Cashmere library highlights digital tools, community events

CASHMERE — September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the Cashmere Public Library is leaning in with free lanyards (while they last), fresh hours, and a reminder that a card unlocks far more than books.

Branch librarian Lisa Lawless told the City Council the library is open six days a week and is slated to move to the Riverside Center next year, with exact timing still to be announced. The relocation will bring expanded public access to city-funded space, meeting rooms the public can reserve and room to grow programs.

In the meantime, it turns out that getting a library card flips on a surprising toolkit, and you don’t have to know the Dewey Decimal System to access it.

Digital resources: “Consumer Reports” online for product research; Libby (massive numbers of ebooks/audiobooks and magazines); Hoopla for instant-borrow ebooks, comics, audio and films; Mango Languages; Microsoft Learn; and archives like Washington Digital Newspapers (yes, you can peruse old Cashmere Valley Record issues by name or search term).

Everyday help: Public computers; phone-to-printer capability; and $5/week in free printing and copying credits.

Library of Things: A legitimately huge telescope you can roll out under clear skies; snowshoes; Discover Pass kits; museum passes (including the Cashmere Museum); STEM kits like Ozobots for learn-to-code fun.

Programs: Weekly storytime, after-school STEM, author talks, hands-on arts, and outreach events.

Lawless put a spotlight on the library’s signature Teen Poetry Slam. Working with high-school English teachers, students submit original poems for blind judging; the top 15 present live. “Everyone who performs earns a prize,” she said, “and our grand prize winner is chosen on performance night.” This year drew about 60 entries, and the event has become a fixture in Cashmere — equal parts literary showcase and community rally.

Yet to come is the Friends of the Library book sale, set for Sept. 19–20 at the current branch, and the library is planning Hispanic Heritage Month trivia later this month. Lawless encouraged residents who don’t yet have a card to sign up now — and grab that lanyard.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media