The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel Stéphane Breitwieser’s crimes seem almost unfathomable. In the span of 6 years, from 1995 to 2001, the French thief and his girlfriend stole more than 200 paintings, sculptures, and priceless objects from museums across Europe. They committed their crimes … Read more

Edison’s Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History’s Greatest Geniuses by Katie Spalding You know their names. You might even know their famous accomplishments. But do you know how truly, well, weird they were? Probably not – which is exactly where mathematician and author Katie Spalding shines. Pulling back the layers of reverence that surround well-known … Read more

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Legendary music producer and founder of Def Jam Recordings Rick Rubin is known for his light touch with artists and an ear for what’s profitable. The list of musicians and bands he’s worked with is a who’s who of rap, hip-hop, heavy metal and rock: … Read more

Trailer Park Psalms: Poems by Ryler Dustin Ryler Dustin’s latest book of poetry, “Trailer Park Psalms,” is a slender volume of poems that speaks to readers with a quiet voice.  Dustin developed his skill as a poet and spoken word performer at the long-running Poetry Night open mic at Stuart’s Coffeehouse on the corner of … Read more

For Summer Reading 2023, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) patrons read for the trees. Summer Reading activities added up to trees that will be planted in Whatcom County in partnership with Whatcom Million Trees Project (WMTP). Thanks to local readers and to funding from the Whatcom County Library Foundation, WCLS and WMTP will plant 500 … Read more

A heat advisory has been issued for parts of Western Washington, including Whatcom County, through Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. All WCLS libraries are equipped with air conditioning and can be useful as a cooling station for community members. Please exercise caution and spread the word to any neighbors who might need to cool down. Find … Read more

Whatcom READS invites writers of all ages and experience levels to submit original work for its annual writing challenge, Whatcom WRITES. This year’s prompt is legacies, which is inspired by Whatcom READS 2024 featured title, Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe. Submission deadline is Oct. 15. To … Read more

Celebrate summer, jazz and libraries at three free concerts hosted by Friends of South Whatcom, Ferndale and Blaine libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System. At each event, neighbors will gather for a joyous hour of live music and to discover what’s new at local libraries. Reservations are encouraged at wcls.org/jazz.   The three … Read more