Vote Yes! for Proposition 2025-02 on August 5, 2025
The future of libraries in Whatcom County depends on your YES vote! Don’t sit this one out!
Turn in your ballot by August 5.
Sustaining Library Services Through Challenging Times
- After years of sustained inflation, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) cannot maintain current services without additional revenue.
- WCLS is asking voters to approve a one-time lift of the levy rate from $0.26 per thousand to $0.42 per thousand. For the owner of a $600,000 property, that’s an increase of about $8 per month.
- The last levy lid lift was in 2009 – sixteen years ago.
- If approved, WCLS will continue to carefully steward levy funding to make it last well into the future.
What’s At Stake?
Across the country, public libraries are under threat
- From censors who want to prohibit people from reading books they don’t agree with
- From cuts to federal and state agencies, eliminating grant funding
- From those who don’t realize that the whole community can save millions by sharing library materials, technology and services
- From the erosion of the concept of the “public good”
Facts and accuracy are valuable provisions
- In a world of misinformation and biases, it is essential that citizens have access to trustworthy, reliable facts so they can make informed decisions
- Public libraries promote lifelong learning and discovery so community members can grow and thrive
Our most remote communities have very few public places to gather together, and to access information and resources
- Closing branches or reducing library hours would hurt our neighbors who need access to the internet, technology and other resources
- For some families, transportation to libraries in other communities is often difficult or impossible
If Proposition 2025-02 does not pass, WCLS will need to make significant cuts to services
- Reductions to the materials budget will lengthen wait times for popular titles and decrease the variety of materials available
- Evening and weekend hours may be cut
- Every WCLS library branch would be impacted
- Services to both adults and children would be reduced
- Kids, who depend on libraries to provide a constant supply of books to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning, will be impacted
Act local!
- Join your neighbors across Whatcom County who value libraries and want to ensure they’re around when you need them
- Get the word out that this vote is important – tell your family and friends to turn in their ballots without delay
Read Lynden Tribune Article – May 14, 2025
“There is no adequate replacement for public libraries.”
POINT ROBERTS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
“…the Board of Directors of the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association (PRTA) voted unanimously to endorse the proposed Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) levy lift, which will come before the voters on the August 2025 primary election ballot.”
~ All Point Bulletin, June 2025
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
“The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County advocates for informed citizen participation in government. We believe the information and materials provided by public libraries is crucial to democracy in Whatcom County.”
~ League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County
Questions? Comments? Email us at yeswhatcomlibraries@gmail.com
Donation? Mail check or money order to:
Yes! Whatcom Libraries
4825 Alderson Road, Blaine, WA 98230