.
Make the Holidays Brighter The library is partnering with the Stillwater Police Department to collect toys for Toys for Tots. The local Toys for Tots campaign kicks off November 23, and new, unwrapped toys will be accepted through early December at donation boxes around the community, including one at the library.
Give the Gift of Blood The library will host an American Red Cross blood drive on December 21. Blood donations help patients of all ages, including accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and those battling cancer. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, making each donation an important gift.
Give to the Library
Gifts to the Stillwater Public Library Foundation help fund programs, resources, and experiences that bring our community together. Every gift, large or small, helps support lifelong learning and curiosity. Learn more at stillwaterlibraryfoundation.org.
Use Your Library Card Using your library card is one of the most meaningful ways to support the library! Active cardholders demonstrate community demand for library services, helping inform future funding decisions.
Thank you for giving in whatever way works for you. Every contribution helps strengthen our community.
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| Learn More
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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER PROGRAMS |
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| Free for All: The Public Library | Join the Stillwater Public Library Foundation for a screening of the PBS documentary film Free for All: The Public Library, directed by Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor.
The documentary tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who serve the public in an age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.
Following the documentary, Stillwater Public Library Foundation Director Elsbeth Howe and Stillwater Public Library Director Mark Troendle will host a conversation about the current challenges and opportunities public libraries are facing, and the future of library services in our community and beyond.
Event Details:
Thursday, November 12 5:00 PM Margaret Rivers Room
Registration is encouraged. If you would like to suggest a conversation topic or ask a question, you can include it in the registration form.
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| Register to Attend and Suggest a Question
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| Friends Used Book Drive & Sale | The Friends of the Stillwater Public Library are hosting their annual fall book drive and sale in November. Proceeds benefit the library and help expand library materials and programs. Cash or check only. Most items are priced at $1-$2. Help raise money for the library one book at a time!
Donate Your Books: Saturday, November 14, 10:30 AM–3 PM Donate gently used books. Just pull into the library’s parking ramp on Third Street.
None of the following items will be accepted: encyclopedias, magazines, Reader’s Digest Books, textbooks, religious materials, National Geographic, videos, cassettes, books that are worn, stained, mildewed, or moldy, or that contain handwriting or highlighting.
Members Only Preview Sale: Wednesday, November 18, 5–7 PM
Open to the Public Sale:
Thursday, November 19, 10:15 AM–7 PM Friday, November 20, 10:15 AM–4:30 PM Saturday, November 21, 10:15 AM–4:30 PM Bag sale all day on Saturday!
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| Fall Catalog: Upcoming Events |
Browse our online Fall Catalog to learn more about upcoming programs and register to attend. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening in November and December:
- November 5: Genealogy Research with U.S. Military Records from 1775–1865
- November 10: Introduction to Ballet—The Nutcracker
- November 14 & 21: Scan for Keeps
- November 18: Mini Ink Bleed Art for Teens
- December 2 & 12: Puppet Show—"The Gingerbread Man, a.k.a. Super-Cookie!"
- December 5: Animals of the St. Croix River Valley with Carpenter Nature Center
- December 10: Tote Bag Screen Printing
- December 21: American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Library
There’s plenty more to discover!
(The library will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day, November 26 for Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25 for Christmas, and December 31 and January 1 for New Year's).
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| Explore the Catalog & Register for Programs
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DISCOVER YOUR NEXT READ |
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| Fall in Love with Autumn Romances | As the temperatures dip, cozy up with a fall romance! From seasonal sparks to holiday magic, these stories are perfect for curling up with on a chilly day. Click on a cover to learn more or place a hold. For more fall reads, ask a librarian. |
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| A Look Back at Library History | This undated photograph is believed to show the reading room of the Stillwater Library Association, possibly in the Jassoy Building, where the library was located beginning in 1895. The style of the woman’s dress suggests the 1890s.
Before Stillwater Public Library was established in 1897, residents borrowed books through a subscription library association, which charged an annual membership fee. During these early years, the library moved frequently and did not have a permanent home. The collection was housed in city council offices, in local businesses, and even in the city jail!
In November 1897, voters approved a tax-supported public library, making library access free to all residents. Construction of the library's current home began in 1902, and the building opened to the public in 1903.
In 2027, we'll celebrate 130 years as a free public library! Watch for more photos, stories, and features highlighting the library’s rich history throughout the upcoming year.
The photograph is part of the library's John Runk Photo Collection. John Runk was a photographer and collector who documented Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century. His photographs provide a remarkable visual record of the community’s people, places, and everyday life.
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