Spanish-language phone line connects patrons with library and community resources
A new Spanish-language phone line further expands Whatcom County Library System’s outreach to the local Hispanic community. When patrons call ...
Ep. 52: Whatcom READS: Claire McElroy & Wes Weddell
Claire McElroy and Wes Weddell tell us about a new addition to the Whatcom READS author visit: MUSIC inspired by ...
WCLS hosts 11 budget listening sessions at locations across the county and online
Whatcom County Library System staff are hosting 11 public listening sessions in February and March at county library branches and ...
Apply to serve on Board of Trustees
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) seeks a Whatcom County resident who loves libraries to fill a partial term on the ...
Whatcom READS announces community and author events celebrating 2025 book selection
Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2025 schedule of community and ...
Freedge opens at North Fork Community Library
Sustainable Connections and Whatcom County Library System are thrilled to announce the opening of the Freedge at the North Fork ...
Ep. 51: Janie Chang and Kim Morris – Open Book
Open Book: Sunday, November 3, 2024, Ferndale Events Center Janie Chang's Family Stories Books by Janie Chang Janie's recommendations: The ...
WCLS presents Golden Apple Educator Awards
Three Whatcom County educators who successfully advocate for reading and public libraries to further student success will be honored with ...
Open Book: A Festival for Readers returns Nov. 3
Readers and writers, rejoice! Open Book: A Festival for Readers returns noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Ferndale Events ...
Ep 50: Clara Jorgenson: 100 Years YOUNG!
We talked with Clara Jacobson, a volunteer for the Friends of the Ferndale Library, who celebrates her 100th birthday on ...
Bookworms cultivate creative fundraising project for Blaine Library
A Blaine nonprofit organization is transforming retired Whatcom County Library System totes into Bookworm Bins as a fundraiser for the ...
Ep 49: Mariya Farmagey and Erin Suda
North Fork Library7506 Kendall RoadMaple Falls, WA 98266(360) 599-2020HoursTues 10:00 AM-8:00 PMWed10:00 AM-6:00 PMThurs10:00 AM-8:00 PMFri 10:00 AM-6:00 PMSat 10:00 ...
Episode 48: Catherine’s Wedding and Birch Bay Vogt Library
Catherine and Anthony stand before officiant, Maggie Mae at the Ferndale Library meeting room A Guest in the House by ...
Freedge at North Fork Library will address climate change, food insecurity
An innovative Whatcom County partnership to address climate change and reduce food waste has been awarded a $27,500 Small Communities, ...
WCLS hosts free, fun summer events, including Whatcom Grooves
Whatcom County Library System’s summer calendar is loaded with free events for families, teens, kids and kids at heart. Headline ...
Summer Reading begins June 1
Whatcom County Library System’s annual Summer Reading program for kids, teens and adults begins June 1. The county library system ...
Episode 47: Mango Languages with Maggie Mae
We discuss our free Mango Languages app with WCLS Learning Coordinator Maggie Mae Nase who is a world traveler and ...
WCLS and Friends of Birch Bay Library host June 10 community meeting
Whatcom County Library System and Friends of Birch Bay Library will host a 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 10 community engagement ...
Thank you, Joyce!
WCLS recently honored long-time Blaine resident and library advocate Joyce Vanderpol, whose generous gift funded a meeting pod and other ...
WCLS offers sensory kits
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the Whatcom County Library System is taking part by rolling out sensory kits at ...
Ep. 46: Cynthia French and A Forest of Words
A Forest of Words webpageA Forest of Words Poetry Reading and Celebration, Friday May 10, 2024, at Ferndale Library Books ...
Whatcom READS announces 2025 book selection
No Two Persons by Port Townsend, Wash.-based author Erica Bauermeister is the Whatcom READS 2025 book selection. Sasha taqʷšəblu Lapointe, ...
Ep. 45: YAI Podcast interview with Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe
We feature an episode from the Young and Indigenous (YAI) Podcast from Children of the Setting Sun Productions. YAI hosts, ...
WCLS partners with state, county health departments to respond to opioid crisis
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is partnering with the Washington State Department of Health to provide free naloxone kits to ...
WCLS asks: Can you spot a scam?
By WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins I was talking to a library patron recently and asked how her week was ...
Ep. 44: Digital Literacy with Christine Perkins and Tamar Clarke
Transcript Christine and Tamar stop by to tell us about the Digital Literacy webpage (https://www.wcls.org/digital-literacy/) they have created in cooperation ...
