Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) seeks a Whatcom County resident who loves libraries to fill a partial term on the WCLS Board of Trustees. This term will expire Jan. 31, 2025. The application deadline is Friday, June 10. Library trustees’ responsibilities include:
- Being an advocate for the library system and the community it serves.
- Establishing a mission, vision and strategic plan for the future of the library system.
- Observing and assessing the effectiveness of the library system.
- Establishing and implementing policies for the library system.
- Participating in the facilities and budget planning for the library system.
- Evaluating the performance of the executive director of the library system.
Candidates should live in Whatcom County, outside the city limits of Bellingham. Those with deep ties to Whatcom County communities are encouraged to apply. The Whatcom County Library System and the Bellingham Public Library are two separate, reciprocal library systems.
Trustees must share WCLS’s values in People, Community, Curiosity and Stewardship and believe in our mission to Connect information, ideas and community.
Applications for the WCLS Board of Trustees are accepted at the Whatcom County administrative office. Applicants are appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the Whatcom County Council. Please click the following links for the Application Form and more information on How to Apply. In addition to meeting the expectations for Whatcom County board and commission members, WCLS Board of Trustees members must be able to uphold the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement, the Washington Library Association Intellectual Freedom Section and the WCLS Board of Trustees Bylaws, Trustee Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy.
The five volunteer members of the WCLS Board of Trustees are appointed by the Whatcom County executive. The library board is responsible for budget oversight and setting policy for WCLS. Day-to-day management is entrusted to the executive director, who is hired by the board. Regular public meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month. Board of Trustees members are willing to change meeting date and time to accommodate trustees’ schedules. Visit wcls.org/library-board-of-trustees for more information.