Our Collections

Navigation

The library at Lake Washington Institute of Technology has a collection of physical, digital, and media technologies. For questions about any of our collections or the resources we provide, please contact us. We also have equipment available for checkout, a computer lab with specialized software, and the LWTech Archive, a collection of non-circulating materials related to the history of LWTech.

Please note: in Spring 2021, all late/overdue fines and fees were removed. Lost item and damaged item fees continue. Please review our Policies and Procedures page for more information.

Media Types

Most of our research databases are searchable through the library catalog. They offer peer-reviewed articles, technical information, streaming video, and other educational resources.

  • Loan period: Not applicable
  • In-library use only? No

You will find most books on the upper floor, arranged according to the Library of Congress subject classification system.

  • Loan period: Current quarter
  • In-library use only? No

Visit the library catalog to discover and gain access to our 70k+ eBook collection.

  • Loan period: Varies by eBook 
  • In-library use only? No

Movies (including DVDs and Blu-rays) are located on the upper floor by the printer, arranged according to the Library of Congress subject classification system.

  • Loan period: 7 days
  • In-library use only? No

Note: Blu-Ray and DVD players can be checked out for in-library use in the library study rooms.

Located on the main floor of the library near the west windows, our zine collection covers diverse topics and stories.

  • Loan period: 2 hours
  • In-library use only? Yes

 

Book Collections

 

View all of our collections

 

The DSJ Collection consists of books and movies that educate regarding oppression to support the campus-wide DSJ requirement. Categories of oppression include sexism, homophobia, social oppression, classism, religious oppression, ableism, ageism, environmental justice, racism, intersectionality, critical pedagogy, level of education, immigration status, and ethnicity. This collection is located on the main floor of the library, between the computer lab and the west windows.

Do you need help browsing the collection or looking for items on a specific subject? Use our DSJ Finding Aid.

Diversity & Social Justice Collection

Located behind the front desk on the main floor of the library, these current textbooks and other study materials can only be checked out for two hours at a time for in-library use.

You can see what course reserves we have available in the library catalog by searching for "RESERVE [your course abbreviation here]" and using the Physical Items filter under Availability on the left side of the screen after you search. For instance, "RESERVE ENGL" will show you all the books on reserve for English courses, and "RESERVE CSD" will show you all the books on reserve for Computing and Software Development courses.

The IPC focuses on native culture and history within the region and beyond. Look for the green “IPC” label on the spines of books and movies in our general collection.

Indigenous Peoples Collection (IPC)

The International Collection is supported by the LWTech Foundation. It reflects the diverse student body of the college by providing resources related to student nationalities/countries of origin. Identification of this collection is within the records of Library Search, and these collection items are interfiled in the general collection.

International Collection

The Local Collections consist of the Local Interest and Local Author collections. The Local Interest Collection includes books focusing on subjects specific to Washington State. The Local Author Collection focuses on items created by authors in Washington State. Identification of these collections is within the records of Library Search, and the collection items are interfiled in the general collection.

Local Collections

 

LWTech Archive

Located on the main floor of the Library, the LWTech Archive is a collection of non-circulating materials related to the history of LWTech. Please ask at the reference desk for assistance in using these materials.

The primary mission of the archive is to preserve the history of Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) through the collection of materials unique to the institute. The archive seeks to collect materials that reflect the diversity of student experiences, the breadth of education programs offered, and the excellence of our staff and students.

Goals

  • To ensure the long-term preservation and storage of historical records pertaining to Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
  • To efficiently manage these collections.
  • To continually improve access to and encourage the use of collections by students and faculty of LWTech, the community, and interested researchers.

Scope

Our archive strives to identify and collect materials which document the dynamic history of LWTech. Items collected by the LWTech archive include, but are not limited to:

  • Materials related to accreditation, including past accreditation documents, self-study, and market research reports
  • LWTech publications, which may include those published by academic departments and those published by student groups, associations, and clubs
  • Course catalogs and student handbooks
  • Associated Student Government materials
  • Faculty and student projects or publications
  • Press releases and media items chronicling the college and its activities
  • College ephemera such as programs, posters, catalogs of exhibitions, photographs, and memorabilia
  • Materials related to significant accomplishments of LWTech alumni
  • Materials related to the architectural history of LWTech
  • Materials related to underrepresented groups and their current and historic relationships to LWTech

We do not collect:

  • Financial transaction records
  • Payroll records
  • Course syllabi or evaluations
  • Personnel records
  • Student transcripts
  • Routine administrative records
  • Duplicated material, or materials collected for reference purposes only
  • Classroom aids, posters, books, or other materials used for classroom instruction

Collection Development Policy

Donated materials are accepted primarily from within the LWTech community as space allows, at the discretion of the librarians. Any donation that is accepted for the archive becomes property of LWTech, and the rights to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, broadcast and distribute and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any media now known or later developed is transferred to LWTech. The donor recognizes that donated materials may be digitized and made available to the public. All donated items and collections are to be used solely at the discretion of the archive. Consideration of acceptance may also be contingent upon financial support from the donor for archival processing and cataloging expenses and for the purchase of appropriate archival document boxes, folders, and other preservation and housing materials.

Gifts from the general public will be considered if they are germane to LWTech history and/or the history of the college's academic disciplines, the college's relationship to the community of Kirkland, as well as other related areas that the library deems to be of value to the archive.

LWTech reserves the right to make final decisions about the appropriateness of materials included in the archive and can revise its collection development guidelines at any time. The library welcomes inquiries about donations of archival materials but cannot accept everything. Prospective donors should NOT send the item(s), but instead, contact the library via email.