Outreach Service

Bellingham Public Library strives to make library service available to everyone living within the City of Bellingham. The Library's Outreach Service is a resource for those, who due to advanced age, illness or disability cannot readily visit the Main Library or the Fairhaven branch. Listed below are ways that we serve these special needs people.

Senior Citizen Residences. Once-a-month library service is scheduled at 15 senior citizen residences. Large-type books, regular print fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks, books-on-tape, magazines, compact discs, audio and videotapes are all available for loan. Based on reading profiles that the residents provide, Outreach staff pre-select many materials. Residents may also place holds and make requests.

Health Care Centers/Nursing Homes. A similar monthly library service is also taken to the residents at Bellingham's 14 health care centers. Personal attention enables residents to choose books or media they enjoy. The library makes available for loan BiFolkal and Visit kits that are designed to stimulate residents and help them share their memories.

Home Service. Individuals who are confined to their homes for three months or more, or who are living in an adult care home, are eligible for home service. Materials are delivered by a volunteer or are sent through the mail.

For the visually challenged. A text enlarger (closed circuit magnifying system) is available at the Main Library. Outreach staff or reference librarians will gladly demonstrate how to access this easy-to-use equipment which greatly enlarges the print in books, magazines, letters, phone books, labels and other printed material.

Individuals who qualify as vision-impaired may also receive recorded books and magazines through the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library. Their toll free number is 1-800-542-0866. Applications for this service are available from Outreach staff and at the Information/Reference Desk at the Main Library.

For the hearing and speech-impaired. Hearing and speech-impaired individuals should contact the Outreach librarian (jlowrey@cob.org).

For more information about Outreach Service. You may contact us at 360-676-6862; voice mail is available, so please leave a message if we are not in and we will return your call. You may also send e-mail to the Outreach Librarian jlowrey@cob.org. We do not share your name, phone number or email address with any other organization.

Please let us know how we may help you and your loved ones!

Document date: February 2002