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Bellingham Public Library Loans Backpacks with Free Discover Pass

Backpack with Discover Pass, field guides and binoculars

Get outside this year and enjoy access to Washington State public lands by borrowing a backpack with a free Discover Pass through Bellingham Public Library. Check Out Washington is a collaboration between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington State Library to allow individuals to “check out a state park” without paying the … Read more

Black History Month Celebration

Bellingham Unity Committee commemorated Black History Month, with a virtual event on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, providing an evening of entertainment and education for all. Watch the video to be inspired by an exceptional group of black women who have made a special mark on our community. Bellingham Public Library was honored to provide the technical … Read more

The Unrooted Experience Highlights Community Voices through Video

To encourage racial equity and understanding, a group of powerful community voices gathered in November 2020 to share their lived experiences in Bellingham, WA through personal storytelling and video. This Digital Storytelling project, titled The Unrooted Experience, came to life in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic – at the same time that a call … Read more

Kristy Van Ness Joins Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees

Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees welcomes new member Kristy Van Ness, who begins her first term Jan. 19, 2021 through Dec. 2025. Van Ness is a resident of the Sunnyland neighborhood of Bellingham and a retired public involvement consultant. She’s active with Sunnyland Elementary School, volunteering at the school library and working with the … Read more

Library supports U.S. Census completion

protesters stading in front of city hall

UPDATE August 2021: The links below that point to the US Census website have all been redirected to https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html It is still not too late to complete your 2020 Census Questionnaire today!  Here is the latest news from the Census Bureau: To complete your 2020 Census Questionnaire online: To complete your 2020 Census Questionnaire by … Read more

Bellingham Public Library closed to the public starting Monday, March 16 until further notice

coronavirus graphic

For more information, see our coronavirus (COVID-19) information page. All Bellingham Public Library locations will be closed to the public, starting Monday, March 16 until further notice, in an effort to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). This closure follows Whatcom County Health Department recommendations and direction from the City of Bellingham. “The health … Read more

Library collaborating with local efforts addressing coronavirus

Illustration of COV​ID-19

Community partners throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County – including the library – are unified in preparing for and addressing coronavirus (COVID-19). When it comes to protecting the public’s health, we are all in this together. The Whatcom County Health Department is the lead response agency for all of Whatcom County, including Bellingham. Although this is … Read more

Libraries say farewell to overdue fines

three people at library holding books and smiling

Public libraries in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County are saying farewell to overdue fines. On January 2, Bellingham Public Library (BPL) and Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) joined libraries across the country that have eliminated the practice of charging people for returning library materials after the due date. This change is designed to help make … Read more

Read full newspapers online, including The Bellingham Herald

Stack of newspapers

Read The Bellingham Herald online, in full-page format, the same day it is published, free-of-charge with your library card. We are pleased to provide free, timely, full-image online access to several Washington newspapers – including The Bellingham Herald – thanks to the Washington State Library. The Washington State Library has a trial underway for public … Read more

Libraries say farewell to overdue fines

Public libraries in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County are saying farewell to overdue fines. On January 2, Bellingham Public Library (BPL) and Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) will join libraries across the country that have eliminated the practice of charging people for returning library materials after the due date. This change is designed to help … Read more