Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2020 New Years Resolutions with your Library Card

Do you have a New Year's Resolution? We've got you covered!


Top 10 New Years Resolutions:

              1.   Exercise
              2.   Eat Healthy
              3.   Learn Something New
              4.   Save Money/Get Out of Debt
              5.   Be Less Stressed
              6.   Spend Time with Friends & Family
              7.   Travel More
              8.   Quit Smoking or Other Habit
              9.   Get Organized
              10. Read More

All this and more FREE with your library card!

Whitman County Library can help with this entire list! Colfax offers multiple fitness classes while all branches provide exercise DVDs and health/diet books. Take an art, hobby, technology, or ukulele course with a friend! Checkout a DIY, finance, or travel book. De-stress with adult coloring at branch libraries or weekly yoga in Colfax (yoga starting in February 2020).


Do you know only 8% of people keep their resolutions? Keep yours with your library card!

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Our Favorite Books All Year...

Enjoy our reading recommendations, see all of your librarians' favorite reads of 2019

Rachelle Marshall  The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure & The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Sheri Miller  White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht

Kathy Buchholtz  Birds of North America by American Museum of Natural History
















Kristie Kirkpatrick Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris & Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Amy Ferguson  Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman & A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

Sarah Phelan  The Black Prism by Brent Weeks & A Thousand Splendid Sons by Khaled Hosseini
















Debi Hergert  Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Rita Ackerman  Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Marcy Campbell  Spilling Clarence by Anna Ursu


Beverly Pearce  The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

Tami Schwartz  The Alice Network by Kate Quinn


Gina Martin  The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Hannah Shepherd  An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanem
















Clancy Pool  Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult & Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens  

Holly Meyer  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah & The Good Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

Sarah Anderson  Girl Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Tia Langston  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Shelly Ausmus  Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris


Elana Nordstrum  The Shiver Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater


Tuesday, December 24, 2019

We are loading up our Little Free Libraries with holiday books for you!


All 14 branches of Whitman County Library are closed December 24 & 25...but our Little Free Libraries are Always Open!

Visit our little free libraries all over Whitman County to "take a book and leave a book." You can also take as many as you like or leave a few personal favorites for others to enjoy. We offer adult, teen, and children's books. At times, there are even audiobooks, CDs, or DVDs available!

COLFAX Little Free Library
Location: North Cedar St. (between Highway 195 & Jennings Elementary)
Location: S. Meadow St. at Hamilton Park

ROSALIA Little Free Library
Location: Legacy Park

TEKOA Little Free Library
Location: Ruhl Park

PALOUSE Little Free Library
Location: Heritage Park

Monday, December 23, 2019

Whitman Library Closed December 24 & 25


Happy Holidays from WCL!

All 14 branches of Whitman County Library will close Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25. Due dates for library materials have been extended and drop boxes remain open at all locations. Access to the library's online resources including the catalog, audio and ebooks, NewsBank, Lynda.com courses, and Mango Language Learning remain available at www.whitco.lib.wa.us.

          Libraries affected by the closure are: Albion, Colfax, Colton, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, LaCrosse, Malden, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia, St. John, Tekoa & Uniontown.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Jingle & Mingle Celebrates the Holiday Season


A large crowd gathered for the “Jingle and Mingle” holiday party in The Center in Colfax on Wednesday, December 18. Co-sponsored by Colfax Chamber of Commerce, community members of all ages enjoyed complimentary refreshments, festively decorated trees, artwork and music by John Elwood of Elberton.



At 7 p.m. Mayor Todd Vanek and Colfax Chamber of Commerce Vice President Toni Jorgenson joined Whitman County Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick in announcing the winners of the Chamber Window contest. “Best Day Time display” went to Hen House Chicks/Truly You. “Best Night Time Display” was awarded to Washington Federal and “Most Creative” went to Route 26 Vintage Market.


Festival of Trees Winners as voted by the community were; “Community Favorite” going to Route 26 Vintage Market,” a tie for “Most Creative” between Pullman Building Supply and Whitman County Library and “Kid’s Choice” going to Jennings Elementary Teachers. The judged category went to Palouse resident Bryan Johnson.

Angie Jewell and Kitty Goodwin of Pioneer Title Co.

Pioneer Title Company was awarded the Library Supporter of the Month, honoring them for their company’s annual donation of a raffle Christmas tree. Over the past three years, Pioneer Title Company has contributed nearly $4000 for children’s technology and countywide programming.

This year’s winners of the “12 Ways of Giving” were drawn by Jewell and McAdams. They are Sidney Appel, James Campler, Tamera Jackson, Trudy Libey, Leslie Olin, Mom, Mandy Hutton, Ryan Hamilton, Britany Luft, Bonnie Smith and Kristie Kirkpatrick. For those who weren’t in attendance, prizes are available for pick up at the Colfax Library.




Thursday, December 19, 2019

'Tis the Season to Be Reading


Find a cheerful or chilling read for your holiday break! Click here for our online catalog


Image result for New Year’s Eve Murder by Leslie Meier"
New Year’s Eve Murder by Leslie Meier


Lucy Stone and her daughter have just won mother/daughter makeovers in Manhattan from “Jolie” magazine.  The all-expenses-paid trip is bound to have a few glitches, unfortunately one of them is murder.  Before the ball drops in Time Square it’s up to Lucy to track down the killer.

