May is a busy month at Bellingham Public Library, with activities for all ages. Special highlights include the One Book, One Coast book discussion on May 30 and live stream on May 31 featuring They Called Us Enemy by George Takei. The Library will honor APIDA Heritage Month in May with book displays and staff recommendations featuring Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American stories for every age. Highlights for kids also include Read with the Crew and Meet-A-Truck to celebrate National Public Works Week.
All library programs are free of charge. Please read the following list carefully for appropriate ages, days and times. Follow the links or visit the Bellingham Public Library online events calendar to add any of the programs listed below to your personal calendar.
Please note: regular storytimes will go on a break beginning the week of May 17 and will resume in July.
May 2026 Library Programs for All Ages
Birchwood Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday, May 2, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lecture Room, Central Library
All are welcome at the Birchwood Garden Club’s annual plant sale. Cash only. Bargain prices on plants grown by members of the Birchwood Garden Club and selected to thrive in the local climate. Arrive early, they sell out quickly.
Friends of the Bellingham Public Library May Book Sale
Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, May 21, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, May 22, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, half price
Saturday, May 23, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, $5/bag
Lecture Room, Central Library
Browse a huge selection of books, DVDs, and more. There will be items for all ages. All proceeds benefit Bellingham Public Library. Credit card and cash payments will be accepted.
May 2026 Library Programs for Children and Teens
Stories and Play
10:05 – 11:05 am and 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
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.
Cuentos y cantos / Stories and Songs
Los sábados, el 2 y 16 de mayo/ Saturdays, May 2 & 16
11:05 – 11:45 am
El centro de aprendizaje temprano, La sucursal del centro comercial Bellis Fair
Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Mall Branch
Los miércoles, el 6 y 13 de mayo /Wednesdays, May 6 & 13
4:00 – 4:40 pm
Dodson Room, la biblioteca centra
Dodson Room, Central Library
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.
Little Storytime
10:05 – 10:35 am, 10:35 – 11:05 am, or 11:05 – 11:35 am
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages birth – 3 with an adult partner. Enjoy simple stories, songs, fingerplays, and movement. Lots of fun.
Library Explorers
3:30 – 4:15 pm
Lecture Room, Central Library
For ages 6 – 10 with families welcome. Explore the world and wonders of the library through fun stories, experiments, crafts and more.
Little Storytime at the Bellis Fair Branch
10:05 – 10:35 am, 10:45 – 11:15 am, or 11:25 – 11:55 am
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 entering the mall before 11 am, use the entrance next to Target or the Food Court entrance.
Preschool Storytime at the Bellis Fair Branch
12:05 – 12:35 pm
Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Branch
For children ages 3 – 5 with an adult partner. Enjoy fun and engaging stories, songs, fingerplays, and a simple craft.
Preschool Storytime
10:30 – 11:00 am
Dodson Room, Central Library
For children ages 3 – 5 with an adult partner. Enjoy fun and engaging stories, songs, fingerplays, and a simple craft.
Builders Club
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Lecture Room, Central Library
For children ages 4 – 12. Join us for new monthly building challenges. All supplies are provided, including Legos, straw connectors, and more. Duplos and other blocks will also be available for younger children.
Read with the Crew @ Bellis Fair
12:05 – 1:30 pm
Early Learning Center, Bellis Fair Branch
For children ages 3 and older. Listen to a story read by the City of Bellingham’s Public Works crew in English and Spanish about big trucks, then join us outside (near Dick’s Sporting Goods parking lot) and meet the trucks that help our community.
Builders Club at the Fairhaven Branch
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Fireplace Room, Fairhaven 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.
Let’s Read! A Middle Grade Book Group*
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Conference Room, Central Library
For youth in 5th – 8th grade. This book group meets on the second Thursday of each month. Snacks provided.
*Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Contact Lesley at lsnorman@cob.org about registration information.
