Bellingham Public Library presents the following programs and events for adults and children in February 2024. Locations are noted for each program, including the Central Library, the Bellis Fair Branch, the Fairhaven Library Branch and online. For more information see BellinghamPublicLibrary.org. All programs are free of charge.
Adult Programs
Library Basics Tech Coaching*
Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Thursdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Bellis Fair Branch
The Library offers one-on-one coaching on basic tech skills and accessing the Library’s digital services. *Patrons must register for a half hour session by contacting the Help Desk at 360-778-7323.
Little Looms
Saturday, February 3, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Hands on weaving with fiber arts projects for library patrons of all ages. Members of the Whatcom Weavers Guild will bring projects to demonstrate as well as allowing the community to drop in for some hands-on experience.
Opportunity Council: Community Resource Connections
Tuesdays, February 6, 20, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in to meet with staff from Opportunity Council’s Community Resource Center and Community Programs teams. Staff will be available to provide information, referrals, and assistance on various community services. Get help with housing, food assistance, basic needs, and more.
Household Emergency Preparedness
Tuesday, February 6, 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
An overview of local hazards, fundamentals of emergency preparedness, starting a 2-week kit, preparing in a year, creating your household plan, and more.
Cascade STEAM Robotics
Saturday, February 10, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in to Cascade STEAM Robotics at the Bellingham Public Library for a project collaboration meetup. Bring your own personal projects, collaborate in a shared learning experience, and meet others interested in robotics, engineering, and technology. Open to everyone, but geared toward adults and teens.
NW Regional Council Outreach Specialists Onsite
Monday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in and talk to NWRC Outreach Specialists about how to become an in-home caregiver for low-income adults and other services they provide.
Experience Brain Fitness
Tuesdays, February 13, 27, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Keeping your brain fit by learning new skills, exercising your memories and challenging your brain to adapt and change can help delay or prevent the onset of memory challenges. Come get your brain loose and limber with fun brain training games and exercises led by Certified Brain Fitness Trainer Dawn Anderson. Adults of all ages welcome.
Drop-In Home Item Repair Workshop
Tuesdays, February 13, 20, 4:30 – 6:45 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in and work with skilled volunteers to learn how to repair your broken household items.
Spin Your Own Yarn
Sunday, February 18, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
At this drop-in program, spinners from the Spindrifters Guild will provide basic spinning tools and easy fiber to those who want to try making their own yarn. Spinners will also bring their own personal wheels to demonstrate modern spinning methods to viewers.
Library Closed for Presidents’ Day
Library Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
Library Board of Trustee meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday.
NAMI Whatcom Resources
Wednesday, February 21, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in and talk to a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Whatcom volunteer about resources that are available to anyone impacted by mental health conditions in Whatcom County.
YMCA Workshop on Living Intentionally in 2024*
Wednesday, February 21, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
In this interactive, one-hour YMCA Healthy Living workshop based on the principles of life coaching, participants learn the value of setting intentions and how intentions might work better for them than goals or resolutions as they move forward into 2024. During guided exercises led by two certified Life Coaches, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what they value and what’s important to each of them. Based on this reflection, participants will become clearer about what they want to experience in 2024 and identify the resources to do that. *Pre-registration is required. Click HERE to register.
Street Law*
Saturday, February 24, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Ask questions and get assistance in one-on-one consultations with volunteer lawyers. Appointments are limited to 15 minutes, and registration is required. *Pre-registration required. Please contact LAW Advocates at 360-671-6079 or info@lawadvocates.org to sign up.
Bellingham Reads Book Group*
Tuesday, February 27, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. IN-PERSON
Lecture Room, Central Library
Tuesday, February 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. ONLINE
Bellingham Reads is the Library’s book discussion group for adults. The title for February is the 2024 Whatcom READS title Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe. *Contact Suzanne at scarlson-randini@cob.org or 360-778-7236 to register and receive the Zoom link for the online meeting.
Map Your Neighborhood
Tuesday, February 27, 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.
SkillShare Space, Central Library
A simple community-driven program that brings neighbors together to share info and develop a plan for emergencies and disasters. Instructor Greg Hope is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Bellingham Fire Department Office of Emergency Management.
Children’s Programs
Salmon Eggs Welcome!
Thursday, February 1
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
For children ages 6 – 10 and their families. Welcome chum salmon eggs to Bellingham Public Library Children’s Department. Learn about salmon raising and the importance of salmon to our community and environment. Joshua Olsen, Nooksack Cultural Liaison with Whatcom County Library System will share a story along with a fun salmon craft. Thanks to a partnership with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), the public can watch chum salmon eggs transform into alevin and fry in a 55-gallon aquarium at the Bellingham Public Library Children’s Department in February and March 2024. The salmon will be released into Whatcom Creek in a public event on March 30.