Image result for A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen"A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen

Hannah Griffin was a girl when tragedy struck.  She could still remember the flames against the new fallen snow as the police dug up two bodies – one of them her mothers.  The killer was never found and now twenty years later he is back with unfinished business and a message for Hannah, “Your mom called”.

Image result for Christmas Baking by Mia Ohrn"


Christmas Baking by Mia Ohrn


Prominent Swedish pastry chef Mia Ohrm offer up thirty-eight of her amazingly creative and delicious recipes for cakes, cookies, candies, truffles, cupcakes, tarts and breads that are temptingly tasty and just the thing to make it worth the New Year’s resolutions.

Image result for Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka"Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

When a beloved high schooler is found murdered no one in her community is untouched.  And in the aftermath of the tragedy the boy who loved her, the girl who envied her and the officer investigating her death must each confront their darkest secrets in order to find out how you can love someone who has done something horribly, horribly wrong.


Image result for he Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford"
The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford

No a major motion picture, this eBook tell the story of how Charles Dicken’s book, “A Christmas Carol” rescued his career and taught us the true meaning of the holiday spirit or should I say spirits. 


Image result for the battle for christmas by stephen nissenbaum"The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissebaum

If you think the battle over “Christmas” vs. “Xmas” is something new think again.   This eBook tells the true tale of the Puritans of Colonial Massachusetts who thought Christmas was an excuse to be much too merry and outlawed the holiday.  Bah-humbug!
Image result for Cookie Craft Christmas by Valerie Peterson"
Cookie Craft Christmas by Valerie Peterson

Take your holiday cookie decorating to impressive new heights with this EBOOK that will have you frosting, sprinkling and powdering sugary glimmer onto 60 fabulous Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year cookie designs.  And the easy, simple instructions will have you baking batch after batch of holiday cheer.

Monday, December 16, 2019

You are invited to JINGLE & MINGLE!

Jingle & Mingle Community Celebration in downtown Colfax Dec. 18


The community is invited to a holiday celebration called Jingle and Mingle featuring complimentary refreshments, music, and prizes at The Center at Colfax Library on Wednesday, December 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. During a special award ceremony at 7 p.m., the Colfax Chamber of Commerce will honor the best holiday windows and the winners of the Festival of Trees with gift certificates to local businesses. Raffle winners for the "12 Ways of Giving" will also be announced.

Jingle & Mingle fun includes the Festival of Trees, the music of John Elwood, complimentary refreshments, spirited beverages and of course, stunning artwork.
















Artists and photographers currently exhibiting include Carrie Vielle, Rob Smith, Nancy Rothwell, Tom Mohr, Bob Krikac, Marla Robbins, Jacqueline Daisley and Ken Carper. This event is sponsored by Colfax Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Whitman County Library while the raffle is sponsored by Pioneer Title Company to benefit library children's programs.

For more information about Jingle and Mingle, contact Kristie Kirkpatrick at Whitman County Library, 509-397-4366, 102 S. Main Street, Colfax, WA.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

2020 Barn Calendars from Whitman County Library

Popular Barn Calendars Now Available
Sales benefit Whitman County Library programs 
and services in 14 locations


The 2020 Barns of Whitman County calendars are now on sale for $10 each, with all proceeds benefiting countywide library programs and projects. Calendars are available from Rosauers and Tick Klock Drug in Colfax, Pullman Chamber of Commerce, and as well as any branch of Whitman County Library.

This year’s images were contributed by local photographers including Ken Carper, Carol Evans, Beverly Brantner, Ric Hall, Teresa Myott, Murali Narayanan, Kelly Marley, Eric Thompson, Mike Kammeyer, Dan Codd, Sharon Lindsay, and Shawn Smith.

For the past nine years, Steve Van Vleet of WSU Extension has generously compiled and donated the calendars as a major fundraiser for the Friends of the Library.

For more info or to have calendars mailed to you, please contact Whitman County Library at 509-397-4366.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Festival of Trees all month long in Colfax


 The annual “Festival of Trees” in The Center at Colfax Library runs through the month of December.

The colorful and creative trees have been designed by various community groups, businesses, and individuals to help brighten Colfax during the holiday season.





The trees are wide ranging in theme including: LEGOs, Sportsman’s Challenge, Alice in Wonderland, Cactus Christmas, and more. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite entries including one category especially for kids' choice. Colfax Chamber of Commerce will present prizes in 4 categories.


Raffle tickets are also available to win up to $500 in prizes in a towering gift package tree, called “The 12 Ways of Giving.” Donated by Pioneer Title Company of Pullman, proceeds from the raffle will fund library children’s programs countywide.

Winners of the Festival of Trees, the raffle and a business window decorating contest will be announced at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec.18 at a community reception called “Jingle and Mingle.” The public is invited to this free event in the Center from 5 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, it includes refreshments, music, and fun.


“Festival of Trees” hours are Mon. - Wed. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. For more information contact Whitman County Library, 509-397-4366, 102 S. Main Street, Colfax, WA.