Summer 2003

Volume 6 Number 3
A publication of Macon State College

MSC and Nola Brantley Memorial Library Team Up to Serve Students & Public

Marsha Christy, right, head librarian at Nola Brantley Memorial Library, talks with Pat Borck, center, MSC's director of library services, and Judy Golden, Houston County's public library director. Photo by Sheron Smith

By Sheron Smith

Talk about a perfect match.

As planning for Macon State College’s new Warner Robins Campus got underway, the idea of partnering with Houston County’s Nola Brantley Memorial Library right next door was really a no brainer.

“This was a partnership practically begging to take place,” said Pat Borck, Macon State’s director of library services. “I have no doubt that the College and the public library are going to find this a mutually beneficial arrangement for years to come.”

Under a formal agreement between Macon State and the Houston County Library Board, Warner Robins Campus students have convenient access to the academic services they need to complete their degree programs. Macon State is providing to the Nola Brantley Library a variety of electronic research databases; additional reference and circulating books; more computers and other equipment and support from the College’s technical services department.

Nola Brantley Library is providing library instruction classes and reference and research assistance to Macon State students. The academic enhancements Macon State provided to the Nola Brantley Library are also available to the general public.

While it’s not unusual for a college or university to partner with a public library, the Macon State-Nola Brantley arrangement is unique.

“I don’t think there’s anybody partnering quite like this, where the library and college are right next door to each other,” said Judy Golden, the public library director for Houston County. “I don’t know of another situation where the public library is serving as the college library.”

Golden said the partnership is a win-win situation for the College and the Houston County community.

“We’ve always served Macon State College students, but now we have such a great opportunity to serve them at a higher level,” she said. “Macon State has been a great neighbor already, and we are looking forward to the future.”