photo by Hannah Reel

Larry Brown, Alcorn State University graduate and resident of Natchez, searches the Internet while utilizing the ASU Natchez Campus Library.

Alcorn State libraries open to the public

Cain Madden

Published Monday, August 10, 2009

NATCHEZ — More than 200 of the people using the Alcorn State University Natchez Campus library aren’t students.

And the library is happy to see that number go up.

The ASU Natchez Library Learning Resource Center has an open door policy to anyone, director Clarence Love said.

“Our mission is to serve the public,” Love said. “Our new President Dr. (George) Ross’s mission is to open our arms to the public and welcome them in.”

The Natchez library has 10 fully accessible computers open to the public and a 12,000-volume collection of books.

“Our collection is founded on the nursing program,” Love said. “But we are getting more books in to support all curriculums. Our new business program has contributed a good bit of new books.”

Though anyone can use the library’s resources, only students and faculty can check out books for use outside the library, Love said. The policy exists because the library can levy fees against students who never return books, but not against the general public.

“When economic times get better,” Love said. “It is a service we look to provide (to everyone).”

The Internet, however, is the main reason the general public comes through the doors monthly, Love said.

“Not everyone has a computer and more jobs are appearing on the Internet,” he said. “If they don’t have a job or computer at home, somebody has to provide one for them. The university wants to be the one to help those who are disadvantaged.”

Love said his staff is willing to go the extra mile to offer training to those who do not know how to use computers.

“We have a faculty willing to assist people searching for information,” he said. “We also offer tutorials, if you don’t know how to use a computer, someone has to inform you.”

The library often has events going on, including an upcoming business after hours program in conjunction with the Natchez Chamber of Commerce called All About Education, which will feature an art exhibit.

“Arts Natchez Galleries will bring in an exhibit of local artists,” Assistant to the President Dr. Ruth Nichols said. “The art will be in the library all month.”

The atmosphere of the library is relaxed, Love said, with group rooms set off for private study. The library offers wireless Internet.

“We are trying to open up an Internet café,” Love said. “We are talking to Starbucks and trying to get them to set a counter up serving coffee, donuts and their other services.”

The Natchez Library is accessible from Col. John Pitchford Parkway and is open seven days a week. Monday through Thursday it is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

At Lorman’s J.D. Boyd Library, the open door policy is also in effect.

Interim Dean of University Libraries Blanche Sanders said many people use the library, including high school students, children of employees and some of the community’s researchers.

“But everyone is welcome to come into the library,” she said. “They have access to all of our resources.”

The library has 12 computers open to public use and a 24,000-volume collection of books, which Sanders said includes a vast amount of information on all subjects from education to leisure reading.

“School-age students can come in and plan a science project,” she said. “And older adults may be interested in looking up grants or researching genealogy.”

Sanders said the library is a peaceful environment with study rooms for group discussions to stand-alone points, for individualized quiet study.

“Although we are on a university campus, we are still in some ways a public library,” she said. “We are the only university in Southwest Mississippi, and we want to reach out with our resources to accommodate the area.”

Like the Natchez Library, the J.D. Boyd Library also offers special events, and in October it is hosting a traveling exhibit of musician and composer William Grant Steel.

The J.D. Boyd Library is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“We are trying to provide a technological atmosphere to grow globally, so our patrons can not only get up to date in the United States, but also on the global economic picture,” Love said.