New Bellingham library branch ends ‘cultural desert’ in these neighborhoods

About 200 people clapped and cheered as the Bellingham Public Library opened a new branch in a former clothing store at Bellis Fair mall, bringing a public collection of books, movies and recordings to the city’s northern neighborhoods for the first time.

“Everything north of (Interstate 5) was a cultural desert,” said Julianna Guy, a long-time Cordata neighborhood advocate, at an opening ceremony Wednesday, April 26.

“Look at the crowd outside. This tells you that they’re very interested. We finally got two parks and now we have a library,” Guy told The Bellingham Herald.

At 96, Guy said that she was overjoyed because she wasn’t sure if she’d live to see a Cordata library location.

“Our part of town is now as sophisticated as the rest of the city,” she said, beaming.

On Wednesday, she cut the opening-day ribbon, holding a pair of oversized shears with Mayor Seth Fleetwood.

“This is something that’s been pondered and considered for years,” Fleetwood told the crowd waiting in a mall courtyard across from a children’s play area near Dick’s Sporting Goods.

“I think that we all appreciate the role that libraries play in democracies,” Fleetwood said during the ceremony, which also marked National Library Week.

Bellingham Library’s new Bellis Fair Branch is 4,500 square feet and features a children’s area, books and other materials for all ages, along with computer and Wi-Fi access, said Rebecca Judd, library director.

It cost $275,000 to get started, including $25,000 for books and other materials, Judd told The Herald.

Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Bellis Fair is the library’s fourth Bellingham location, including the main library at 210 Central Ave., and branches in Barkley Village at 3111 Newmarket St. and in Fairhaven at 1117 12th St.

Bellingham Public Library serves Bellingham and Whatcom County, circulating over 1.6 million items annually to almost 60,000 active cardholders and known throughout the state and nation for its high use, Judd said.

In statewide data, the Bellingham Public Library consistently ranks among the highest circulation of materials per capita and among the most-visited, she said.