Pre-Visit the Libraries: We encourage you to arrange a pre-visit orientation. Although not required, this guided visit will be helpful to acquaint you, the instructor, with the library system and the physical arrangement of materials and services.
Group Size: We recommend a 25 student maximum to minimize the impact visits have on Western Washington University students, and to provide a more focused attention for your students. Consider dividing larger classes into smaller groups, or selecting those students whose research needs can only be met at an academic library.
Black-out Dates: Due to high demand of personnel, spaces, and research materials, we cannot accommodate group visits during the midterm and final exam periods during each quarter (roughly, the fifth and last weeks of the quarter).
Day of Visit
Chaperones: Arrange to have one adult accompany every 10 students. This ensures that the librarian or reference personnel assigned to your group will have sufficient help in meeting the research needs of all your students.
Borrowing Materials: If you want your students to be able to check-out books and other circulating materials using the Whatcom One Card program for community members, make sure they bring the required documents. Find details at
Whatcom One Card. Information about the costs of printing and copying materials will also be helpful.
After the Visit
Research Tools: Students can continue their research after visiting by using the Western Libraries
OneSearch available on the Western Libraries web site. Guide your students in searching the catalog to identify books and other items that they need prior to the visit. You might have them print out pertinent bibliographical records from our catalog to bring to the visit. Click here for
tips on searching OneSearch.