Ep. 43: Claire McElroy and Whatcom READS
Transcript Claire McElroy is our Adult Programming Coordinator, wrangling speakers, authors, events and workshops for WCLS and Whatcom READS. Is ...
Whatcom County Council allocates $315,000 in ARPA funding to support Birch Bay Vogt Library Express
Following successful outreach by Friends of the Birch Bay Library volunteers, the Whatcom County Council has allocated $315,000 to support ...
Ep. 42 2023 Wrap Up with Christine Perkins
Transcript Mary Vermillion chats with Executive Director Christine Perkins about the eventful 12 months that were 2023 and the exciting ...
Ep. 41 WCLS Gift Guide for 2023
Transcript Our WCLS book selectors sit down and discuss several of the books in our Gift Guide publication, available at ...
Ep 40: Open Book Recap and Shush with Debi
Listen to folks at our Open Book Festival and get a glimpse at the man behind the microphone as we ...
Ep 39: Open Book Festival
Find out about the Open Book Festival happening on Sunday, November 5, 2023. WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins and Village ...
Ep 38: Jerry Steinhilber & Whatcom Grooves
We caught Jerry after his trio performed among the stacks in the Ferndale Library and we discussed jazz and kids ...
Ep. 37 Sarah & Hana: Summer Reading Update
Transcript Summer Reading 2023 Whatcom Million Trees Project Stories and Popsicles / Cuentos y Paletas Enter the Body by Joy ...
Ep 36: Whatcom Grooves with Liz Andre, Deb Wibe, Nancy Wyan and Brett Green
Find out about our Summer Jazz Series with some Friends of South Whatcom Library. Transcript https://bit.ly/Summer_Reading_Kickoff-2023 https://whatcommilliontrees.org/ https://www.wecu.com/ https://www.wcls.org/library-foundation/ Whatcom ...
Ep 35 Summer Reading 2023 – Whatcom Million Trees Project
Sarah Lavender discusses our Summer Reading program and our partnership with Whatcom Million Trees Project and then we take a ...
Ep 34: Washington Library Association Conference 2023
Fourteen WCLS staff members visited the Washington Library Association Conference in Wenatchee this year. Find out why and what they ...
Birch Bay Library project moves forward as a library express following approval of state grant scope change
Thanks to successful advocacy efforts by Birch Bay residents and Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) staff, the Washington State Legislature ...
Ep 33: Jess Walter, Whatcom READS 2023 Author
An interview with Jess Walter to kick off the Whatcom READS 2023 Season. Jess comes to town March 2-4 to ...
Ep.32: An Oral History of Whatcom READS
Ann McAllen, Linda Lambert, Chuck and Dee Robinson, Paul Hanson and Christine Perkins tell the origin story of Whatcom READS, ...
Ep 31: Bringing books back to the Sumas Library
We talk to staff who are loading books onto the brand-new shelves of the newly remodeled Sumas Library after the ...
WCLS considers next steps for Birch Bay Library
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Whatcom County Library System’s Board of Trustees learned the Washington State Department of Commerce ...
”Thank you Joan Airoldi” Bonus Episode
So many people wanted to say thank you to former WCLS Executive Director Joan Airoldi, who passed away on December ...
Ep 30 Remembering Joan Airoldi, former Executive Director for WCLS
WCLS’s former Executive Director Joan Airoldi passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Joan was our leader from 2002 ...
Ep 29 WCLS Jail Services with Barry MacHale
An interview with WCLS Jail Services PSA, Barry MacHale about the services we provide our incarcerated patrons. Originally produced for ...
Ep 28 Lisa Gresham-Life Cycle of a Book
Collections Manager Lisa Gresham takes us on a tour of her departments that she calls “The Life Cycle of a ...
Ep. 27 Sumas Flood, one year later – Carl Crouse, Penny Leenders, Paul Fullner
Sumas and Everson Library Manager Paul Fullner talks with long-time Sumas residents Carl Crouse and Penny Leenders about the devastating ...
Ep. 26 Alix Prior, Theresa Morrison & Sarah Lavender
We welcome new Ferndale branch manager Alix Prior and talk with Theresa and Sarah about the return to in-person Storytimes ...
Ep. 25 Jenn Rick-Library Foundation
Whatcom County Library Foundation Development Director Jenn Rick tells us all about the Foundation and the wonderful things they do ...
Ep. 24 Clyde Ford Read & Share
Bellingham author Clyde Ford talks to WCLS Collection Development Librarian Mary Kinser about his award-winning memoir and our 2022 Read & ...
