Research Guides: Welcome to the Library: West Campus Library

Welcome to the West Campus Library!

The West Campus (WC) Library is the oldest and the largest of the five Pima Community College libraries. The WC Library occupies the entire third floor of the Santa Catalina building at West Campus. The overall footprint of the third floor is approximately 24, 000 square feet. The second floor of the Santa Catalina building is mainly taken up with the Academic Computer Commons and the Learning Center (tutoring).

The WC Library has seating and study space to accomodate a variety of student needs. We have a total of twenty study rooms/pods that can be checked out for two hour increments. There are nine group study rooms that accommodate 4-5 students, and one large group study room that accommodates 10- 12 students comfortably. We have an additional ten study pods that are ideal for quiet study.

Currently at West Campus Library you will find three brilliant librarians, three passionate and informed library services specialists, one incredible library tech and five amazing student workers. We are here for one primary reason, and that is to ensure that our students have the tools they need to succeed in higher education and beyond. Whether you are a well versed library patron or a new student who has library hours to log yet, you are welcome here! We looked forward to seeing you succeed at Pima!

Meet our Library Staff:

Chris Schipper - Campus Library Department Head

I am a newer resident to Tucson, having moved from New Mexico in January, 2019. While originally from the Midwest (Iowa), my love for mountains and the desert brought me to the beautiful Four Corners area, where I lived for thirteen years with my spouse, and a variety of cats. Hobbies and interests include: reading (surprise), hiking, photography, music, film, antiques, cooking, and gardening. I am eager to continue exploring my new home, and I'm excited to discover new trails, as well as new restaurants. Prior to coming to Pima, I worked as the library director at San Juan College in New Mexico. I have a Bachelor's in Philosophy, in addition to my Master's in Library & Information Science. Both degrees were conferred by the University of Iowa.

Sandra Ley - Librarian

Hi there! I'm the Business, Fashion, Fitness & Arts librarian at PCC. I have a B.A. in Art History and a Master's in Library Science. My professional background spans museum and gallery work and translating for the Italian gold jewelry industry. I've published articles within the Encyclopedia of World Dress & Fashion and Bloomsbury Fashion Central, and founded the Art Library Society's Fashion, Textile & Costume Librarians' Special Interest Group. I love helping students who are passionate about pursuing a career in the creative fields. Reach out if I can help you with research, art projects, or developing a personal aesthetic. I'm a U.S-Italian citizen and I've been living in Arizona for over a decade. The Southwestern aesthetic and early 13th century Italian reliquaries are particular interests of mine. Come and say hello in English or Italian!

Kathline Gomes - Librarian

Hi! I joined PCC in December 2022, and I’m happy to be here. I split my time between the West Campus and Downtown Campus libraries – say hi if you see me around! I have a background in education and was a teacher and school librarian before transitioning to the college library. I love promoting our amazing library resources (books! laptops! hotspots! study rooms! culture passes! helpful library folks!) and supporting students with research. Outside of work, I like to spend time in nature, play games, read, and bake. As a new Tucson resident, I’m enjoying getting to know the area through bird watching and eating a lot of delicious food. If you need help with a class assignment (or if you have restaurant recommendations!), you can reach me at kgomes@pima.edu.

Mariah Grant - Librarian

Hello! I am the allied health liaison for the West Campus Library. Contact me for help with finding resources for your papers, a good book to read, or to check your reference citations. I am returning to higher education after working in K-8 libraries for the last three years. I hold an MA in Library Science from the University of Arizona with a specialization in archives. I completed archival work at the New York Museum of Natural History where I processed the collection of a psychoanalyst, Dr. Lillian Powers, who kept hundreds of squirrels as pets and produced six live action squirrel movies in the 1920’s. My favorite genres are literary and historical fiction. The book that had the most impact on me recently was A Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih. When I’m not reading, I enjoy hiking, gardening, and spending time with my family.

Robbie Lopez - Library Services Specialist

I am a born and raised desert rat who has always called Tucson my home. I am relatively new to the library world, as I am currently pursuing my Master's Degree in Library and Information Science and started with PCC Libraries in March 2019. My previous career was in the nonprofit world and I received my Bachelors Degree in Nonprofit Leadership & Management from Arizona State University. My previous nonprofit experiences and community work have fueled my journey into librarianship, where my passions lie in social justice, acessibility, advocacy, representation and support for POC (people of color), the Latinx/Chicanx community, QTPOC (queer & trans people of color), immigrant communities, the disabled community, and all the intersections inbetween. In my non-library life I love watching cult classic movies, enjoying music of all genres, treasure hunting in thrift stores, hanging out with my three dogs, and teaching my nieces and nephews the joys of old horror movies.

Isabel Encinas-Nunez - Library Services Specialist

I've always had an appreciation for libraries. When I was around six years old, my mother was a student at the WC and would often bring me up to the library while she studied. My young mind could not fathom the vast collection of books that were taller than me, but I would always run straight to the children's section and reach for the same Alice in Wonderland pop-up book. I would often tell my mom that I wanted to be a student at the WC just like her when I grew up. Little did I know that I would be on the other side of the desk several years later. I began working with PCC as a FWS student worker in 2019 and then as a Library Services Technician a year later. Outside of work I love to play video games, read self-help books, and hike trails around Arizona.

Lupita Angulo - Library Services Specialist

Hello! My name is Lupita and I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, I have an associates in Liberal Arts from Pima Community College and am working on my Bachelor’s in Applied Human Behavior at Northern Arizona University. I have always been passionate about reading and serving the community, which is why I am happy to be a Library Specialist. I started as a Student Aide in 2021at the Desert Vista Library, then moved onto the Service Technician position at Northwest Campus Library. I was a tech for 2 years and I have now started my newest chapter as a Campus Library Specialist at the West Campus Library. Outside of work I like going to the movies to catch the newest films, going out with friends, and spending time with my dog.