Latest News
- State budget includes $2 million for Birch Bay Vogt Community Library
- Library Receives $100,000 Gift from BP Cherry Point for Birch Bay Library
- Community Input on Birch Bay Library Project
Imagine…
- Storytimes on the lawn
- A quiet reading area with bay views
- A modern library with WiFi, public computers, a teen space, a meeting room, books, movies, music, and more!
The Vision
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is committed to expanding library services to the 8,400+ members of the Birch Bay community. In April 2017, WCLS purchased property at 7968 Birch Bay Drive for a future full-service library that will one day replace WCLS Bookmobile service to Birch Bay.
The Name
The official name of the new library, once built, will be the Birch Bay Vogt Community Library in honor of the original family who homesteaded this area, and their descendants who sold the property to WCLS. This is in keeping with the Everson McBeath Community Library, named for a former mayor of Everson.
The Plan
In spring 2019, the Washington State Legislature provided $2 million in funding for the Birch Bay Vogt Community Library. The estimate for the total cost of the project, including the purchase of the land, is $4.7 million to build a 7,600 square foot library
WCLS is working with the Friends of the Birch Bay Library, who will raise the remaining $2.7 million to pay for the new library. Once built, the library will be owned by WCLS and all long-term maintenance will be the responsibility of WCLS. WCLS will purchase furniture and equipment for the building. Long-term, the library system will provide staffing, supplies, technology, and library collections to keep the library operating efficiently.