Meet-A-Truck
1:00 – 3:00 pm
210 Lottie St. (Between Peter Lee Memorial Park and City Hall)
Fun for children of all ages. Meet the big trucks and equipment that keep our streets, storm drains, sewer and water lines running smoothly. Kids activities, crafts, scavenger hunt and more.
Pokémon Club
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Lecture Room, Central Library
For ages 7 – 11. Join fellow Pokémon fanatics for a Pokémon meet-up. All experience levels welcome. Bring friends or make new ones. Enjoy crafts, games, and other activities.
May 2026 Library Programs for Adults
Small Looms
12:00 – 3:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Hands-on weaving with fiber arts projects for all ages. Members of the Whatcom Weavers Guild will demonstrate projects as well as allowing the community to drop in for some firsthand experience.
Library Basics Tech Coaching*
Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21, & 28
2:00 – 4:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library (May 21 & 28 sessions will be in Study Room 1)
*Patrons must pre-register for a half hour session by contacting the Help Desk at 360-778-7323.
The Bellingham Public Library offers one-to-one assistance with basic technology skills for the following:
- Accessing BPL’s digital library including downloading or streaming eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eFilms, and eMusic
- Basic computer / smartphone / tablet / e-reader skills
- Setting up and using email
Ragfinery Mending Workshop
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Have clothing or gear that could use a little loving (i.e. rips, tears, holes)? Stop by for a FREE mending lesson from talented Ragfinery volunteers. Learn how to repair your clothes in real time and walk away with a fixed garment & a new skill.
Please note that “mending” refers to patching, replacing buttons, darning knitwear, etc. Mending excludes more involved processes such as hemming and alterations.
Correspondence Club
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Correspondence Club invites people of all ages and abilities to make creative mail – cards, postcards, letters, and envelopes – to connect with others near and far. Participants have access to a wide variety of supplies, including glue sticks, a diverse paper collection, scissors, envelope templates, tape, etc. Guidance is offered upon request by an experienced teacher and correspondent. At its best, mail art encourages generosity, reciprocity, delight, and gratitude.
Drop-In Home Item Repair
3:30 – 5:30 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Bring your broken household items to the SkillShare Space at the Central Library and work with skilled volunteers from Northwest Free Repairs to learn how to repair them. Volunteers have experience repairing common household items such as toys, small kitchen appliances, electric tools and many other items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Please note: broken items may not be dropped off to be repaired. Owners may participate in making the repairs with the repair volunteers.
Affordable Homeownership: Drop-In with Kulshan Community Land Trust
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Kulshan Community Land Trust (Kulshan CLT) staff will answer your questions and offer information about their shared equity homeownership program, including: how shared equity homeownership works, who is eligible for their affordable homeownership program, how to apply, and what Kulshan CLT is doing to expand affordable homeownership opportunities for Whatcom County.
Bellingham Vet Center Information
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in to the SkillShare Space at the Central Library where staff from the Bellingham Vet Center will provide information on the services they provide. The primary mission of the Vet Center is to provide mental health counseling to veterans who are eligible for their services. They focus on trauma experienced in combat and areas of hostility as well as experienced Military Sexual Trauma and or harassment.
The Vet Center is also a resource center for veterans in general and can assist with signing up for VA health care, obtaining military records, file benefits claims, and referrals.
Spinning Fiber
1:00 – 3:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
The SpinDrifters, Whatcom County’s spinning guild, will be at the Central Library SkillShare Space with their spinning wheels and drop spindles. Drop in anytime from 1:00 – 3:00 pm to watch them demonstrate their skills. They love to show the public what they do and the multiple ways to spin different fibers. They will have spindles specifically for people to try out for themselves with donated fiber.
Bellingham Public Library Board Meeting
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Fireplace Room, Fairhaven Library
Regular meetings of the Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees are held on the third Tuesday of each month. May’s meeting will take place in the Fireplace Room at the Fairhaven Library. Meetings begin at 3:30 pm. The public is welcome to attend and is encouraged to check the library’s website for the meeting agenda and packet.
