Teen Harry Potter Horcrux Hunt
Attention teens, ages 12-18! Join in the hunt!
Hidden around town are seven (7) Horcruxes. They can be found anywhere in the Washington and Sunnyland area. Try to find them on your own or check our Facebook page and/or Instagram each Friday for clues to lead you on your way.
Full instructions and the form can be found/printed below. You have until November 21st to return your form to the library in order to be entered for prizes!
October Programs and Events
While in-person events are still suspended at WDL due to COVID-19, we still have plenty going on! Here is the run-down of what’s going on this month.
- Thursday, October 1st is our monthly Craft & Activities Pickup, for all ages.
- Teens (ages 12-18) can participate in our Harry Potter Horcrux Hunt! This runs October 1st-November 21st.
- Adults (ages 18+) have another themed Reading Challenge. This month, we are reading something spooky!
- If you registered to pick up a Halloween Haunted House kit, pickup is October 10th. This program is full, but if you would like to be on the waitlist, please call 309-444-2241.
- Join Miss Ali on Facebook Live October 12th for a very special Down on the Farm Storytime!
- Facebook Live crafts and activities for the month include Boo Bombs, Baby Yoda Luminaries, Scarecrow Pencil Cups, and Graveyards in a Jar.
- No classroom Halloween party? Kids and teens can pick up a Halloween Party in a Bag October 30th!
Introducing Book Boxes!
Beginning Monday, September 14th, you will be able to sign up for the WDL Book Box program, via our website. Participants will receive a box a month for three months (the inaugural program will have boxes in October, November and December). Each box will contain 1-3 library books hand selected for you, as well as 3-5 items (treats and other goodies) that you get to keep! Library books and boxes will need to be returned.
We have boxes for Adults, Teens and Tweens.
Please note: Spots in the book box program are limited. Once we have reached the maximum number of participants for an age group, additional applicants will be placed on a wait list.
Sign up for the book box program here!
September Reading Challenges
Teens have until the end of September to complete their book bingo!
The Adult Reading Challenge for September is to read a book with a food theme! Find more information here.
Back-to-School Book Bingo and Adult Reading Challenge
Summer reading might be over, but the reading fun doesn’t have to be! Check out our reading challenges for all ages for the month of August below:
For ages 0-14, we have a kids’ back-to-school book bingo!
For ages 12-18, we have a teen back-to-school book bingo! The program runs through September 30th and prizes will be available beginning August 10th.
For adults, we are beginning a new monthly reading challenge! Check out all of the details (including how to win prizes) on our Adult Reading Challenge page.
Summer Reading Final Prize Pick-Up
UPDATE 8/3/20: We still have summer reading prizes left! Stop by the Main Library (inside or drive-through window) anytime to pick them up, while supplies last. Please note that we did not have any kind of sign-up for summer reading this year – if you read 15 hours over the six weeks of summer reading (an average of 2.5 hours a week) you can get a prize!
Calling all Summer Reading Participants! Come see us to pick up your final prize! You need to have read at least 15 hours over the course of the program to receive your prize. Prizes are a cup or glass (depending on the age group) along with 2 coupons to local businesses and a final prize button.
(Prizes while supplies last)
Pick-Up Dates and Times:
Monday- 10:00-12:00 Main Library Parking Lot
Tuesday- 5:00-7:00 Sunnyland Branch Curbside
Wednesday- 10:00 – 12:00 Main Library Parking Lot
Thursday- 4:00-6:00 Main Library Parking Lot
Friday- 10:00 – 12:00 Main Library Parking Lot
Saturday- 9:00-1:00 Main Library Drive Up
Sunday- 1:00-5:00 Main Library Drive Up
Cabin Fever Drawings
We will draw for our Cabin Fever Book Bingo final prizes on July 15, 2020. If you have your Bingo sheet, please turn it in to either our Main or Branch locations. If you have misplaced your Bingo card, stop in at either location to pick up a new one. Bingo cards can also be picked up at the drive-thru window at the Main library. Simply let us know on the sheet if you completed a single Bingo or if you filled the card.
Reopening June 29! Plus, Late Fee Free!
Washington District Library is resuming regular hours on June 29 with some changes to keep staff and patrons safe.
What’s Different:
- Masks must be worn by patrons and staff at all times.
- Patrons and staff are expected to practice social distancing (6 feet apart) whenever possible.
- Limited capacity at both libraries.
- Meeting room and study rooms are closed.
- In-person programming is suspended.
- Games, toys and most seating have been removed to promote social distancing.
- Hand sanitizer is available.
- Public services are disinfected hourly.
- Limited computers to promote social distancing.
- Returned items are quarantined for 3 days. Items will remain on your card for that period.
- Indoor bookdrops are unavailable; outdoor bookdrops remain open.
Late Fee Free
To coincide with reopening, WDL is going late fee free!
- Existing late fees from WDL are being erased.
- Anything checked out at WDL will not accumulate late fees, except equipment (like Rokus and mobile hotspots).
- This applies to anything checked out at WDL no matter where the item is from, where you have a library card, or where the item is returned.
- Items not returned two weeks after the due date are considered “lost” and are charged to the patron’s account until the item is returned.
- WDL can’t accept money for fees from other libraries.
COVID-19 Update
Good morning, many of you have seen or heard rumors that someone who works at Washington District Library has tested positive for COVID-19.
The staff and Board of Trustees of Washington District Library recognize the importance of safety above all else at this time. In an effort to make the library as safe a place as possible for our staff and our community, we are doing the following things every day:
- Cleaning the library every night.
- Utilizing social distancing and wearing masks, per CDC guidelines.
- Quarantining returned library items for seven days.
- Wearing gloves when handling returned items.
- Wearing gloves when handing items to patrons at the drive-through window or at the curb.
- Keeping the building closed to the public during Phase 3 of Restore Illinois.
If someone in the library were to have a confirmed positive test for COVID-19, whether that person were a library staff member or not, we would take the following additional measures:
- That person would not return to the library until their self-quarantine had ended, per CDC recommendations.
- The library would receive an additional disinfecting deep clean.
We value the safety and health of our community and our staff, and we want to continue to be a part of our community, in the safest way possible.
Craft Kit Pick Up
Summer reading craft kits for all ages will be available for pick up every Monday for the six weeks of summer reading (June 15-July 26). You can pick up craft kits for kids, teens and adults in the Main Library parking lot between 10:30-12:30 and 3:30-5:30 every Monday, while supplies last.
You can complete the crafts on your own or, if you like, craft along with us during our Facebook Live events. Our weekly Facebook Live schedule is:
Children: 2:00 Tuesdays
Adults: 2:00 Wednesdays
Teens: 2:00 Thursdays