Book Sales

In 2026, the Friends of the Litchfield Library will hold book sales on these Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:

  • March 21
  • July 11
  • November 21

Special books for sale at the March sale:

  • 1822 leather-bound German language Bible
  • Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Collectors edition
  • Hitler’s henchmen. ISBN 0-8317-4502-9
  • Encyclopedia of herbs and spices
  • Secret Garden by Frances H. Burnett. Hallmark edition
  • Tree craft, 35 rustic wood projects by Chris Lubkemann
  • Artists of the Old West by John C. Ewers
  • Wild America by James Lockhart

Board Game Night

Come to the library to play board games on the 3rd Tuesday of each month! People of all ages are welcome to play the library’s games in the meeting room from 6:30-7:30 p.m. – or bring their own. Free to attend. No need to sign up.

Dates:
January 20
February 17
March 17
April 21
May 1

Knitting Club

Bring your knitting or crochet project to the Litchfield Library on the 3rd Thursday of the month to gather with other creative people! This program will be held in the library’s meeting room from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Need some knitting advice? Staff member Kristin leads the program, and she’s an expert knitter.
For all ages. No need to sign up.
Dates:
January 15
February 19
March 19
April 16
May 21

Flower Mosaics Workshop

Create a flower from mosaic tiles! Meredith Semel will teach this technique on Thursday, April 16, at 6:00 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. All supplies are provided.

This free class is open to all ages, but space is limited. Call the library at 320-693-2483 to sign up. Children younger than age 8 must have an adult or teen with them to assist.

Friends of the Litchfield Library Support in 2025

Ways the Friends of the Litchfield Library helped the Litchfield Library in 2025:

  • 3 local business gift certificates for winners of the Winter Reads drawing (people who read 6 books and turned in their reading log by the end) – impossible without Friends support!
  • Significant supplemental financial support for children’s programs. 304 children and 46 teens participated in the summer reading program. 1,310 people participated in storytimes. 644 children got take-home craft kits. 75 people participated in children’s craft programs.
  • Supplemental financial support for teen programs. 234 teens participated in 27 programs.
  • Supplemental financial support for adult craft programs. 22 offered in 2025.
  • Funded the Science Heroes program. Attendance 48.
  • Funded new toys and a replacement children’s shopping cart
     
  • Funded a new pre-lighted Christmas tree for the newspaper reading area and updated décor for the library.
  • Funded parade books with the Litchfield Library Foundation. 1500 books given to children at the Watercade parade, with additional $581 of funding from the Litchfield Library Foundation.
  • Funded the start of a new program: Seed Library. Used by 85 people in May, June, and August. Purchased a binder, envelopes, labels, a funnel, starter sets of seeds, and paid for shipping for free seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.
  • Ongoing funding of the Book Page book review magazine subscription
  • 3 book sales! Books to free cart in the entry, Little Free Libraries around Litchfield, and books to the jail.
       

Thank you to the Friends of the Litchfield Library! What would we do without you?!

Seed Library

Litchfield Library’s seed library is available for early indoor plantings! The seed library is now in a long yellow container at the front desk, holding seeds that need to be started indoors early in the spring in order to be grown in Minnesota’s short growing season. More seeds will be added over time.

You may take 4 packets per week. No library card needed. No age limit.

Have some seeds you want to donate? We’ll take them!

March Adult Arts & Crafts: Decoupaged Wooden Bunny

UPDATE: Class is full. You can contact the library to be added to the waiting list.

Registration is now open for the March 26 Adult Arts & Crafts program! Call the library at 320-693-2483 or stop at the front desk to sign up to make a vintage-style decoupaged wooden bunny. All supplies are provided for this free program. Adults only.

If you are unable to attend after signing up, please call the library so that someone on the waiting list can attend.

 

Bookmark Contest

The Litchfield Library Foundation is once again holding a bookmark design contest for students in grades 5-12! Students an pick up a form at the library or from their Litchfield middle or high school art teacher, or print it from home: 2026 Bookmark contest entry form
The Litchfield Public Library Foundation invites Litchfield students in grades 5-12 to create an original library, reading or book-themed bookmark! The winner will have their design reproduced on bookmarks that will be distributed at the Litchfield Public Library and the 2026 Watercade parade. Artwork will also be shared online.
The Foundation is offering prizes to the top 3 designs!
1st place: $75
2nd place: $50
3rd place: $25
Entries due Friday, March 27, 2026

GUIDELINES & TIMELINE

  • All artwork must be the submitting student’s original work and in color.
  • Popular figures, cartoon characters or other copyrighted or trademarked images cannot be considered.
  • One entry per person.
  • All entries must be delivered to the Litchfield Public Library by 5:00pm on Friday, March 27, 2026. No late entries will be accepted.
  • By submitting an entry, students are allowing the Litchfield Public Library Foundation to use their artwork for promotional materials for the library.
  • Litchfield Public Library Board members will vote on entries in early April to narrow down the slate of entries.
  • Library patrons will vote on this final slate of entries at the end of April/early May.
  • Winners will be announced in mid-May. Prizes will be mailed to winners.
  • Finalist artwork will be on display at the library from the the end of May through Watercade weekend. Artists may pick up their entries from the library after Watercade if they so choose.

Litchfield Public Library Receives $10,000 Gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York

Litchfield Public Library has received a special gift!  We’re one of about 1,280 Carnegie Libraries across the United States that has received a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Carnegie Libraries hold a special place in American history and in the hearts of generations of Americans. More than a century after philanthropist Andrew Carnegie helped fund the construction of 1,681 libraries nationwide – including the original Litchfield Public Library – we are still serving our community.

Learn more about this initiative and find our library on the Carnegie Libraries Across America map.

Tax Forms

Basic federal tax forms and instructions are available on a table in the library’s entryway: 1040 and 1040-SR forms and instructions, plus 1040 and 1040-SR forms in Spanish. The Minnesota Revenue Department does not send the libraries any state forms. If you need a form that’s not available on the table, talk to a staff member for help printing what you need, or for a phone number to call the IRS or Minnesota Revenue so that they can mail you paper forms. Printouts cost 10 cents per page. Library staff cannot give any tax advice.