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
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
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 theWhatcom READSprogram 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 aPEN/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.
“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
“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.”