Whatcom County Library System

Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) provides libraries for residents of Whatcom County, Washington. It runs nine library branches and a bookmobile, and is separate from the Bellingham Public Library system. The current director of Whatcom County Library System is Joan Airoldi.

WCLS Branch Locations

• Blaine Library
• Deming Library
• Everson Library
• Ferndale Library
• Lummi Island Library
• Lynden Library and System Reference
• Maple Falls Library
• Point Roberts Library
• Sumas Library

Bookmobile Stops

• Sudden Valley
• Lake Samish
• Birch Bay
• South Lake Whatcom
• Wickersham

History

The first libraries in Whatcom County were begun by women's clubs and organizations, and included facilities in Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine, and Sumas. The origination of a county-wide library system dates to the 1940s, when the County Grange proposed the idea of consolidating existing services and extending outreach to other communities. In 1944, voters in unincorporated Whatcom County passed a measure initiating a tax for library services and forming the Rural Library District.

In 1947 Sumas became the first city in Whatcom County to join WCLS. Bookmobile services began that same year and continue to be maintained as an outreach function of WCLS, along with services to senior communities and to correctional facilities. Over the next several decades, other communities voted to join the library system, and through fundraising efforts by the various "Friends of the Library" groups, were able to update and maintain their individual branch facilities.

Whatcom County Library Foundation

In 2004, through a $25,000 grant received from the Pen Foundation for the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award, WCLS instituted the Whatcom County Library Foundation. The Foundation states that their focus is "to foster intellectual freedom and First Amendment rights and to encourage life-long learning."

Collaboration

Although it is a separate library system, WCLS has maintained a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Bellingham Public Library since 1944. WCLS cardholders can check out and return materials at any Bellingham Public Library branch, or at Whatcom Community College Library. In 2010, WCLS became a member of "Whatcom Libraries Collaborate", a consortium of all academic and public libraries in Whatcom County. Through this program, any cardholder from any member library can borrow materials from any other member library.

External links

• Whatcom County Library System