Help refresh the Bellingham Central Library for a new generation!
Kicking off on Library Giving Day, April 1, and continuing through 2025, the Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees and Whatcom Community Foundation invite you to support a major fundraising effort to revitalize the Bellingham Central Library’s aging ground floor, including the Children’s department and a relocated Teen space. It will inspire our local youth upon entry, with spaces for children and teens that are modern, safe, clean, inviting, age appropriate, and ADA accessible.
Watch this video to learn more:
How You Can Make a Difference
$3.5 million in private donations are needed to fund this critical renovation and provide a 21st century, welcoming space for babies and their new parents to learn about early literacy, for children to develop a love of reading and playing, and for teens to branch out, in a space that is free and open to everyone.
- Donate to the Bellingham Public Library through the Whatcom Community Foundation.
- Generous donors investing in the future have already committed $1,4 million toward the Library’s $3.5 million goal.
- Double your donation: A generous donor has pledged to match new gifts in 2025 up to $100,000.
- For donation-related questions, and major gifts, please contact Jenn Daly, Whatcom Community Foundation Director of Engagement & Philanthropy, jenn@WhatcomCF.org. 360-685-9283
- Each dollar raised makes a significant contribution towards this important project. Thank you!
Why Your Support Matters
- Help create a modern, welcoming library for Bellingham’s next generation of readers and learners.
- The Central Library’s aging children’s and teen spaces need renovation to be safe, accessible and inspiring.
- Your donation supports a vibrant, 21st-century library – a place for babies, children and teens to learn, play, and grow.
The Need for Renovation
- Built in 1951 for a population of 35,000 and last remodeled in 1985 for a population of 47,000, the Central Library serves a population that has more than doubled to nearly 100,000.
- The children’s and teen areas do not meet the needs of today’s families.
- Redesigned spaces are necessary for better efficiency and safety.
The Vision for the Future
- A safe, inviting, and inspiring library for young people, with age-appropriate, accessible spaces.
- Teens will have a dedicated area on the same floor as Children’s Services, fostering mentorship and engagement.
- Expanded early literacy spaces will support brain development and learning for babies and young children.
A Library for Everyone
- The Central Library serves over 500,000 visits per year, providing free programs and resources to the entire community.
- The renovation will ensure a modern, welcoming space for families, where young people can learn, connect, and thrive.
- Investing in the library is investing in Bellingham’s future—support this transformation today!
Learn More
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