Bellingham Public Library Celebrates Women's History Month in March

March 8, 2026 is the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

Women are trailblazers, visionaries, politicians, activists, artists, authors, doctors, sports figures, and much more. Their stories reflect the challenges they’ve faced throughout history, as well as their achievements and contributions.

As we celebrate National Women’s History Month in March, Bellingham Public Library offers a wide range of materials, including books, music and film, to bring women’s life stories to light. Read on for specific recommendations from Library staff for adults, teens and children to encourage everyone to celebrate and learn about women’s achievements and challenges past and present.

Women’s History Nonfiction for Adults

She Did It booklist

Bellingham Public Library’s She Did It booklist offers a variety of great titles to read about notable women throughout history.

New titles include:

American Poison: A Deadly Invention and the Woman Who Battled for Environmental Justice
Daughter of Darring: the Trick-riding, Train-leaping, Road-racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Stuntwoman
Give Her Credit: the Untold Account of Women’s Bank That Empowered a Generation
I’m Not Your Muse: Uncovering the Overshadowed Brillance of Women Artists & Visionaries
A More Perfect Party: the Night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics
Propaganda Girls: the Secret War of the Women in the OSS

Library Staff Recommend:

Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight by Amy Shira Teitel

“Did you know that a woman took the same medical tests as the Mercury astronauts? And in some areas it showed women were better adapted to the challenges of early space flight! You may not know the name of Jerrie Cobb, but you should.”

– Tim, Security and Information Specialist

Rebel Folklore by Icy Sedgwick

“A testament to how every culture across time and space has been fascinated with the rebel and misfit archetype. Melissa Jarram’s art is absolutely stunning!”

– Lark, Public Services Clerk

The Six: the Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush

“We have all heard of Dr. Sally Ride the first American woman in space. Here are the incredible stories of the other five.”

– Tim, Security and Information Specialist

Women’s History Fiction for Adults

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

“This atmospheric and harrowing novella is a brilliant addition to modern feminist folk horror.”

– Lark, Public Services Clerk

Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

“A consummate professional and the queen of the Victorian sensation novel, Braddon’s novels are full of lurid crimes; she’d committed at least one of them in real life. Lady Audley’s Secret is her best work, and truly dark, even for a modern reader.”

– Karen, Public Services Clerk

Middlemarch by George Eliot

“The village of Middlemarch is home to a variety of couples whose relationships veer from blissful to disastrous in this shrewdly realistic Victorian novel. Eliot herself lived happily with her married lover, which may have sharpened her analyses of all the ways a marriage can go wrong.”

– Karen, Public Services Clerk

Women’s History Books for Teens

Strong Girls, Strong Women Book List for Teens

Teen books are, of course, geared toward the 13-18 year old audience, but are frequently enjoyed by readers of all ages. We encourage you to take a look at this great list of titles and staff recommendations whether you’re a teen or an adult.

Women’s History Books for Children

*Migh**ty Girls!* Book List for Children

Enjoy stories featuring strong, smart, courageous and mighty girls.

Library Staff Recommend:

Finish the Fight! The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote by Veronica Chambers

“I love this book so much. I love learning about major players and perspectives on the Women’s Suffrage movement I didn’t learn about in school, and I love all the beautiful illustrations that accompany each chapter. It is a beautiful and educational book.” Recommended for ages 8 and up.

– Lorena, Public Services Clerk

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

“A perfect primer if you’re looking to learn a little bit about a lot of powerful, creative, influential, and brilliant women in world history. Each page is a different woman’s story, pulling from women in science, the arts, journalism, social justice, espionage, and literature, and the illustrations are beautiful.” Recommended for all ages.

