WCLS in Whatcom County presents Library Stories

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.

We caught Jerry after his trio performed among the stacks in the Ferndale Library and we discussed jazz and kids and the importance of libraries. And the one record album he recommends we all listen to.

Sarah Lavender and Hana Boxburger update us on the lively and exciting Summer Reading 2023 activities and we get a surprise announcement about our Whatcom Million Trees Project partnership! Transcript

Find out about our Summer Jazz Series. Transcript

Sarah Lavender discusses our Summer Reading program and our partnership with Whatcom Million Trees Project and then we take a walkin the woods with Whatcom Million Trees Executive Director Michael Feerer as he and his crew of volunteers remove English Ivy from the trees in Cornwall Park.

14 WCLS staff members visited the Washington Library Association Conference in Wenatchee this year. Find out why and what they did there. Elizabeth Steward gives us her experience at WLA.

An interview with Jess Walter to kick off the Whatcom READS 2023 Season. Jess comes to town March 2-4 to talk about his historical novel, The Cold Millions. Find out more at whatcomreads.org

Ann McAllen, Linda Lambert, Chuck and Dee Robinson, Paul Hanson and Christine Perkins tell the origin story of Whatcom READS, now in its 15th year.

We talk to staff who are loading books onto the brand new shelves of the newly remodeled Sumas Library after the flood of November, 2021 caused extensive damage. Bonus, find out who makes the best cinnamon rolls!

WCLS’s former Executive Director Joan Airoldi passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Joan was our leader from 2002 to 2013. She will be remembered as a Library Champion on a multitude of counts: establishing the Whatcom READS program in collaboration with partners at Whatcom Community College, advocating for new libraries in Ferndale, North Fork, South Whatcom, Island and Point Roberts and encouraging all of us to “Be Curious” and to “Listen, Learn & Lead”. Joan’s courage in defending patrons’ rights to privacy earned her a national recognition with a PEN/Newman Award. She generously donated the prize money to start the Whatcom County Library Foundation.

So many people wanted to say thank you to former WCLS Executive Director Joan Airoldi, who passed away on December 3, 2022, that we created a special bonus episode to thank her.

An interview with WCLS Jail Services PSA, Barry MacHale about the services we provide our incarcerated patrons. Originally produced for our All Staff Learning Day, this episode provides insight into how the WCLS mission of connecting information, ideas, and community is fulfilled through jail service.

Collections Manager Lisa Gresham takes us on a tour of her departments that she calls "The Life Cycle of a Book"