Librarian just can't keep quiet
Drake State's Neal proud of school's library/tech center
Monday, September 26, 2005
Kathryn Neal has been waiting for this for more than 18 years.
In ceremonies at 9:30 this morning, J.F. Drake State Technical College's librarian will help officially open the three-story, 36,000-square-foot S.C. O'Neal Library/Technology Center on campus.
During a preview last week, Neal said the promise of a new building was part of what lured her to Drake 18 years ago.
"It's just now materializing," she said with a laugh.
This morning, she'll join college President Dr. Helen McAlpine; U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville; state Sen. Jeff Enfinger, D-Huntsville; and a host of community and educational leaders for a ribbon-cutting, an open house and more.
The $6.2 million center is the first new building on the campus at 3421 Meridian St. in more than 23 years, and Drake has a lot to show off. The first floor features books and periodicals, a warren of new computer terminals and a 90-seat terraced lecture hall. The second floor has more books, computers and a computer lab; the third floor has a room for the library's archives, a group of administrative offices - including the president's new quarters - and enough open space to accommodate receptions, talks, award ceremonies or other events.
The center also has a 50-seat classroom, a number of study areas and five conference rooms.
For years, Neal has served Drake's students from a library that was really just an oversized classroom in "Building E," with about 2,000 square feet and fewer than 10 computers. Now, she'll be getting another staff member to help her oversee 26,000 square feet of library space with more than 100 computer stations and Wi-Fi Internet access for people who bring in their own.
"Number one, this is for the students," McAlpine said. "It's to enhance the learning process we have on this campus."
She said students were consulted during the planning and got their own tour of the new library last week.
"They were excited," Neal said, adding that an instructor reported hearing - for the first time - a group of students already making plans for a study group that will meet in the new building.
But the center won't serve just Drake's student body, which numbers about 770. McAlpine has always wanted the library to offer services to people in the neighborhood who might not otherwise have access to computers and the Internet.
"Hopefully, that will enhance the community in many ways," she said. "I think it's important to understand that the 'digital divide' is real."
The S.C. O'Neal Library/Technology Center is named in honor of Drake's first president, who served from 1962 to 1983. He oversaw the growth of the school from a single Quonset hut with 27 students to a campus with more than 850 students when he retired.
"We have some mighty tall shoulders to stand on," McAlpine said, pointing to a portrait of O'Neal near the stairs. It's a position of honor, as the steps rise like a bloom in different directions from the heart of the first floor.
Today, Drake is the only public technical college in the Tennessee Valley. Students in the college's academic, health and nursing, business and technical divisions may earn a GED, take specialized short-term training classes, meet continuing education needs or retrain for a new career through the Adult Skills Training Division.
McAlpine said the new center will allow Drake to expand its partnerships with area business and industry. The school already handles training and education programs for employees from Toyota, 3M, International Diesel, Summa Technologies, Lockheed and other companies.
© 2005 The Huntsville Times
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