Whatcom County Council allocates $315,000 in ARPA funding to support Birch Bay Vogt Library Express

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Following successful outreach by Friends of the Birch Bay Library volunteers, the Whatcom County Council has allocated $315,000 to support construction of the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express. The funding was included in County Executive Satpal Sidhu’s recommendations for the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expenditures and agreed to by the council. The ARPA … Read more

Birch Bay Library project moves forward as a library express following approval of state grant scope change 

Thanks to successful advocacy efforts by Birch Bay residents and Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) staff, the Washington State Legislature has approved the reallocation of a $2 million state grant to largely fund the renovation of the Vogt home at 7948 Birch Bay Drive as the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express. The state’s decision follows … Read more

WCLS considers next steps for Birch Bay Library

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At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Whatcom County Library System’s Board of Trustees learned the Washington State Department of Commerce has declined a scope change request related to state funding for the Birch Bay Library. The previously approved $2 million state grant remains available, but it cannot be used for the proposal that would have … Read more

WCLS responds to Birch Bay Library article

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By Christine Perkins, Executive Director, Whatcom County Library System Note: This post was updated Sunday, April 3, 2022, in response to a question about WCLS’s ability to sell the house. As reported in the March 31 issue of The Northern Light, following recent elections, the Birch Bay Library project is currently on hold while the … Read more

Birch Bay Library is Proposition 2 on Feb. 8 special election ballot

Architect's rendering of Birch Bay Library

Birch Bay voters will decide if a new library will be built for their community in the Feb. 8, 2022, special election. If Proposition 2 passes, a Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) will be established, allowing the LCFA board of directors to issue bonds to finance the construction of the library at 7968 … Read more

Volunteers needed for Birch Bay LCFA committees

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To prepare a Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) ballot measure for the February 2022 election, Whatcom County Library System seeks volunteers to be appointed to two committees as required by law.  If approved, the LCFA will support the construction of a library in Birch Bay. One committee, to be known as the “For” … Read more

Birch Bay Vogt Community Library measure headed for Feb. 8, 2022, special election ballot

Architect's rendering of Birch Bay Library

After reviewing the narrow margin of the November general election and with full support of the Friends of Birch Bay Library, the Whatcom County Library System will ask the Whatcom County Council to place the Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) on the Feb. 8, 2022, special election ballot. In the Nov. 2, 2021, … Read more

WCLS hosts Birch Bay Library information sessions

Architect's rendering of Birch Bay Library

Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) Executive Director Christine Perkins will host four online community meetings to share information and to answer questions about the proposed Birch Bay Vogt Community Library. Voters who live within the boundaries of the proposed Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) will vote Nov. 2 to determine if they will fund construction … Read more

Volunteers needed to serve on Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area committees

To prepare a Birch Bay Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) ballot measure for the November 2021 election, Whatcom County Library System seeks volunteers to be appointed to two committees as required by law.  If approved, the LCFA will support the construction of a library in Birch Bay. One committee, to be known as the “For” … Read more