WCLS in Whatcom County Presents Library Stories!

Welcome to our podcast!

image of headphones in purple circle

This twice-monthly show will feature conversations and interviews all about your public libraries and the people who populate them. Tune in to laugh a little and learn a little about the communities, the staff, the events, the backrooms, the happenings, and, of course, the books!

It’s a half hour of happiness delivered to your earbuds every two weeks!

Open your eyes to all the ways your local libraries matter.

Listen to the podcast here or subscribe on your favorite Podcast platform.

Let us know what you would like to hear. Email the host at neil.mckay@wcls.org

Listen to the Sumas Library story from 2019 flood to 2023 reopening!
Find out more about the Sumas Library Recovery here.

You can also listen to the show on Mondays at 6:00 pm and Fridays at 10:00 am on KVAX 102.5 FM in East Whatcom County and on Saturdays at 11:00 am on KMRE 102.3 FM in Bellingham

Episode 35 – Summer Reading with Sarah Lavender and and Whatcom Million Trees Executive Director Michael Feerer

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson

Episode 34 – 2023 Washington Library Association Conference in Wenatchee

I Been Everywhere sung by Hank Snow
Robert Lashley reading at Whatcom READS in 2021

Books by Robert Lashley in the WCLS Catalog

Episode 32 – Whatcom READS: An Oral History
Episode 33 – Jess Walter Interview

Whatcom READS playlist of author events and other presentations
Whatcom Reads 2023 Selection: The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Episode 31 – Bringing Books Back to the Sumas Library


Episode 30 – Remembering Joan Airoldi

Show Notes

Remembering Joan Airoldi

Joan Airoldi

WCLS’s former Executive Director Joan Airoldi passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Joan led the county library system from 2002 to 2013.  She will be remembered as a Library Champion on a multitude of counts: establishing the Whatcom READS program in collaboration with partners at Whatcom Community College, advocating for new libraries in Ferndale, North Fork, South Whatcom, Island and Point Roberts and encouraging all of us to “Be Curious” and to “Listen, Learn & Lead.”  Joan’s courage in defending patrons’ rights to privacy earned her a national recognition with a PEN/Newman Award.  She generously donated the prize money to start the Whatcom County Library Foundation.

We asked WCLS staff and friends who knew Joan if they wanted to share stories and we offer a sampling of the many stories that were recorded. Heartfelt thanks to the friends and coworkers of Joan who allowed us the privilege of capturing their stories.

  • Frances Barbagallo 
  • Tina Bixby 
  • Mariya Farmagay 
  • Jeanne Fondrie 
  • Lisa Gresham
  • Lois Holub   
  • Amy Jones  
  • Sarah Koehler
  • Linda Lambert 
  • Tammy LaPlante 
  • Laura Larson-Kollmar 
  • Dick Little 
  • Di Marrs-Smith 
  • Theresa Morrison 
  • Lisa Neulicht 
  • Carol Oberton  
  • Amory Peck
  • Christine Perkins  
  • Cindy Pfeiffer-Hoyt 
  • Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt 
  • Jenn Rick 
  • Lizz Roberts 
  • Erin Suda 

 

All of us at the Whatcom County Library System extend our sympathy to Joan’s family and to everyone who loved and admired her. We miss her deeply and honor her spirit in the work we do on behalf on library patrons.

Joan Airoldi
Joan Airoldi
Button saying "Fiesty Little Stink Bug"
Joan Airoldi
Joan Airoldi
Joan Airoldi
Joan Airoldi
Joan Airoldi
Socks
Hard Times Require Furious Dancing. New Poems by Alice Walker
Whatcom County Library Foundation logo

Donations to the Whatcom County Library Foundation can be made in Joan’s honor here.

