On March 28, the Whatcom County Library System’s (WCLS) Board of Trustees approved a library levy lid lift resolution for the Aug. 5, 2025, primary election ballot. If approved by a simple majority of voters, this resolution would “lift the lid” on the current levy rate for properties within the library system’s service boundary, which … Read more
Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora is Whatcom READS’ 2026 book selection. Erica Bauermeister, the author of the literary event’s 2025 featured novel, No Two Persons, announced the selection at the close of the March 14 Whatcom READS author presentation at the Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, Wash. In Solito, his debut New York Times … Read more
A new Spanish-language phone line further expands Whatcom County Library System’s outreach to the local Hispanic community. When patrons call the phone line, Spanish-speaking library staff members answer. They can assist with library-related questions and refer callers to other community resources. The Spanish-language phone line number is (360) 305-3638. WCLS Hispanic Cultural Liaisons Diana Antaño … Read more
Whatcom County Library System staff are hosting 11 public listening sessions in February and March at county library branches and online to review the library system’s budget. The meetings are open to all community members. Following multiple years of significant and sustained inflation coupled with increasing demand for library services, WCLS began accessing reserve funds … Read more
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, 2028. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Library trustees’ responsibilities include: Candidates should live in Whatcom County, outside the city limits of Bellingham. Those with … Read more
Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2025 schedule of community and author events, celebrating No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. The book presents a wide range of discussion and event opportunities leading up to the March 12-15, 2025, in-person author events. Visit whatcomreads.org to learn more … Read more
Sustainable Connections and Whatcom County Library System operate the Freedge at the North Fork Library in Kendall. This innovative initiative aims to combat food insecurity and reduce food waste in Whatcom County, providing residents with access to free, nutritious food. The Freedge, a community refrigerator filled with surplus food from local businesses and farms, is … Read more
Three Whatcom County educators who successfully advocate for reading and public libraries to further student success will be honored with Whatcom County Library System’s Golden Apple Educator Award at a 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 ceremony at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale. The celebration is part of the library system’s noon-5 p.m. Open Book: A Festival for … Read more
“Working Boats: An Inside Look at Ten Amazing Watercraft” by Tom Crestodina For many of us, the working vessels that ply local waters and the people who work aboard are a bit of a mystery. We board ferries. We watch sturdy tugs push heavy barges. And we may eat the catch the mariners bring to … Read more
Teaching in the Rain: The Story of North Cascades Institute by John C. Miles The North Cascades inspire dreamers. Count among them a group of five friends who, beginning in the early 1980s, turned a shared vision into the North Cascades Institute. The nationally respected environmental education nonprofit organization marked its 35th anniversary in 2021. The … Read more