July 2025

LIBRARY NEWS

Lift Off at the Library

The interior of the parking ramp elevator just got a stunning makeover—one that’s both practical and symbolic. Installed on a day the library building was closed to minimize disruption to visitors, the new artwork features a breathtaking drone image captured especially for this project by Greg Schulz of Pictures Over Stillwater. While a photo offers a glimpse, the full experience comes when you step inside, let the doors close, and feel as if you’re floating above Stillwater in a hot air balloon.

The immersive design is part of a broader effort to create a more welcoming and clearly defined entryway into the library. Funded by a grant from the Huelsmann Foundation that was secured by the Stillwater Public Library Foundation, this project is the latest phase of a multi-year signage initiative that’s already delivered new wayfinding tools throughout the building.

Several visitors had shared that entering the library via the parking ramp didn’t feel like entering a library. That’s about to change. When complete, the revamped space will signal warmth, welcome, and a clear connection to the library’s mission. The elevator art isn’t just beautiful—it’s metaphorical. The imagery is a quiet nod to how the library elevates the community through access, learning, and shared experience. And on a practical note, calling it the “hot air balloon elevator” gives guests a memorable navigation landmark.

The transformation isn’t over. Later this summer, the exterior of the elevator and the adjacent primed wall will be wrapped in complementary artwork. As we near the finish line, we invite you to take the ride—because sometimes an elevator can lift more than just people.

Enjoy Live Music

Gather your friends, family, and neighbors for live music at the library!

On Thursday, July 10 at 6:30 PM, the Valley Concert Winds will present a summer concert "Musical Menagerie" on the library's terrace. Join your local community band for this free, family-friendly outdoor concert! Learn as you listen, and let the band be your soundtrack for this classic rivertown evening. Concert changes due to weather will be announced on the Valley Concert Winds website. 

On Tuesday, July 29 at 6 PM, Steve and Kristin of Malt Shop Melodies will perform their high-energy 50's & 60's show filled with fabulous music, dancing, skits & audience participation! Tap your foot and twist your way down memory lane! Performance will be inside in Margaret Rivers A&B.

All ages welcome! No registration is required.

Help Shape Your Library Experience

Stillwater Public Library wants to hear from you! As we plan future programs and events, your input is vital to ensure the library continues to meet the needs of our community.

We invite you to take a short survey designed to gather your feedback on what’s working well and what could be better. The survey only takes three minutes to complete and includes a few simple questions. Your responses will directly shape the direction of library offerings, helping us remain a vibrant hub for learning, discovery, and community connection.

At the end of the survey, you’ll have the option to create a free Polco account to stay informed about other city-wide surveys. Registration is not required for your feedback to count.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to help improve your library. With your input, we can make Stillwater Public Library an even better place to learn, grow, and connect!

Still Time to Explore

Our summer reading programs for kids, teens, and adults are underway. Jump into the fun and discover your next great read or a new favorite class at the library.

For Kids: If you haven't already, stop by the library to pick up a free book to keep and a Trail Guide with a tracker gameboard inside. Kids can set personal reading goals and take on challenges to become a Gold Star Reader! Return your completed tracker to the library – or show us your 10 Beanstack badges – to earn recognition as a Gold Star Reader. 

For Adults: Check out the ever-popular Read & Win! It's simple: read or listen to a book and submit a short review - online through Beanstack or in person at the library. Each week, one entry will be drawn at random to win a prize, including gift cards for dining, shopping, or local adventure experiences. The more books you log, the more chances you have to win. So keep reading, keep exploring, and keep entering! 

We're proud to be part of a community that values reading and connection. Celebrate summer with us - read, explore, and discover something new at Stillwater Public Library.

Summer Explorers is made possible by donors to Stillwater Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library.

SUMMER READING PICKS

This year’s summer reading theme, Summer Forest Explorers, inspired our staff to dive into the eerie, mysterious, and adventurous stories that unfold deep in the woods. From spine-tingling suspense to woodland wonders, there's something for every explorer. Click on a book cover to discover your next great read and place a hold!

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

Arcola High Bridge 

The completion of the Arcola High Bridge in June 1911, located just 6½ miles north of Stillwater, Minnesota, marked an exciting milestone for the community. Constructed by the American Bridge Company and designed by the renowned engineer C. A. P. Turner, this impressive structure replaced an earlier, less efficient bridge connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota that featured steep inclines difficult for trains to navigate.

Built for the Wisconsin Central Railway, the Arcola High Bridge quickly became a source of local pride. Many residents captured its grandeur and loveliness in photographs. According to at least one family's lore, some daring youths even risked crossing it on foot—an adventurous feat and certainly not recommended!

Celebrated as both an engineering triumph and a beautiful historic landmark, the bridge earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Remarkably, it remains in use today by the Canadian Pacific Rail, serving as a reminder of early 20th-century ingenuity and design.

Visitors can view the bridge from the St. Croix River or take a hike in the nearby Arcola Bluffs Day Use Area for a closer look. Adding to its mystique, local legend speaks of a mysterious green light that sometimes appears on the Minnesota side near where it crosses Arcola Trail.

The photograph is of a postcard from our collection in the St. Croix Historical Collection Room. You can view it and others anytime the library is open.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IN THE GALLERY

Lysette Simmons Hunziker

Through August, explore the collage and paper works of Stillwater artist Lysette Simmons Hunziker, on display in the library’s gallery. Over the past decade, Lysette has worked almost exclusively with vintage magazines and advertisements, creating striking pieces through careful compilation and creative omission.

Lysette is an artist, teacher, author, and mother. A graduate of UCLA, she later earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College, CUNY in New York City. Publishing under her maiden name, Simmons, she is the author of two award-winning poetry collections: Dear Robert and Ransom Poems.

She lives on the South Hill in Stillwater with her husband, two children, and their beloved dog, Stella. During the school year, Lysette substitute teaches in Washington County Schools; in summer, she devotes herself to family life—and daily drawings inspired by her children’s requests. Her work also appears occasionally at the Stillwater Art Guild.

Meet the artist at a reception on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 PM.