About Us

The Whitefish Library Association (WLA) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that exists to enrich the quality of life in the Whitefish area by fostering the growth and success of the Whitefish Community Library.

The Whitefish Library Association was established in 1952 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1961.  An Endowment was established in 1960 with the income from that trust to be utilized for general Library purposes.  In the early 1990s Connie Heckathorn, an Association member since the 1960s, orchestrated a fund-drive to build a new library building in Whitefish, and her perseverance resulted in the beautiful facility that the library occupies today.  The library building itself was completed in 1998 and accomplished at a cost of just under $1,000,000, utilizing strictly privately-raised monies.

Over the ensuing years, the Association underwrote some of the Library’s much needed maintenance and furniture items as well as repainting the entire interior of the building.  Due to the Endowment, WLA distributes 100% of its endowment annual earnings directly to the Whitefish Community Library.  WLA continues to work quietly in the background to provide improvements and purchase materials for the Library, including books in all genres, i.e. adult, young adult and children; periodicals and newspapers; upgrading computers and office equipment for staff and library patrons; addressing building safeguards; assisting with routine upkeep and maintenance issues; supporting ongoing library programs and honoring authors within the Flathead Valley.  This has been made possible through grants and the generous donations of library users.

The Whitefish Library Association operates strictly as a volunteer organization and is recognized as a 501c(3) non-profit organization by both the Federal IRS and the State of Montana.  Its IRS ID# is 81-6013674.