Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2024 schedule of community and author events, celebrating Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe. Winner of the Washington State Book Award for creative nonfiction, Red Paint traces LaPointe’s personal story of trauma, healing and the search … Read more
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
On Nov. 1, 2023, Kanopy changed from a “credit” system to a “ticket” system. Each month, patrons will receive 30 tickets instead of 10 movie credits. (Note: Kanopy Kids still does not require credits or tickets. You can watch unlimited Kanopy Kids videos as before.) Movies and series will require tickets (often just two tickets … Read more
Three Ferndale School District educators and leaders who successfully advocate for reading and public libraries to further student success will be honored with Whatcom County Library System’s Golden Apple Educator Award at a 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 ceremony at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale. The celebration is part of the library … Read more
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) seeks a Whatcom County resident who loves libraries to fill a term on the WCLS Board of Trustees. This five-year term will expire Jan. 31, 2029. The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Library trustees’ responsibilities include: Candidates should live in Whatcom County, outside the city limits of Bellingham. Those with … Read more
Readers and writers, rejoice! Whatcom County Library System presents Open Book: A Festival for Readers, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale. The free event presented in partnership with Village Books and Paper Dreams and the Whatcom County Library Foundation celebrates readers, writers and bookish enthusiasm with author … Read more
For Summer Reading 2023, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) patrons read for the trees. Summer Reading activities added up to trees that will be planted in Whatcom County in partnership with Whatcom Million Trees Project (WMTP). Thanks to local readers and to funding from the Whatcom County Library Foundation, WCLS and WMTP will plant 500 … Read more
A heat advisory has been issued for parts of Western Washington, including Whatcom County, through Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. All WCLS libraries are equipped with air conditioning and can be useful as a cooling station for community members. Please exercise caution and spread the word to any neighbors who might need to cool down. Find … Read more
Whatcom READS invites writers of all ages and experience levels to submit original work for its annual writing challenge, Whatcom WRITES. This year’s prompt is legacies, which is inspired by Whatcom READS 2024 featured title, Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe. Submission deadline is Oct. 15. To … Read more
Celebrate summer, jazz and libraries at three free concerts hosted by Friends of South Whatcom, Ferndale and Blaine libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System. At each event, neighbors will gather for a joyous hour of live music and to discover what’s new at local libraries. Reservations are encouraged at wcls.org/jazz. The three … Read more