Looking back on 2025, Friends of Birch Bay Library (FOBBL) wants to thank our community, supporters and library advocates. Through regular activities and new adventures, this year’s library advocacy and fundraising efforts were a success. In 2026, we will continue to see progress on a new library and changes to FOBBL’s focus.
This year we attended all Birch Bay chamber events. Volunteers spun cotton candy, grilled hot dogs, flipped pancakes, dipped chocolate-covered bananas, sold books and held our 5k walk/run. Library staff led story times, crafts and games. FOBBL sign-waved and supported WCLS’s library levy campaign. We also sponsored the Ducky Derby this year that, while a challenging fundraiser, was so much fun to work on with the chamber. In 2025, volunteer hours totaled 1,135.
Our building project is alive and well. Behind the scenes, work has taken place. Conditional use and shoreline permits were approved in September. Construction permitting work is wrapping up. As of this writing, those plans were expected to be submitted for approval by the end of 2025. Once approved, a contractor will be hired in early 2026. Exciting news: Interior furnishing and equipment and outdoor programming furniture have been ordered by WCLS.
In 2026, FOBBL will kick off the new year with the Polar Bear Plunge. We plan to complete our donor wall piece. We have a postcard fundraiser planned for the spring. In June, we will attempt to recreate the “people made” Birch Bay poster of 2014, on the shoreline in front of the library. We will have board changes and look forward to welcoming our new volunteers.
We appreciate all your positive encouragement, donations and volunteer time this year as we complete our building project. We look forward to having our library express open to the community in 2026.
