WCLS recently honored long-time Blaine resident and library advocate Joyce Vanderpol, whose generous gift funded a meeting pod and other improvements at the Blaine Library. Vanderpol asked library staff what immediate changes could enhance the library experience in Blaine. “Joyce shared our vision for what a small meeting room space could mean for our patrons … Read more
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the Whatcom County Library System is taking part by rolling out sensory kits at all county library locations. The kits include essential items to support the sensory needs of autistic children and adults during library visits. Items in the sensory kits are recommended by the University of Washington iSchool Autism-Ready … Read more
No Two Persons by Port Townsend, Wash.-based author Erica Bauermeister is the Whatcom READS 2025 book selection. Sasha taqʷšəblu Lapointe, author of the 2024 featured title, Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk, made the announcement at the close of the March 15 Whatcom READS author event at the Mount Baker Theatre. Liane Moriarty, … Read more
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is partnering with the Washington State Department of Health to provide free naloxone kits to community members in need. The kits are available at WCLS’s 10 branch locations and the bookmobile. Supplies are limited but will be refilled periodically as long as WCLS can obtain additional doses. “We are thrilled … Read more
By WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins I was talking to a library patron recently and asked how her week was going. “Terrible,” she reported, and went on to explain that her computer had been “hacked” while shopping online and she had been on the phone with someone who insisted she send him thousands of dollars. … 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
Thanks to successful advocacy efforts by Birch Bay residents and Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) staff, the Washington State Legislature has approved the reallocation of a $2 million state grant to largely fund the renovation of the Vogt home at 7948 Birch Bay Drive as the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express. The state’s decision follows … Read more
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Whatcom County Library System’s Board of Trustees learned the Washington State Department of Commerce has declined a scope change request related to state funding for the Birch Bay Library. The previously approved $2 million state grant remains available, but it cannot be used for the proposal that would have … Read more
By Christine Perkins, Executive Director, Whatcom County Library System Note: This post was updated Sunday, April 3, 2022, in response to a question about WCLS’s ability to sell the house. As reported in the March 31 issue of The Northern Light, following recent elections, the Birch Bay Library project is currently on hold while the … Read more