Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2026 schedule of community and author events, celebrating Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora. The book selection was announced in March 2025. The bestselling memoir, which recounts the author’s odyssey from El Salvador to Arizona as an unaccompanied 9-year-old, presents … Read more
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) seeks a Whatcom County resident who loves libraries to serve as a member of its Board of Trustees. This term will begin Feb. 1, 2026 and will expire Jan. 31, 2030. The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Library trustees’ responsibilities include: Candidates should live in Whatcom County, outside the city … Read more
The Deming community will celebrate the unveiling of a mural painted for the Deming Library building by celebrated Coast Salish artist Sienum Jason LaClair at a 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 public event at the library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. The mural was funded by The Norcliffe Foundation, Whatcom Educational Credit Union, Whatcom Community Foundation’s … Read more
Thank you, Whatcom County voters! We are so pleased to share the news that Proposition 2 was approved by a majority of voters and funding for the library services that our community depends upon is secure for the foreseeable future. Having reliable, sustainable funding means WCLS staff can continue providing excellent, innovative library services across … Read more
Whatcom County Library System’s summer calendar (June-August) is loaded with free events for families, teens, kids and kids at heart. Headline events include the library system’s popular Summer Reading program and Whatcom Grooves, a series of summer concerts. See the full list of Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) summer programs, register for events and confirm … Read more
As part of its April 6-12 National Library Week celebrations, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Golden Apple Educator Awards. The honorees are Natalia Burke, middle school librarian at Lynden Christian School; Tammy Immer, administrative assistant to the principal, Beach Elementary School, Ferndale School District; and Jordan … Read more
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