Alternative Press Collection

Our long-standing collection of print magazines out of the mainstream, many covering social and political topics such as labor, indigenous peoples, feminism, ecology, democracy, and anarchism. The collection is housed together at the beginning of our current issues of magazines and journals, where you can find the most recent four issues of each title.

Chemtronics Files

The Chemtronics, Inc. site includes a 20-acre industrial area off Old Bee Tree Rd. in Swannanoa just down the road from the WWC campus. The site was affected by waste disposal practices associated with manufacturing operations, including explosives manufacturing, thought to have taken place on site from 1952 to 1971.

EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 (and the site was designated a Superfund site) because of contaminated ground water and soil resulting from waste disposal practices. Manufacturing activities at the site ended in 1994. EPA, the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NCDENR), and the site’s potentially responsible parties (PRPs) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site. Monitoring and remediation plans are ongoing.

The WWC Library is the official government repository for documents related to the Chemtronics site. There is a file cabinet near the photocopier downstairs in the library that holds these documents. Ask a staff member if you need access to these files.

Additionally, many of these documents have been digitized and are available for checkout on CD at the Circulation Desk. These discs cover the years 2006-current and are available for in-house use in the library. The discs may be checked out by anyone (a WWC library card is not required).

CD Collection

We have a good and growing collection of over 1,000 audio CDs, comprising mainly of traditional music, including bluegrass, old time, and gospel titles. We even have recordings of bluegrass and old time music performed by musicians in Asia and Europe. The collection is enhanced by a generous gift from Fred Bartenstein. Browse the collection located on the main floor, or search for specific albums by using OwlSearch or our local catalog.

Vinyl Record Collection

The Library Sound Lab houses a vinyl library of around 2,000 records. The collection focuses on bluegrass, Appalachian, old-time, country, folk, jazz and international music, with a smattering of rock. Most of the records were released prior to 1990. 

Records may be enjoyed in the Sound Lab, which is equipped with a quality turntable and speakers. Individuals and groups may reserve the space for record browsing and listening here. We also have a dedicated USB turntable connected to a computer for easy digitization of records.

The collection is cataloged at Discogs, where the collection can be browsed online or searched by artist, title or keyword. Credits and notes are included for many titles.

Zine Collection

Please enjoy the WWC library’s zine collection. In an attempt to keep this collection as varied as possible, these zines focus on a wide range of topics. Unique to this collection is the addition and denotation of zines created by WWC students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as those created by groups or individuals in the local Asheville area.

  • What are zines?

    Zines, as defined by Chip Rowe in “The Book of Zines,” are “cut-and-paste ‘sorry this is late,’ self-published magazines reproduced at Kinko’s or on the sly at work and distributed through mail order and word of mouth.” They usually have fewer than 1,000 copies in print. They can cover a variety of topics including, but not limited to, oppression, the environment, how to guides, queer identities, and resistance. Some use scholarly sources to discuss topics, and others rely on word of mouth and first hand experiences. Some are about an individual’s personal life, experiences and opinions.

  • Can I check these out of the library?

    This collection is not officially in our record keeping system. Do feel free to take them with you when you leave, but in the spirit of zines, and knowing that information is meant to be shared, please bring them back to the library so others who may want to read them can access them. If you would like to keep one of them, we encourage you to contact the creator of the zine to see if you can purchase a copy of your own. If you need assistance finding contact information for the creator, let a librarian know and we can try our best to help. You can also easily scan and save or print your own copy. Any of the librarians can assist you with that process if you ask.

  • Can I donate a zine to the collection?

    Of course! We would love to add your zine to our collection. The best way to add your zine is to bring it by the library and give it to anyone at the circulation desk. Just let them know you want to add your zine to the collection.

Peal creative journal