Operating Guidelines
Borrowing
Students and WCC employees are automatically registered as library users when they are enrolled or hired at the college. Library materials may be checked out using a valid WCC ID (Orca Card).
Washington State community and technical college students and employees may check out library material by presenting a school/work ID.
Members of the community may also borrow items thanks to our local partnership, Whatcom Libraries Collaborate. If you are a community member interested in a WCC library account, please review the WLC guidelines to ensure your eligibility, then visit us with your ID and your public library card.
Loan Periods and Renewals
Books, DVDs, CDs: 21-day loan, with the option to renew.
Reserve items (textbooks, course materials, films, etc.): Day loan, due upon closing. *A limited number of reserves are available for quarter-loan, see Reserves page.
Magazines and newspapers: In‑library use; students and employees may request permission to take items home at the circulation desk.
Graphing Calculators: Quarter-loan; only available for WCC students enrolled in math, chemistry, or physics. Graphing calculators must be returned by the last day of the quarter to avoid a $15 late fee.
Equipment (phone chargers, headphones, USB thumb drives, happy lights, etc.): Day loan, due upon closing.
Most items can be renewed provided there is no hold request for the item. Visit the circulation desk or call 360.383.3300.
Requests / Holds
Students and employees may place holds by signing into OneSearch with their MyWCC login. When a requested item is ready for pickup, a notification is generated through WCC email.
Holds expire and will be reshelved after 7 days.
For interlibrary loan requests, see Interlibrary Loan | Whatcom Community College.
Return Materials
Return library material to the circulation desk or to either of the two library book drops. Book drops are located next to the Learning Commons south entrance on Kellogg Road and near the Auxiliary building drive-up. Materials may also be returned at any Whatcom Library Collaborate location.
Fines and Fees
We do not charge overdue fines for late materials (excluding Calculators). However, when materials are 14 days overdue, borrowing is suspended and a replacement cost is automatically charged to the borrower’s library account. The replacement cost will be waived upon the return of overdue materials.
Replacement fees may be charged for lost items or damaged items. In these cases, please visit the Circulation Desk or contact us at 360.383.3300.
Collection Management
See our Collection Management guidelines.
Community Use
The first priority of WCC’s library is to serve the needs of WCC students and employees, but community members may use the library in the following ways:
-
Whatcom Library Collaborate allows community members to borrow from the physical collection. Community members may not borrow items from the Reserves collection.
-
Requested public library material can be picked up on the main floor of the Learning Commons. Public library items can be returned to either book drop.
-
Items that cannot be checked out--such as newspapers--are available for use in the library.
Food and Drink
Food and beverages are allowed in all areas of the library.
Please be respectful of library material, equipment, fellow library users, and furniture by:
-
Using sturdy beverage containers
-
Avoiding foods with strong odors
-
Reporting any spills that occur to library staff immediately
-
Disposing of all food and beverage-related trash before leaving the library
Security
The library's entrance is equipped with security gates. If the alarm sounds upon entering or leaving the library, please see a staff member immediately. See WAC 495B-168-050.
Disruptive Behavior
The WCC library is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to study and research. Patrons are encouraged to be respectful of other library users, staff members, materials, and facilities.
Disruptive behavior is not permitted. It is defined as any activity which is illegal, endangers others, interferes with the use of the library by other patrons, or results in damage to library material or equipment. Patrons will be notified by library staff if their behavior is deemed inappropriate and may be asked to leave the library.