The Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) and Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) have just kicked-off a new “Read and Ride” campaign aimed at encouraging more county residents to download WCLS’s free digital resources and ride WTA.
“Riding a WTA bus allows people to kick back and enjoy some free time during their morning commute or evening ride home,” Christine Perkins, executive director of WCLS, said. “What better way to spend that free time than by reading a free eBook, audiobook, or digital magazine from the library on your mobile device?”
The “Read and Ride” campaign is the first time the two organizations have partnered and marks a joint effort to get more people using public services.
“Throughout Whatcom County we have some incredible public services that can improve the quality of life for local residents. The toughest hurdle, though, isn’t getting people to agree these are great services—it’s getting them to use them,” Perkins said. “This partnership is all about encouraging more of our community to take advantage of the free and affordable resources available to them.”
WTA offers bus routes all over the county—taking passengers from the Lummi Reservation, to downtown Lynden, to the Blaine border crossing and beyond. Likewise, WCLS has ten locations around Whatcom County, from Ferndale to the South Whatcom Library in Sudden Valley, and from the North Fork Library in Kendall to Point Roberts. WCLS also offers digital services that can be accessed anywhere, anytime—patrons can login with their library card number to access them. People without library cards can sign up for one online in about two minutes.
WCLS partners with the Bellingham Public Library, which is a department of the City of Bellingham and a separate library system with its own governance and funding. This partnership means Bellingham residents and those living elsewhere in Whatcom County experience seamless library service.
“WCLS and WTA make a great combination,” said Maureen McCarthy, WTA community relations and marketing manager. “Our transit system allows people to travel safely and comfortably around their community at a low price, in an environmentally-friendly way. Our library is on the cutting-edge of digital services. Their new resources and digital entertainment are reshaping how people view their public library system. We’re excited to be partnering with WCLS on the ‘Read and Ride’ campaign.”
WTA bus passes are just $25 a month and offer routes all over the community. WTA’s Gold Cards allow residents 75 and older to ride the bus for free. Children ages seven and under can also ride free.
Likewise, all of the WCLS’s services are free and accessible online. Library patrons can download and read the latest eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines, stream new music and reserve the latest bestsellers all without ever having to leave their bus seat.
To learn more about the “Read and Ride” campaign, click here.
