History

The WCC Library was known as a Learning Resources Center (LRC) in its infancy during the 1970s and up until 1996. Known for its non-traditional approach to library service, the LRC provided delivery of learning materials and instructional equipment to the various college class locations around Whatcom County. Initially lacking a formal, organized collection, it encouraged faculty and students to utilize other existing libraries in the county.

Over the years, funding was allocated to support creating a more traditional library and to provide direct library services to faculty and students on campus. As the college grew, the LRC expanded as well. The LRC moved a half dozen times until 1996, when it assumed a new name as the WCC Library. In 1997 the Library moved to the Heiner Center and in 2020 the Library moved to its current location in the Phyllis & Charles Self Learning Commons where the collection has grown to over 40,000 items. In keeping with the original spirit of the LRC, the WCC Library proudly continues to obtain and deliver the best information available to faculty and students in traditional and non-traditional ways.

The library is a founding member of the Washington Community & Technical College Library Consortium (WACTCLC). The libraries use the Alma system for their library services platform. The library formerly was a member of the Orca Consortium, a smaller group of Washington state community college libraries that used the Voyager system.

Historic locations

Phyllis and Charles Self Learning Commons, September 2020 – present

Heiner Center, April 1997 - September 2020

building

Cascade Hall, 1993 - March 1997

Laidlaw Center, 1987 - 1993

Marine Drive, 1976 - 1986

WCC Learning Resources Center on Marine Drive in Bellingham, 1982

Northwest Service Center, 1973 - 1976

WCC Service Center, the LRC's second home, with the bookmobile on Northwest Dr. just north of the Whatcom County Library System offices

Mobile home in Ferndale High School parking lot, 1971 - 1973

Learning resources center at Ferndale

College archive

The WCC Library serves as the historical archive for Whatcom Community College. The archive includes the following collections:

Annual Reports
Accreditation and Self-Study Reports
Budgets
Campus Catalogs
Campus histories
Campus newsletters
Student newspapers and writing anthologies
Photographs (Some of the photographs have been digitized, specifically those featuring facilities, campus events, and people. Those images are available online at the WCC Library Digital Image Collection)

Past library directors

director 4

William G. Chrystal,
1971 - 1973

director 1

Lanny Sparks
1974 - 1982

director 3

Iva Sue Grover
1982 - 1996

director 2

Dal S. Symes
1996 - 2001

director 5

Linda Lambert
2001 - 2014