Borrowing Materials: Courtesy/Community Borrowers

Whatcom One Card for Community Members

The One Card program allows anyone who lives or goes to school in Whatcom Count to check out library materials from any public or academic library in the county, and to return items to any participating library in Whatcom county.

To gain free access to our circulating collections, please present the following 3 things:

1. Your library card from:
   • Bellingham Public Library
   • Whatcom County Library System
   • Whatcom Community College
   • Bellingham Technical College
   • Northwest Indian College
2. One piece of picture identification
3. One proof of current address
4. If under 18, parent signature on registration form

Find out more about the One Card Program!

You may check out up to 10 items at any one time, including 3 videos and 2 journals. Courtesy due date notices will be sent if you provide your email address.  Each item has the option of one renewal and you may renew using the link in the due date reminder.

Fines and Fees: As an academic library it is important to have materials returned promptly for use in course work and research. Fines are $0.50 per day for books and $1.00 per day for videos and journals with a maximum fine of $15.00. Fines for overdue recalled items are doubled. Items considered long overdue are billed for $90.00.

Please contact Circulation Services, (360) 650-3084, if you have questions about your library record.

Please contact Research Services, (360) 650-3094, if you have questions about our collections and resources.

Western Libraries Courtesy/ Community Card

The Courtesy/Community card provides enhanced services over the Whatcom One Card. Courtesy/Community card holders can check out more items, renew more times and place holds and recalls for materials through the library catalog.

The Courtesy/Community card does not provide off-campus access to online subscription databases, which are contractually restricted to current WWU students, faculty, and staff.

Current members of the following groups may obtain a Courtesy/Community Card at no charge. Expiration dates will vary.

• Whatcom County colleges students, faculty, and staff
• Affiliated teaching faculty
• Retired WWU faculty, staff, and administrators
• WWU Alumni Club members
• WWU Retirees Association members
• WWU faculty, staff, and adminstrator spouses or partners
• WWU workshop participants
• President's Club members
• Students presenting reciprocal borrowing arrangement cards
• SPIE employees

All other persons may purchase a Courtesy/Community Card for an annual fee of $25.00. The card is valid for one year from the date of purchase.

For more information on eligibility for a Courtesy/Community Card or other information, call Circulation Services at (360) 650-3084.

Loan Periods
See column on the right for details.

Renewals
Most general circulating materials can be renewed for two additional loan periods unless another borrower has requested them. You can renew most borrowed items on your computer by selecting the Renew materials / Access your Library Record feature on the Library Catalog menu, or at the Haggard Wing Loan Desk, or by phone at (360) 650-3084.

Overdue, Lost, or Damaged Materials
All borrowed materials are due on the date printed on the receipt issued at the time of checkout. You can obtain information on the due dates of materials you have borrowed by selecting the Renew materials / Access your Library Record feature on the Library Catalog menu.

Paying Fines
Fine payment can be made in person at Circulation Services, by phone or by mail. The phone number is (360) 650-3084. The address is Wilson Library Circulation, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103. If you pay by mail please make the check out to WWU and add your WWU library card number.

Fines and other charges must be paid before a Courtesy/Community Card can be renewed.

Recalls: Once an item has been checked out for 21 days or more, it is subject to recall when requested by another library user. A new due date is assigned which allows the borrower 7 days to return the item.

Copy Card Feature
The Courtesy/Community Card is equipped with a magnetic stripe that can be encoded for use in copiers in the library. You can encode your card by inserting the card and money in the appropriate receptacles at most copy machines.

Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan services are not available to Courtesy/Community Card holders. Please contact your college or local public library when you need to borrow materials from other libraries.

Lending Your Card
Because your Courtesy/Community Card is not a picture-ID, you can lend it to friends or family without the knowledge of the Libraries. Please remember that as the card holder of record, you are responsible for all materials borrowed using your card. If your card is lost, please notify the library immediately so its usage can be blocked.