Open Book Experiences

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Author Donna Barba Higuera and her book The Last CuentistaAuthor Donna Barba Higuera: Your Community, Your StoriesDonna Barba Higuera gives her talk at 1:00 p.m. on the Main Stage.The Main Stage
Author Emma Pattee and her book TiltAuthor Emma Pattee: Man Walks Alone with Gun: A Feminist Retelling of End-Time NarrativesEmma Pattee gives her talk at 2:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.The Main Stage
hands holding a gold appleGolden Apple AwardsWCLS Youth Services staff will honor four Whatcom County educators at 12:30 p.m. in a ceremony on the Main Stage.The Main Stage
six hands working on a jigsaw puzzleSpeed Puzzling ContestThe Speed Puzzling Finals will take place at 4:00 p.m. on the Main Stage.The Main Stage
Painted rocks on a beach with sea in background. Rocks say "Save the Date," "Nov 13-15," "Salish Sea Poetry Festival," and "Poetry to the People"Poetry Minute with the Salish Sea Poetry Festival Poetry will be read throughout the day on the Main Stage.
Bookmobile with quotation from Nelson Mandela: "When we read we are able to travel to many places, meet many people, and understand the world." The BookmobileClimb aboard the WCLS bookmobile and experience a library on wheels! Outside
The library game. Get a book pocket. Collect cards, Become a legend.The Library GameAre you playing the Library Game? Pick up a book pocket and collect Library Game cards all around Open Book. Pose for a photo with props and your favorite Library Game characters. Welcome Center
Dolly Parton reading a book Dolly Parton’s Imagination LibrarySign up for this low-barrier literacy program that mails free books to children under 5, sponsored by United Way of Whatcom County. Bilingual and accessible options available! Market Street
Two Friends of the Blaine Library and a library staff member standing at a parkBlaine Friends of the LibraryCelebrate friendship under the Peace Arch. Learn about the proposed Blaine Library project and how you can get involved with your local Friends group.Market Street
Professional Certification iconWA State Library Certification ProgramExpand your horizons and earn professional technology certifications, offered for free through your local library.Market Street
Whatcom County Library Foundation logo with yellow borderWhatcom County Library FoundationWith your financial support, the Foundation powers special library projects and programs–including Open Book! Learn how to get involved. Make a $20 donation and receive a limited-edition Open Book poster. Market Street
Whatcom Literacy Council logo: Opening Doors, changing lives.Whatcom Literacy CouncilLearn how one-on-one tutoring and literacy classes empower adult to achieve their goals, and how you can help.Market Street
Whatcom Reads logoWhatcom READSRead the book, join the conversation! Learn how Whatcom County’s annual community book club celebrates the joy of reading.Market Street
Backpack and mapsLibrary of ThingsYou can borrow more than books from the library! Explore the Library of Things collection, which includes puzzles, bike repair kits, dolls, ukuleles, animatronic cats and Wi-Fi hotspots.
The Park
Board gamesTabletop GamesStop by the park and sit a spell; play some quick games from our Library of Things board game collection.The Park
Book ClubsBook Club MatchmakersAre you ready to meet your match? Sit down with the matchmakers and prepare to fall for the book club of your dreams.Town Square
Whatcom County Library System logoInterLibrary LoansDiscover the possibilities of interlibrary loans. Write a postcard to one of our partner libraries and marvel at items we bring to you from far and wide.Town Square
Woman feeding a piece of paper into a slot on a fortune teller machine that says The Amazing LibbyAmazing Libby Fortune TellerStep right up to the Amazing Libby Fortune Teller and discover your reading destiny on the library’s eBook app.Town Square
Library card with cartoon of kid, dog, cat and bird reading books while walkingThe LibraryVisit the Open Book library to check out books and get your library card! New library card designs feature art by Jason LaClair and Keith Negley.Town Square
Four events representing our cultural liaisons, Diwali celebration, Storytime in English, Russian and Ukranian, Dia de los Muertos and Coast Salish Mural unveilingThe LonghouseMeet WCLS’s Cultural Liaisons and discover how multicultural projects and programs keep our community connected. Play games and win prizes!Town Square
Telehamster. Screen-free connectivity for kids and adults. Telehamster.net, 8353 (TELE). No ScreensPhone BoothCall the library the old-fashioned way with Telehamster. Dial to hear a poem, listen to a story, or leave a message for WCLS sharing your Library Story. Town Square
Free gal Music Record StoreFeeling nostalgia for your iPod or CD collection? Come crate digging at the Record Store and discover the library’s music collection on Freegal and CDs.Town Square
Kanopy logo - Stream SmarterVideo StoreMiss the days of in-person browsing for movie night? Swing by the Video Store, powered by WCLS and Kanopy, to find something great to watch at home.Town Square
Dog Man book and stuffed animalYouth ServicesMeet the fun and friendly folks of the YS team. Join the picture book scavenger hunt around Library Town.Town Square
Painted rocks on a beach with sea in background. Rocks say "Save the Date," "Nov 13-15," "Salish Sea Poetry Festival," and "Poetry to the People"Salish Sea Poetry LoungeRelax, recline and read some poetry by the sea. Sponsored by Wilson’s Furniture. The Beach
Bison Bookbinding LogoBison Bookbinding & LetterpressSee a printing press in action! Shop stationery made for paper people, by paper people.The Newsroom
News BankThe NewsstandExtra, extra! Discover local publications alongside the library’s collection of print and digital periodicals. The Newsroom
Library of congress center for the book, WashingtonWashington Center for the BookUse typewriters and other supplies to create a collaborative zine about the magic of books.The Newsroom
KZAX 94.9 and online. Makeshift radioKZAX 94.9 Make.Shift RadioCheck out Bellingham’s community radio station (KZAX 94.9) for all things local art, music and culture. You might even get a chance to get your voice on the air!The Newsroom
Bellingham MakerspaceBellingham MakerspaceSatisfy your curiosity about Bellingham’s non-profit tool and skill-sharing space! The Workshop
Creative Bug logoCreative BugDiscover over a thousand virtual art and craft classes. Fold and decorate a cute pocketbook for your library card. The Workshop
Puget Sound Book Artists logoPuget Sound Book ArtistsDesign and create your very own art book with instruction from the Puget Sound Book Artists.The Workshop
girl playing with builder boardsHands On BooksIf you’ve ever wished LEGO® sets were life-sized, come play with Builder Boards! Created by local builder and teacher Jack McKee. The Workshop
Village books and paper dreams logoVillage BooksWhatcom County’s favorite indie bookstore is here with books and bookish swag! Find titles by local and featured authors, as well as some surprises.The Bookstore
The Comics Place Bellingham logoThe Comics PlaceServing comic book fans since 1982, Comics Place offers comics, graphic novels, games and nerd ephemera.The Bookstore