Whitefish Community Library

Some of you may remember bringing your children to “Whistle Stop Storytime” in the early 2000s – or you may remember attending as a child. If so, you will remember your Whistle Stop Storyteller, Billie Bartlett.

Billie loved Storytime and put in great efforts to make it a special time for the children. One highlight was a “Polar Express” storytime that took place on a real train car at the Whitefish Depot!

We were saddened to learn of Billie’s passing in September, but glad to share with you that donations in Billie’s honor will refresh our children’s picture book section. Billie will be remembered with a special plaque in books purchased with those donations.

Thank you, Billie!

For information on Montana local elections and ballot initiatives, the Daily Inter Lake is sharing their news articles for free until Election Day, Nov. 5. Find their information HERE.

For Federal elections, the League of Women Voters site, VOTE411, is widely regarded as reliable and non-partisan. Find their website HERE.

~ Learn what happens to your body and brain when you are stressed.

~ Learn meditation & breathing techniques to help calm your nervous system.

~ Learn mindfulness techniques to keep you in the present moment instaed of ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.

Join Silvi Winthrop in the Library’s Community Room for Mindfulness Tools for Health & Wellness on Saturday, October 26, 3:30 to 4:45 pm. A mental health professional and meditation / mindfulness trainer, Silvi donates her time for the benefit of our community. Learn more about Mindfulness and Silvi.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) are back in the building. What a fun way to practice reading aloud! Follow the puppy tracks through the Library every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30, to the children’s area where you’ll find Shelby, or Andi, or another friendly pup who will listen while you read your favorite story to them. Sign up for a 10-minute slot, and enjoy your time with a specially trained R.E.A.D. team (one dog and one facilitator) from Intermountain Therapy Animals.

On Monday, September 30, we welcome Poet Laureate Chris La Tray once again, in the kick-off program of our 2024/2025 Virtual programming series. Register for this Zoom session and join poets and others from across the state. La Tray’s new book, Becoming Little Shell, is now published and available at libraries and bookstores. Find out more and register HERE.

Our next virtual program will take place October 24th: Bat Week. Check our event calendar for this and more virtual programs through April, 2025.

“A whopping amount!” was what Youth Services Librarian Gina Schiff called it. Readers did it again and out-read the $1500 pledge from Whitefish Credit Union by placing 1,954 stickers on the Special Olympics flag posted next to the Circulation desk.

“Each year, the Whitefish Credit Union pledges an amount. Each year, our readers read beyond that amount, and each year, the Credit Union honors that. We are so happy for our readers and for the Glacier Area Special Olympics,” stated Schiff.

A check for $1,954 from the Whitefish Credit Union is now on its way to Glacier Area Special Olympics.

Readers of all ages read for a total of 10.85 months, day and night, among them members of the Marley family, pictured below in front of the 1,954 stickers.

Check our math.

Your Library has the complete City Council Packet for you to peruse before a City Council Meeting. The one pictured here is actually on the small side. Often these documents are more than an inch high. It’s a testament to how much a councilperson has to digest before each of those meetings, and how much City staff must work to produce them.

So if you want to be in the know and prefer not to read on a screen, just ask one of your friendly librarians for the latest City Council packet.