The Bellingham Public Library will begin new hours of operation at the Fairhaven and Barkley branch libraries on May 4, 2015. Both branches will now be open six days per week.
Beginning May 4, Barkley Branch Library and Fairhaven Branch Library hours will be:
- Monday, Tuesday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Bellingham Public Library Director Pam Kiesner said the new branch library hours were organized to be more consistent, easier to remember, and more convenient for families. The branches will be open on the afternoons of most Bellingham Public School’s early dismissal days, several weekday afternoons for after-school visits, and earlier in the day on Saturdays.
The new schedule also includes four additional open hours per week at each branch library. Kiesner said the additional hours for each branch is the result of funding provided by the Bellingham City Council in the 2015 budget. She said the library is still recovering hours lost during the recession, when the library budget was reduced and staff positions eliminated.
“One of our most frequent patron requests is ‘please open the libraries more hours.‘ We are very grateful for the additional funding and staffing that allows us to open our branch libraries six days a week, and we know our patrons will be happy with this increase in our service hours.”
Summer schedule starts at Central Library
In addition to new hours at branch libraries, the Central Library downtown will be closed on Sundays beginning Sunday, May 24, 2015 (the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend). Sunday service at the Central Library will resume September 13, 2015 (the first Sunday after Labor Day Weekend).
Please visit the Bellingham Public Library website at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org for links to hours of operation and telephone numbers for the Central Library, the Fairhaven and Barkley branch libraries, and our college and university Connections. Or call 360-778-7323 for a menu of options including hours and directions for each location.
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Media contact
Janice Keller
Communications, Community Relations and Programming Manager
jkeller@cob.org
360-778-7206.