Time for Tales
Thursdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages 5 – 9 with families welcome. Enjoy fun stories, songs and a craft. NOTE: There will be a special salmon-themed storytime with NSEA on February 29.
Preschool Storytime
Thursdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages 3 – 5 with an adult partner. Enjoy fun and engaging stories, songs, and fingerplays. NOTE: There will be a special salmon-themed storytime with NSEA on February 29.
Stories and Play
Fridays, February 2, 9, 16, 23
10:05 – 11:05 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
For children ages 3 – 5. This is a storytime and facilitated play experience for young children and the adults who take care of them. Enjoy stories, songs, play and activities.
Baby Time*
Mondays, Continuing through March 4, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (No Baby Time on Monday, Feb. 19)
Fridays, Continuing through March 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Dodson Room, Central Library
Join Bernice and learn a variety of fun songs, rhymes, and lap plays. The group will read stories and talk about the five early literacy practices: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing with your baby and how to easily incorporate these into your daily routines. The last portion of class is dedicated to baby play time and time for parents/caregivers to connect. For babies ages birth – 12 months with an adult partner. *Pre-registration is required. Call 360-778-7200 or email Bernice at bchang@cob.org for registration information. Note: you are registering for all 6 weeks.
Cuentos y cantos / Stories and Songs – (CANCELADO el 3 de FEB. /CANCELLED FEB. 3)
Los sábados, el 3, 10, 24 de febrero (No hay Cuentos y Cantos el 17 de febrero) / Saturdays, February 3, 10, 24 (No Cuentos y cantos on Feb. 17)
11:05 – 11:45 a.m.
El centro de aprendizaje temprano, La sucursal del centro comercial Bellis Fair / Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Mall Branch
Una hora de cuentos bilingües para niños y sus cuidadores/familias. Disfrute de cuentos y canciones divertidos en español y inglés. / A bilingual storytime for kids and their caregivers/families. Enjoy fun stories and songs in both Spanish and English.
Financial Literacy with WECU
Saturday, February 3
For ages 5 – 9, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
For ages 10 – 13, 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
Join WECU at the Library for a youth financial literacy program that will cover financial basics – saving, borrowing, spending, and financial planning for the future.
Sunday Crafternoon at the Library for ages 9 – 14*
Sunday, February 4
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
For ages 9 – 14. Do you like crafting? How about crafts and snacks? Enjoy a different craft on the first Sunday of each month in the Lecture Room at the Central Library. The program is free, and all materials are provided. *Pre-registration for each session is required. Click HERE to register.
Little Storytime
Mondays, February 5, 12, 26 (No storytime Feb. 19 – Library will be closed for Presidents’ Day)
Thursdays, February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
10:05 – 10:35, 10:35 – 11:05, and 11:05 – 11:35 a.m.
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages birth – 3 with an adult partner. Enjoy simple stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement. Lots of fun.
Little Storytime @ Bellis Fair Branch
Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28
10:05 – 10:35 a.m., 10:45 – 11:15 a.m., and 11:25 – 11:55 a.m.
Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Branch
For children ages birth – 3 with an adult partner. Enjoy simple stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement. Lots of fun. Note: If arriving before 11 a.m., enter through the entrance next to Target or the Food Court.
Preschool Storytime @ Bellis Fair Branch
Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28
12:05 – 12:35 p.m.
Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Branch
For children ages 3 – 5 with an adult partner. Enjoy fun and engaging stories, songs, and fingerplays.
Builders Club
Wednesday, February 14
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Fireplace Room, Fairhaven Branch Library
Tuesday, February 27
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
For children ages 4 – 12. Unleash the builder in you. All supplies are provided, including Legos, straw connectors, and more. Duplos and other blocks will also be available for younger children.
Pajama Storytime
Wednesday, February 14
6:15 – 6:45 p.m.
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages 3 – 8 with siblings and family. Bring your favorite stuffy for a fun, cozy storytime with books, songs and felt activities. Wear your jammies (pajamas) if you’d like.
Getting Crafty @ the Library*
Wednesday, February 21
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Lecture Room, Central Library
For ages 6 – 12. Visit Bellingham Public Library for some crafting fun. Each month the Library will focus on a new craft or put out a bunch of supplies and have open crafting time. All supplies and snacks are provided. *Pre-registration is required – space is limited. Click HERE to register.
Media Contact:
Annette Bagley, Head of Community Relations, Bellingham Public Library, ambagley@cob.org, 360-778-7206
