For over twenty-four years one of Washburn's Libraries, the Curriculum Resources Center, has been an important partner with the Department of Education, area schools and educators, and the community. The CRC is a model k-12 school library and important academic center for teachers and parents which is unparalleled by any other college or university in the state. The vision of the CRC sprang from the need to empower Washburn's Education students with practice-based resources. Today, as students complete class assignments or prepare lessons for their first experiences teaching in schools, they receive guidance and support from CRC staff who help them get the resources they need and become savvy researchers along the way. The CRC provides highly sought-after materials such as digital and print teacher lesson plans, children's and juvenile literature, textbooks, audio-visual and digital equipment, instructional materials, and even toys. These resources and services are also available to community patrons such as teachers, school library media specialists, and homeschoolers. The CRC is sometimes referred to as Washburn's best kept secret'. However, area teachers who are WU alumni join education faculty and students with other Topeka Educators as frequently returning patrons. The CRC is a busy campus library that in 2007 acquired more space to expand a digital laboratory and production area. It is staffed by full-time Library Assistant Paula Inman, and several student workers.

The CRC is nestled in the basement of Carnegie Hall, which is the building that houses the Department of Education Offices and several classrooms. It is the oldest building on campus. It was originally commissioned as a library and began in 1905 to serve in that capacity. The university library remained there for only 50 years. The building survived the tornado of 1966 and was rebuilt for the Department of Education. The CRC collection soon grew, and in the 1970's a branch library began as a collaborative effort between the University Libraries and the Department.