NAMI Whatcom Resources and Advocacy
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
The NAMI Whatcom mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those affected by mental health conditions through support, education and advocacy. They envision a world where all people living with mental health conditions know that they are not alone and live fulfilling lives. NAMI Whatcom programs are no-cost and led by peers. Drop in to the SkillShare Space at the Central Library to find out what resources are available for anyone impacted by mental health conditions.
Opportunity Council Community Resource Connections
10:15 am – 12:15 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in to learn more about Opportunity Council services, get assistance completing Basic Food Benefit applications, and sign up for Bill Discount Rates through Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Natural Gas.
Typewriters 101: An Introduction to Operation and Maintenance
1:30 – 4:30 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Join a hands-on exploration of one of the most revolutionary machines in the literary world: typewriters. With a rich history that echoes through the modern era, typewriters have been employed for letter writing, remote journalism, storytelling and poetry, and even as a liberation device that enabled women to enter the office workforce in droves. Despite the ubiquity of computers and their endless ability to edit, decades later typewriters persist as writing instruments that inspire authors with a slower, more intentional writing style. The sound alone of a typewriter in use is hypnotic: from type bars hitting the cylinder to the ding warning the end of the line is mere characters away, typewriters draw you in.
With six popular models of typewriters ready for exploration, this presentation is designed to engage library patrons of all ages. Local typewriter aficionado Jennifer Dunn will provide information and tutorials about the typewriters presented as well as tips to clean and repair that dusty typewriter in your attic. The typewriters on display will have excerpts from the authors who used and popularized particular models, paper to test out and free write, and a clean/repair evaluation station for those who bring in their typewriters for an inspection and guidance.
Street Law at the Library*
10:30 am – 2:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
*Pre-registration required. Please contact the LAW Advocates at 360-671-6079 or info@lawadvocates.org to sign up.
Street Law is a free legal advice clinic for income-eligible people to ask questions and get assistance in one-on-one consultations with volunteer lawyers. Appointments are limited to 15-20 minutes, and registration is required; a limited number of walk-in appointments may be available, but are not guaranteed.
NW Regional Council Outreach Specialist Onsite
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop in and talk to NWRC Outreach Specialist about the WA Cares Fund and information about how to connect with other resources at NWRC. Northwest Regional Council is a local agency that provides support for older adults and people with disabilities in Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties.
Bellingham Reads Book Group
12:00 – 1:00 pm In-Person
Lecture Room, Central Library
6:30 – 7:30 pm Online*
Bellingham Reads is the Library’s book discussion group for adults. The featured title for May is The Cape Doctor by E.J. Levy. Meet in-person 12:00 – 1:00 pm OR *register for the 6:30 pm online meeting by contacting Suzanne at scarlson-prandini@cob.org or 360-778-7236.
Smart Trips Workshop: Bike Maintenance
4:00 – 5:45 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Drop by the Central Library SkillShare space to practice basic bike maintenance with Libby Chenault from Smart Trips. Learn how to lube a chain, pump a tire or fix a flat, then take your new skills home to keep your bike rolling smoothly. Find out which tools are essential, how often you should perform these simple tasks and when your bike needs a more serious repair. Note: You will not be able to bring your own bicycle into the Library for this event.
One Book, One Coast Book Discussion*
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
SkillShare Space, Central Library
Join Adult Services Librarian Katie Bray in the SkillShare Space at the Central Library for an in-depth group discussion of the graphic novel They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, the 2026 One Book, One Coast selection. Light refreshments will be served. *Register for book discussion here.
One Book, One Coast is a shared community reading program that celebrates literacy, learning, community, and civil discourse. Over 190 libraries across the West Coast will participate. All participating libraries will read and discuss They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger and illustrated by Harmony Becker. The program will close with a special author talk featuring George Takei at East Los Angeles Library, that will also stream live on YouTube beginning at 2 pm Pacific Time. Register for livestream here.
View this list of library programs at BellinghamPublicLibrary.org.
Media Contact: Annette Bagley, Bellingham Public Library, Head of Community Relations, ambagley@cob.org
