Marsh Library rededicated

With recent library renovations, it seemed only fit that a rededication take place. On October 10, The Marsh Library welcomed many alumni, community members, faculty, staff, and students to witness the rededication.

Connie Shumate, Director of the Marsh Library, announces that “the library is equipped and ready to meet the demands of the 21^st century. She says that the rededication “means progress.”

Though the name isn’t being altered, the library has been rededicated to current and future students. It is Shumate’s hope that the library “will become a sense of pride” for the Concord community.

Shumate thought that a celebration was a way to honor all the people who took part of the renovations and restorations because it hasn’t been an easy job as the building was built in 1941. 

She says, “Hard work and recognition needs to be recognized and a rededication helps to honor the administration because they understand the center of an educational institution is the library.”

As far as remodeling goes, the library is now up-to-date and appearing stylish with new carpets and a brand new set of front steps. The next step, Shumate says, is to “further refine the collection and work to find additional funding to provide more full-text databases.” 

Shumate also states the teams’ plan of working with archives and showing the historical articles/artifacts of the University in attempt to create more of a sense of pride in the community.

In addition to the rededication ceremony, The Marsh Library welcomed Mrs. Ellen Bolt, author and Concord University graduate to give a presentation prior the rededication. 

Mrs. Bolt writes under the name of E.G. Bolt. She is author of “Summer of the Dancing Bear.” Her presentation was a first in a new monthly series hosted by the Marsh Library in conjunction with the Division of Humanities. Each month, a published Concord graduate will return to campus to discuss the creative process in writing a book and their experiences with publishing.

Bolt opened the presentation by reading a brief passage from her book. She then asked for feedback from the audience, which proved only positive. 

Mrs. Bolt was born in Charleston, W.Va., and grew up in the Fayette County coal camp of Kingston. In 1964 she received a bachelor’s degree in education from Concord. She pursued a master’s degree in counseling from Marshall University.

Those who are interested in purchasing Bolts’ book can find it on Amazon for an inexpensive price. 

To those who missed the rededication ceremony and would enjoy seeing all the hard work that has been completed in the past six month, are encouraged and welcomed to visit the library and speak to one of the helpful staff. The Marsh Library has underwent vast amounts of renovations since the beginning of 2014 and is only moving forward.