WCLS in Whatcom County presents Library Stories

As the winter weather approaches, we thought we would ask our coworkers for their hot takes on what is great about the library. We asked, "What is one thing you wish EVERYONE knew about the library?" We did not know what the responses would be and I feel like we just scratched the surface of recommendations by these knowledgeable insiders. Listen for the tips and stay for the heartwarming stories. "Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Angels By My Side" Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos Artist: Lunar Years License code: ZRQL31CTDAQVUUNF

WCLS Nooksack Cultural Liaison Marty Jimmy and Coast Salish artist/muralist Jason LaClair sit down for a conversation about indigenous art, friendship and growing up, traditions and cultural legacies, and much more at the Deming Library where Jason created and installed a mural of Salmon Woman and a Spindle Whorl on the library wall.

Thank You, Whatcom County Voters! On Tuesday, August 5, Whatcom County voters approved a levy lid lift for the Whatcom County Library System. This allows us to continue to provide great service and offerings to county residents. In this special episode we talk with WCLS Trustee Matthew Santos, Executive Director Christine Perkins, Deputy Director Michael Cox, Facilities Manager Ryan Cullup, Collection Services Manager Lisa Gresham, ILS Administrator Carmi Parker and Youth Services Manager Thom Barthelmess — along with a whole lot of grateful staff members — about what this means to the library system and the communities we serve.

In this episode we have a conversation with WCLS board chair Rod Lofdahl and executive director Christine Perkins. We touch on all sorts of topics. Stay tuned to the end for an unexpected lesson on viking history!

A conversation with Mary Kinser, Jonathan Jakobitz, Emma Radosevich and Hana Boxberger, Washington Library Association's 2025 Candace Morgan Intellectual Freedom Award Winners for their work in developing a Right to Read training for WCLS staff.

Our interview with No Two Persons author, Erica Bauermeister and a Whatcom READS wrap up with WCLS Adult Programing Coordinator, Claire McElroy.

Claire McElroy and Wes Weddell tell us about a new addition to the Whatcom READS author visit: MUSIC inspired by the book, performed by local musicians and organized by the Bushwick Book Club of Seattle!

Author Janie Chang and artist Kim Morris talk about their work and their love of libraries. Kim's cardboard sculpture of a dragon named Lloyd will be at our Open Book festival on Sunday, November 3, from noon to 5:00 p.m. along with Janie Chang who will be speaking about her books and inspiration. Find out about Open Book at wcls.org/openbook.

We talk with Clara Jacobson, a volunteer for the Friends of the Ferndale Library, who celebrates her 100th birthday on September 27, 2024.

We check in with long-time WCLS staff and new branch managers Mariya Farmagey and Erin Suda. Mariya is now the branch manager for North Fork Library and Erin is the new branch manager for Island Library.

A wedding at the Ferndale library and excited Birch Bay residents talk about their new library!

We discuss our free Mango Languages app with WCLS Learning Coordinator Maggie Mae Nase who is a world traveler and a lifelong learner.

Poet and WCLS Communications Specialist Cynthia French joins us to talk about the intersection of libraries and poetry.

We feature an episode from the Young and Indigenous (YAI) Podcast from Children of the Setting Sun Productions. YAI hosts, Cyrus James and Wykeklyaa Curleybear talk with Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe about her book Red Paint and about life and everything else. Sasha's powerful memoir, Red Paint, is the 2024 Whatcom READS selection. Hy'shqe to our friends at YAI and Children of the Setting Sun for allowing us to share this powerful interview.

Christine and Tamar stop by to tell us about the Digital Literacy webpage (https://www.wcls.org/digital-literacy/) they have created in cooperation with the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public through a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Claire McElroy is our Adult Programming Coordinator, wrangling speakers, authors, events and workshops for WCLS and Whatcom READS. Is the job as fun as it sounds? Tune in to find out!

Mary Vermillion chats with Executive Director Christine Perkins about the eventful 12 months that were 2023 and the exciting library events and activities that will take place in 2024. Also, a call to write in and give us some feedback. Send comments to neil.mckay@wcls.org

Our WCLS book selectors sit down and discuss several of the books in our Gift Guide publication, available at WCLS library branches. Two conversations, our adult selectors, Lisa Gresham, Mary Kinser and Emma Radosevich discuss their picks and three of our Youth Services selectors, Thom Barthelmas, Theresa Morrison and Tamar Clark talk about their contributions to the Gift Guide.

Listen to folks at our Open Book Festival and get a glimpse at the man behind the microphone as we share an excerpt from Puyallup Public Library's podcast, Shush!...with Debi in which Debi turns the tables on me and interviews me at the Deming Library.

Find out about the Open Book Festival happening on Sunday, November 5, 2023. WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins and Village Books Co-owner Paul Hanson talk about this "book lover's dream day" and all the "bookish experiences" to be had there.