Upcoming Featured Events

May 8-10, 2025

Join us for three days of writing, reading, and connecting over words

This free annual, three-day event features writing workshops with esteemed Idaho writers, an opening keynote from a guest author, and a closing storytelling event where writers of all levels are invited to share their work. Come explore new methods, strengthen your writing, and connect with others. Writing workshops are limited in size but open to all levels.

Registration opens April 1, 2025. More/register here.

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection… to record the journey … to expand our world…”

~Anaïs Nin

August 1–September 1, 2025: It’s time to get decked out for the new school year! Smart and savvy shoppers will unearth treasures in all sizes, shapes, and colors to dazzle the classroom at the Gold Mine Thrift store. PLUS…

…all students receive a 10% discount on all items—including tops, bottoms, backpacks, jackets, coats, hats, and more. That’s some math that really adds up!

Don’t forget your school ID, though… or you’ll be stuck in detention (kidding). But you won’t be able to claim your discount without one.

Doors open at 10:00 a.m. Gold Mine Thrift is located at 331 Walnut Avenue in Ketchum. Proceeds from the Gold Mine stores help support books, literacy, and programs at The Community Library.

View/download our Seasonal Sales Schedule here.

See what’s new on our Facebook page.

Reconstructing Chinese History in Southern Idaho

In the late 19^th Century, many Chinese men migrated from California to Idaho, along with Europeans and others in pursuit of gold and the promise of Manifest Destiny.

The Idaho Territory spawned numerous mining towns, and Chinese residents and laborers made up one-third of the population by 1870. Due in part to anti-Chinese sentiment, Chinese settlers lived close together and worked difficult and undesirable jobs like laundry service, cooking, small farming, and smelter work.

Anti-Chinese sentiment grew in the West.

In 1882, President Chester Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act. As a result, racial discrimination grew more intense and more violent. There were organized efforts to run Chinese residents out of Idaho towns: in Hailey, an Anti-Chinese League formed, and the Wood River Times wrote anti-Chinese opinions.

To date, there is very little known about the many Chinese residents of the Wood River Valley, because none of them remained. Tracks & Traces tells the story of their ghosts.

Tracks & Traces is part of the 2025 Winter Read of Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang. More here.

Each winter, we read a story together.

The 2025 Winter Read is Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang.

To kick off the 2025 Winter Read of Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang, we’ll be opening a new exhibit, enjoying light refreshments, and sharing how you can participate in this community-wide read!

The Winter Read is a community-wide read and collaboration with the Hailey Public Library, Bellevue Public Library, and Stanley Community Library. Read more about the Winter Read and upcoming events here.

Four Treasures of the Sky is held at The Community Library—in print in English and Spanish, and digitally in eBook and eAudiobook. Come check out a copy!

Four Treasures of the Sky is also available with our partner libraries in Hailey, Bellevue, and Stanley.

Find Four Treasures of the Sky in all formats at The Community Library here.

In November 2024, the Children’s Library hosted a Tiny Art Show for children and teen patrons, which included 28 entries from artists two-fifteen years of age. Patrons browsed the exhibit and voted on their favorites in several categories. All the artists received an award certificate and five were selected for special honors.

The exhibit was moved to the Library’s foyer in December, to further celebrate the creative inspiration of these young artists. The Art Show will be on display through January 2025.

More here.

October 3, 2024. Now including cashmere, as well as gear and apparel for the cool-to-cold seasons, the Gold Mine Thrift store has new inventory in clothing for men, women, and kids, plus sporting goods, fleece, hats & scarves, shoes & boots, electronics, housewares, and more. Gold Mine Consign has all new apparel for men and women! Unbeatable selection at incredible prices. Easily one of the top sales of the year.

The Gold Mine Thrift store and drop-off will CLOSE AT NOON on October 1 and be CLOSED October 2.

The Fall/Winter Opening begins with a Summer Clearance Progressive Sale. Here’s the schedule…

• September 27: 20% off everything
• September 28: 40% off everything
• September 30: 60% off everything
• October 1: 70% off everything, Hours: 9-12 (Same for Drop-off)
• October 2: Closed for set up (Drop-off also closed)
• October 3: FALL/WINTER OPENING

Doors open at 10:00 a.m. Gold Mine Thrift is located at 331 Walnut Avenue in Ketchum. Proceeds from the Gold Mine stores help support books, literacy, and programs at The Community Library.

View/download our Seasonal Sales Schedule here.

See what’s new on our Facebook page.