Former Virginia
Governor
Visits Chowan
Dr. Colgate W. Darden, former Governor of
Virginia and former President of the
University of Virginia, enjoys the presence
of President Bruce E. Whitaker during
graduation day, May 16, 1971. Dr. Darden,
who also served four terms as a U. S.
Congressman, spoke at graduation exer
cises.
Students Cited As Major Library Asset
The most important person in
Whitaker Library at Chowan
College is the student. A talk
with Head Librarian Benjamin
W. Bontemps explains why.
It’s not just that the library
at the two-year, co-educational
college, related to the Baptist
State Convention of North
Carolina, contains 40,000 volumes
for circulation, a growth of 5.000
volumes in just over a year. Or
that an additional 4,000 volumes
of periodicals, both bound and on
microfilm, are available.
Even the new microfilm
reader that produces a copy
of the material you want with
a press of a button (after
depositing a dime that is)
doesn't fully explain the claim of
the head librarian, a New Jersey
native who once served as
reference librarian at Virginia
Military Academy.
The essence of the saying is
contained in the philosophy of
the friendly librarian. “Our goal
is to make coming to the library
an enjoyable experience,” com
mented Bontemps. “Students
are often surprised to discover
the freedom they have in the
library. They are welcome, for
example, to discuss their
studies or a book or just social
ize in the conference and work
areas, " he explained.
This latter policy sets Chowan’s
library apart from those which
insist on almost absolute silence
and where tiptoeing through
the shelves is the rule. “We
don't cast any icy stares at
students who talk. We treat
them like adults and they
respond by respecting the rights
of other students,” he added.
Easy chairs and coffee tables
are set up in several areas of
the library to facilitate conver
sation and exchange of ideas.
“We look upon the library as an
extension of the classroom,”
stated Bontemps. “We want the
library to be useful to the
students. They find it a com
fortable place to be and like the
pleasant surroundings.”
Use of the library is encouraged
by well-lit, spacious areas,
Bontemps reported. “This is a
well engineered library, with a
great deal of open space. You
don't feel crowded even when
it’s filled,” he said. The library
was opened in 1968 and is named
in honor of Chowan’s president
since 1957, Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker
In addition to the 40,000 vol
umes, Bontemps said the library
also contains over 10,000 items of
government documents and a
back file of the New York Times
from 1858 to the present with the
exception of six or seven years.
Another feature is the Library
of Congress catalog of authors
comprising another 420 volumes
not included in the book count.
The reference collection,
according to Chowan’s chief
librarian, who received his
masters in library science at
Rutgers University before
coming to Chowan in January
1971 is comparable to that of
many four-year colleges.
Former Student
With Air Force
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant
^nald G. Harrison, son oi Mr.
and Mrs. Raymond Harrison of
Rt. 2, Trenton, N.C., is on duty at
Udorn Royal Thai AFB,
Thailand.
Sergeant Harrison, an aircraft
maintenance specialist, is
assigned to a unit of the Pacific
Air Forces, headquarters for air
operations in Southeast Asia, the
Far East and the Pacific area.
Before his arrival in Thailand, he
served at Shaw AFB, S.C.
KKSK.MU'H WORK—A Chowan College
student uses the many volumes of
reference books in Whitaker Library to
complete a research project for one of
her classes. The modern library is a
very busy place every day as students
use the facility for study and other
activities of research.
NEW READER-PRINTER—A Chowan College student
uses the new microfilm reader-printer in Whitaker
Library. The machine allows the students to view and
purchase copies of books and periodicals that has not
been possible prior to the installation of the equipment.
PAGK TWO
The Chowanian