Bellingham Public Library
Bellingham Public Library | |
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48°45′15″N 122°28′45″W / 48.75417°N 122.47917°W | |
Location | Bellingham, Washington, US |
Type | Public library |
Established | June 15, 1891 |
Branches | 3 |
Collection | |
Size | 250,089 items |
Access and use | |
Circulation | 1.5 million |
Population served | 84,850 |
Members | 46,590 |
Other information | |
Director | Nancy Kerr |
Website | bellinghampubliclibrary |
References: Washington Public Library Statistical Report, 2016[1] |
The Bellingham Public Library is a public library system serving Bellingham, Washington, US. It maintains three libraries, one in the Civic Center of downtown Bellingham, one in Fairhaven, and one in Barkley Village. The system is independent of the Whatcom County Library System, serving the entire county, but has a reciprocal borrowing agreement.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Bellingham_Carnegie_Library.jpg/220px-Bellingham_Carnegie_Library.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/B%27ham_Fairhaven_Library_02.jpg/220px-B%27ham_Fairhaven_Library_02.jpg)
Bellingham Bay Public Library and Fairhaven Library were originally established separately in the early 1890s. Bellingham Bay Library opened on June 15, 1891, as a subscription library and became a free library in 1903.[2] In 1906, the city of Bellingham received funds from the Carnegie Corporation for a permanent building, which was constructed in 1908 and used until 1951, when the current Central Branch library building was opened.[2]
The Fairhaven Library also began as a subscription library in 1890. Fairhaven Library received funds from the Carnegie Corporation for a permanent building, which was completed in 1905 and is used to this day.[2] The Central Library and Fairhaven Library were consolidated into one library system in 1903, when the towns of Fairhaven and Whatcom joined together to form Bellingham.[2]
Branches
The main library branch opened on August 19, 1951, replacing the now demolished Carnegie library.[3] In 2007, the library board recommended the replacement and demolition of the central library, citing its inefficiency and lack of space.[4] The Fairhaven branch opened on December 20, 1904, having used $15,500 in donations from Carnegie.[3] A third branch at Silver Beach was opened in 1924 and operated until 1975.[2] A new outer branch was opened at Barkley Village on September 13, 2008, located underneath a condominium complex in space donated by the private developer.[5]
Services
As of 2016[update], Bellingham Public Library circulates 1.5 million items each year and has over 46,000 registered cardholders.[1] In 2008, Bellingham's per capita circulation was 18.7–the highest rate for libraries of its size in Washington state.[6]
Bellingham Public Library hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including weekly storytime events for children, author appearances, adult literacy tutoring, and family and community outreach events. The library also offers readers' advisory talks and materials to assist patrons in selection of materials from the collection. A popular annual community event is the library's "Summer Reading Program", with separate programs for children, teens and adults.[7]
Bellingham Public Library maintains special collections in genealogy and local Northwest Washington history. There are also special services for Adult Basic Education, as well as a circulating collection of kits for reading groups.
Collaboration
In addition to the three branches operated by the Bellingham Public Library system, materials can also be checked out and returned at Whatcom Community College Library. The Bellingham Public Library system also maintains a reciprocal borrowing agreement with Whatcom County Library System. In 2010, Bellingham Public Library became a partner with other library systems in "Whatcom Libraries Collaborate". This program allows a cardholder from any of the six library systems (including academic and public libraries) located in Whatcom County to borrow materials from any other member library.[8]
Bellingham Public Library is a sponsor of the "Whatcom READS!" program, together with Whatcom County Library System, Bellingham Technical College Library, Whatcom Community College Library, Western Washington University Library, and other local organizations. This program is modeled after the "If All Seattle Read the Same Book" project initiated by librarian Nancy Pearl, and consists of a series of discussion groups and author events focusing on one particular book, which brings the community together through literature.[9]
References
- ^ a b "2016 Washington Public Library Statistical Report" (PDF). Washington State Library. October 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Sandsberry, Marian (July 1989). "History of the Bellingham Public Library". Bellingham Public Library. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Hart Soutcott, Bonnie (November 10, 2007). "Milestones: Pay to borrow a book? Early residents did". Bellingham Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ Kahn, Dean (January 1, 2017). "Bellingham library director retires with vision of new central library unfulfilled". Bellingham Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ "Regular Meeting of the Board of Library Trustees" (PDF). Bellingham Public Library. April 15, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ "Library Board Announces Hours, Service Reductions" (Press release). Bellingham Public Library. August 26, 2009. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
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- ^ "Whatcom Libraries Collaborate"
- ^ "Whatcom Reads" Archived August 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine