BREIDABLIK LODGE LIBRARY
Mission ~ The library's mission is to educate, enrich, and entertain our members by providing access to books and other written materials that illuminate and celebrate Norwegian heritage, history, culture, language, and travel.
About the Library ~ The library is housed inside the Breidablik Lodge. A volunteer librarian oversees the collection, selects new materials, and manages donations. A list of library holdings is available in a notebook at the library; the Lodge librarian can also search holdings electronically, upon request. In 2023, we received a Sons of Norway grant to help preserve our library holdings.
Collection ~ Our collection is composed of over 550 books, which span three centuries and include six languages: English, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Swedish, and Icelandic. Our materials are organized by section: religion, music, cooking, crafts, folk art/design, fiction, drama, poetry, history, biography, migration, heritage, Vikings, children, humor, travel, pictorial, language study, and dictionaries (we also house materials about the history of our Lodge and its membership). Our library reflects Norwegians' love of literature and features literary luminaries such as Henrik Ibsen, Sigrid Undset, Knut Hamsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, O.E. Rølvaag, Odd Eidem, Per Petterson, Jostein Gaarder, and Jo Nesbø.
Borrowing ~ Our library is open before and after meetings and during other Lodge activities. Borrowing is self-serve by filling out an index card, available near the stacks. Guests may make arrangements to examine our library holdings, e.g., for research, genealogical, or academic purposes, by calling 360-425- 7013.
Donation Policy ~ While we have very limited space, we accept donations of new and gently used materials, so long as they meet the Library's mission statement. English language is preferred. Maps and tour/guide books must be current. Donations not accepted into the Lodge's collection may be given to charity organizations or discarded.