Derrell C. Roberts Library: History of the library

When the college opened in 1967, the library was housed in the Administration building, one of the first five buildings constructed on the campus.  A dedicated structure for the library was completed in 1972.  The architects were Dunwoody & Co. and the contractor was Bishop & Busbin.  An open house was held on Sunday, October 15, 1972.  At that time, the library collection consisted of 10,000 books and 175 newspapers and periodicals. 

Mr. Russell Browne was the head librarian in 1972, and there were four other staff members: Lieunette Cooper (Assistant to Librarian), George Cudabac (Media Specialist), Nelle Elkins (Library Clerk), and Colene Siler (Assistant Librarian).  There have been six library directors since then: Marilyn Lowery, Harriet Mayo, Elizabeth Bagley, Tracey Westmoreland, Lydia Knight and Melissa Whitesell.

In 1997, the library was named after Dr. Derrell C. Roberts, the second president of the college.  A new addition was completed in 2002, and nearly doubled the size of the building to its current 59,323 square feet on two floors.  The architectural firm responsible for the addition was Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung International Inc. and the contractor was Blaine Construction Corp.

The building currently includes eleven (11) study rooms, three (3) class rooms, three (3) meeting rooms, four (4) video labs, a virtual reality (VR) lab, a computer lab, two Archive storage and work room areas, and 25 offices.  Along with the library, the Advising and Student Success Center, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, as well as the Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia are located in the library building.