Birch Bay library express unveils architectural plans

The Whatcom County Library System (WCLS), along with Friends of Birch Bay Library (FOBBL), revealed a first look at architectural plans for the new Birch Bay Vogt Library Express in a June 10 community event.

Preliminary floor plan designs, which WCLS deputy director Michael Cox said may change before construction begins, include three main rooms in the public first floor: a main entry area with computers and books, a meeting room that can accommodate up to 40 people, and a smaller youth literature section. The second floor will be unavailable to the public due to accessibility concerns, and will be for staff use only.

Plans to renovate the historic Vogt homestead at 7948 Birch Bay Drive have been in the works for over a decade, and only recently have those plans been able to resume after FOBBL and WCLS representatives traveled to Olympia to successfully lobby for state funding in 2023. 

Originally, the entire, 7,600-square-foot Vogt homestead was to be renovated into a full-service library, but a more pared-down plan to renovate only the 1,700-square-foot main floor were approved instead.

WCLS hired Seattle-based firm Osborn Architects Inc. to design the new express library, which will be staffed 20 hours a week, featuring a book drop off and pick up area which will be available all other times of day with a library card.

The library is expected to be open to the public by the second half of 2025, according to WCLS deputy director Michael Cox.

The renovated library will feature 19 parking spaces, two electric vehicle charging stations, ADA accessibility, spacious meeting rooms, printers, computers with internet access, an open lawn for public events, a reading porch overlooking the berm and a second floor office space for WCLS staff and storage.