Episode 23 Notes: North Fork 11th Anniversary
Historical Photos from the Washington Rural Heritage website Historical photos and documents of the North Fork Library at the Washington ...
Ep. 22 Summer Reading with Sarah Lavender
Sarah Lavender talks about our Summer Reading plans and programs. And we get a handful of book recommendations from Sarah, ...
Episode 21 – Cayla Samms, Jonathan Jakobitz, Emma Radosevich and Marie Guenette
Update on the Sumas Library with Cayla Samms, Jonathan Jakobitz talks about events at Blaine Library and Emma and Marie ...
Ep. 20: Poetry Month & PLA Conference
Stories from the Public Library Association Conference in Portland OR and we ask What Does Amy Think About Poetry for ...
WCLS responds to Birch Bay Library article
By Christine Perkins, Executive Director, Whatcom County Library System Note: This post was updated Sunday, April 3, 2022, in response ...
Ep. 19: Whatcom READS Wrap Up
We get a look behind the scenes at Whatcom READS with Emma Radosevich who interviewed author Michael Christie in Deming, ...
Ep. 18 WhatcomREADS Author’s Week
The first week of March is the culmination of a season of WhatcomREADS events as Greenwood author Michael Christie comes to town ...
Ep. 17: Whatcomics
WCLS Teen Services Coordinator Tamar Clarke talks about Whatcomics and A Forest of Words, our annual teen art and poetry ...
Ep. 16: Freegal with Rose Momsen, Whatcom READS with Ann McAllen
In this first episode of 2022, Rose Momsen and Neil discuss our streaming music service, Freegal and Ann McAllen, Chair ...
Ep. 15: Blooper Reel
You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. And we couldn’t make our podcast without breaking out in ...
Ep. 14: Flood in Sumas
11/14/2021 Whatcom News story: Whatcom County communities threatened by potential flooding take action 11/16/2021 Lynden Tribune article: Nooksack man photographs flooding ...
Ep. 13: Sarah Miller and Marv Waschke
Interlibrary Loan Specialist Sarah Miller talks about how she borrows books from other libraries to loan to our patrons. And ...
Episode 12 Melanie May and Author/Librarian Nancy Pearl (Part 2)
WCLS Collection Development Librarian Mary Kinser returns to interview Blaine Library patron and supporter, Melanie May, who tells us all ...
Episode 11: Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock and Nancy Pearl (Part 1)
WCLS Collection Development Librarian Mary Kinser interviews Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, author of Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town and The ...
Episode 10: Riley Sweeney and Clyde Ford
Local author Clyde Ford stops in to talk about Think Black, Dr. Ford’s memoir of his father which recently won ...
Episode 9, Library Card Sign-up Month & Mary Kinser and Emma Radosevich recommend books
We hear part two of my interview with Mary Vermillion about Library Card Sign-up Month and then we do a ...
Episode 8: Carmi Parker and Mary Vermillion – eBook Boycott and Library Cards
American Library Association Movers & Shakers Award Article by Carmi Parker: Why We Choose to Boycott Macmillan eBooks Macmillan Abandons ...
Episode 7: Katrina Carabba and Erica Bauermeister – Read & Share
Deming Library Manager Katrina Carabba takes us on a tour of the Deming Library and the Library Learning Garden and ...
Episode 6 Birch Bay with Christine Perkins (Part 2), Everson/Sumas Manager Alexa Andrews
Watch a video of the new Missoula MT library Read the latest Cascadia Weekly book reviews by Christine Perkins and ...
Episode 5 Christine Perkins (Part 1), Everson/Sumas Manager Alexa Andrews, Summer Reading with Theresa Morrison
Mel Fell by Corey Tabor Five Early Literacy Practices Washington State Library Rural Heritage Foundation The Fireman by Joe Hill ...
Episode 4 Notes: Rika Lee Vanderhorst & Debby Farmer
Historical WCLS Bookmobile photos on Washington Rural Heritage website Photos and video of current WCLS Bookmobile Birch Bay Library Building ...
Episode 3 Notes: Liz Andre, South Whatcom and Emily Fullner, Friends Online Bookstore
Say hello to Liz Andre on the South Whatcom Facebook page Read The Tubman Command by Elizabeth Cobbs Read Washington Black by Esi Edugyan ...
Episode 2 Notes: Summer Reading is Here!
Visit our Summer Reading page here See photos and images from past Summer Reading seasons including Tammy LaPlante’s reading lists ...
Introducing Our New Podcast: Library Stories
In Episode 1, you'll meet your host Neil McKay and his boss Mary Vermillion as they talk about what's in ...