Outreach Services

What is Outreach Service?

Whatcom County Library System offers on-site library service to our service area residents* who cannot visit their community libraries due to reasons of advanced age, physical handicap or illness.

*residents of Whatcom County who live outside the city limits of Bellingham

What Services are offered?

We visit and bring a collection of books in regular and large print, audiobooks, compact discs, music cassettes, colorful picture books and magazines. Materials are selected by library staff to respond to our patrons' interests and needs.

At larger facilities (rest-homes, care facilities, senior apartments and retirement communities) we also bring a book cart full of books. Patrons may choose materials from the cart as well as from the deposit collection.

Also, we can help eligible patrons with applications for the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.  "Talking Books" and "Talking Magazines" and special equipment to use them are available free of charge for people who are-

• legally blind,
• deaf-blind
• visually impaired (cannot easily read conventional size print)
• physically handicapped (cannot comfortably hold books or turn  pages)
• learning disabled due to organic dysfunction

The Whatcom County Library System also visits the county jail once a week. The jail library collection is funded primarily through donations, although specific title and subject requests can be filled from WCLS collection.

When do library visits occur?

We visit once a month on a prearranged day, leaving the library materials until the next visit.

How much does it cost?

Outreach service is provided free of charge.

How may a visit be arranged?

For more information, please call the library at 384-3150 and ask for the Outreach Department.

Send any comments or questions about Outreach Services to kneece@wcls.org