Hard Times Require Furious Dancing: New Poems by Alice Walker

 

Episode 29 – Jail Services with Barry MacHale

Episode 28 Life Cycle of a Book with Lisa Gresham

Show Notes

Thanks to Shari Sievers for the photos of just some of the 142 book carts at our Administrative Offices

Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices
Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices
Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices
Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices
Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices
Book carts at the WCLS Administrative Offices

Episode 27 – Sumas Flood One Year Later

Episode 26 Ferndale Manager Alix Prior, Storytime with Theresa Morrison and Sarah Lavender

Show Notes

“Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.” 
Eudora Welty

Episode 25 – Jenn Rick, Library Foundation

Show Notes

“A library is vibrant,
And vital,
And chatty,
And interesting,
And colorful.”
– Jenn Rick

“You can’t turn back the clock,
but you can wind it up again”
– Bonnie Prudden 

Episode 24 Clyde Ford, author of Think Black

Show Notes
Think Black by Clyde Ford

Episode 23 North Fork Library 11th Anniversary Party

Episode 22 Summer Reading with Sarah Lavender

Episode 21 – Cayla Samms, Jonathan Jakobitz, Emma Radosevich and Marie Guenette

Show Notes
Cayla standing in Sumas Library during flood repairs
Sumas Library undergoing repairs

Donate to Sumas Library Recovery Fund

Blaine Library Events

Sumas Events

Jonathan’s recommendations

Marie and Emma podcasting
Marie and Emma talking YA Lit

Episode 20 Poetry Month and PLA Conference

Episode 19 Whatcom READS Wrap-up with Emma Radosevich, Michael Christie and Amy Jones

Episode 18 Whatcom READS Author’s Week with Paul Hanson and Amy Jones

Show Notes

Episode 17 Whatcomics with Tamar Clarke and Sorrel Thoerner

Episode 16 – Freegal with Rose Momsen, Whatcom READS with Ann McAllen

Episode 15 Blooper Reel

Show Notes

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things,
trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself,
changing yourself, changing your world.
You’re doing things you’ve never done before,
and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.”

Neil Gaiman
(Books and items written by Neil Gaiman)

Episode 14 Flood in Sumas with Paul Fullner and Deborah Morgan

Show Notes

Hopeful Book Recommendation


KING 5 News aerial footage of flooding in Sumas, Ferndale, Everson and State Route 9 near Cedarville
Mike Scholten of Scholten Equipment drives a tractor to Sumas to help with rescue efforts
Paul Fullner kayaking across floodwaters to Sumas Library
Paul Fullner kayaking across floodwaters to Sumas Library
image of sumas library underwater. Image by Alison Boudle
Photo of Sumas Library in flood waters courtesy of Alison Boudle
WCLS Collection Services Manager Lisa Gresham recovering books from the Sumas Library after the November 2021 flood
WCLS Collection Services Manager Lisa Gresham recovering books from the Sumas Library
PSA Laurie Dawson recovering books from the Sumas Library November 2021 flood
WCLS Public Services Assistant Laurie Dawson recovering books from the Sumas Library
WCLS Deputy Director Michael Cox salvaging books from the Sumas Library after the November 2021 flood
WCLS Deputy Director Michael Cox salvaging books from the Sumas Library

Episode 13 – WCLS Trustee Marv Waschke and ILL with Sarah Miller

Episode 12 Patron Melanie May and Author/Librarian Nancy Pearl (Part 2)

Episode 11 Authors Bonnie Sue Hitchcock and Nancy Pearl

Episode 10 Library Patron Riley Sweeney and Local Author Clyde Ford

Episode 9 Library Card Sign-Up Month, Mary Kinser and Emma Radosevich

Episode 8 – eBook Boycott with Carmi Parker, Library Cards with Mary Vermillion

Episode 7 – Deming Manager Katrina Carabba and Read & Share author Erica Bauermeister

Episode 6 Birch Bay with Christine Perkins (Part 2), Everson/Sumas Manager Alexa Andrews

Episode 5 Christine Perkins (Part 1), Everson/Sumas Manager Alexa Andrews, Summer Reading with Theresa Morrison

Episode 4 – Bookmobile with Rika Lee Vanderhorst and Blaine Manager Debby Farmer

Episode 3 South Whatcom Manager Liz Andre and Friends Online Bookstore with Emily Fullner

Episode 2 Summer Reading with Thom Barthlemass and Tammy LaPlante