Digital resources at the Whatcom County Library System and the Bellingham Public Library came back online Thursday after a June 27 security breach made them unavailable for more than two weeks.
The two library systems are distinct but share resources, including access to digital resources. When a suspected malware attack hit the Whatcom County Library System, the authentication server that provides digital resources had to be taken offline for investigation, according to a June 27 WCLS press release.
Resources that are now back online include the Britannica Library, Chilton Library, Consumer Reports, Gale products, HeritageQuest Online, Newsbank, NoveList, Peterson’s Test Prep, ProQuest CultureGrams, Reference Solutions and ValueLine Investment Research.
Christine Perkins, the executive director of WCLS, wrote in an email that the investigation of the breach is still ongoing. The WCLS phone and email servers were also affected by the breach. Perkins wrote that phone services are still being impacted as the library system moves its phone system over to a new platform.
“Summer reading activities and other library programs are happening as planned,” Perkins said. “We hope folks are enjoying some library materials and the sunny weather this weekend.”