– Lorena, Public Services Clerk

Photo of a woman with brown hair holding up a children's book

Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley

This picture book tells the true story of a girl named Mary who had the daring and paradigm shifting idea…to wear comfortable clothes. At the time girls were not allowed to wear pants. When confronted, Mary retorted “I’m not wearing boys’ clothes. I’m wearing MY clothes!” Recommended for ages 5-9 years

– Mandee, Children’s Programming Specialist

Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey

“A moody and beautifully illustrated biography of the mother of Science Fiction, and how she came to write one of the most influential novels of all time! Bailey captures the facts of Shelley’s life, as well as the influences on her writing, and encourages young readers to connect with their own creative processes in the same ways. With detailed illustrations, and accessible prose, this is a great biography for any young reader interested in horror, sci-fi, or history.” Recommended for ages 10 – 12.

– Rosalie, Public Services Clerk

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers

“A funny, tongue-twisty, mostly-true tale of one woman in the early 1900s who brought new meaning to the phrase ‘moving houses’ when she literally rolled her house four whole miles in order to keep supporting her family with her lucrative (if smelly) pig farm.” Recommended for ages 4 – 8.

– Rosalie, Public Services Clerk

Photo of a person holding up a book in front of their face

Sew Sister by Elise Matich

“As a sewist, I was particularly delighted to learn that NASA employs a team of seamstresses! Too often women’s contributions to historical events or scientific achievements go unrecognized. Both in terms of women doing the same work as the men, and in terms of doing the ‘women’s work’ that made those achievements possible. Without the women who tended spaces, cooked everyone’s meals, and did the sewing, things couldn’t run. In this particular instance a team of women literally sew heat shields for the space shuttle!”

– Lorena, Public Services Clerk

To Boldly Go by Angela Dalton

“Tells the true and inspiring story of how Nichelle Nichols used her voice and her role as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek as a way to inspire generations of young people of color in both STEM and the arts. Her fire and perseverance were as legendary as the role she played on-screen, and this book is a fantastic tribute to such a beautiful and influential woman!” Recommended for ages 4 – 8.

– Rosalie, Public Services Clerk

Women’s History Films and Documentaries

Browse the Library shelves or search the online catalog to find films and documentaries featuring the lives of women and their stories.

To find eFilms and eDocumentaries, use your library card to sign up with Kanopy, the Library’s source for free online videos. Access them on your computer, mobile device or TV.

Historically, the contributions of women have often been underrepresented. As part of Women’s History Month, Kanopy has curated a collection of films that feature female innovators, pioneers, and trailblazers. To explore these titles, visit Kanopy #WomensHistoryMonth

Polite Society directed by Nida Manzoor

“An absolute romp! This kinetic and vibrant action comedy is a love letter to sisterhood.”

– Lark, Public Services Clerk

Women in Music

Bellingham Public Library is home to great music, books, and films by or about female musicians. Whether you love classical, country, hip hop or punk rock, we’ve got something for you!

Classical Women Composers List

Purchased with a generous donation from library patron Catherine Rae Sheldon, so that others may discover and enjoy the many overlooked works by women composers of classical music, this special music collection is definitely one to enjoy during Women’s History Month and all year long.

Read more about female composers and the Classical Women Composers collection here.

Freegal Music: Music Streaming and Downloads! All you need is your library card - freegalmusic.com

Freegal Music is a free music service from your library. All you need is your library card number and password/PIN. Freegal offers access to 15 million+ songs. The collection includes hundreds of genres from over 40,000+ labels with music that originates in over 100 countries. Click HERE to visit Freegal.

Women in Music Playlist on Freegal

BPL’s Women in Music Playlist is full of great songs by incredible female artists throughout the years. Click the link below to give it a listen.

Book Club Kits with a Focus on Women’s History

Do you participate in a local book group? The Bellingham Public Library has about 200 book club kits for your group to choose from, including memoirs and biographies featuring girls and women throughout history as well as fictional stories.

A book club kit contains 10 copies of the same title, and a reading guide that contains information about the book, the author, and questions for your group to discuss. Click HERE to browse the list of kit titles and make a reservation using your library card.