About the Library
Introduction
The library building was completed in 1954 and named in honor of Dr. T.L. Holcomb, a former Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. The main reading room houses the multiple local, national, and international special collections. The first floor also houses the College Chapel with seating for more than one hundred.
The library stack area, capable of housing 50,000 volumes, occupies three floors in the rear of the building. There is one large classroom on the third floor and a full-service computer lab on the basement level of the library. A competent staff, indices, other bibliographic aides, as well as the Internet, provide ample guidance and tools for research.
Library Mission
The mission statement of the College will serve to guide all that is done in the Library. That mission statement reads: “American Baptist College equips students for Christian service and leadership through an interdisciplinary education emphasizing biblical and theological studies.”
The library exists to under gird the curriculum of the American Baptist College, and to contribute to the professional and spiritual growth of students and faculty with recognition of the unique African-American cultural environment. In that regard, its primary function is to serve the A.B.C. community by providing and managing pertinent resources in meeting the educational goals of the American Baptist College.
Staff
The library is staffed by a librarian and trained library assistants to help students navigate the resources and services available for class assignments, research papers, and cultural or recreational needs. Other roles of the library staff include:
- Guiding you through research- from finding a book on the shelf to using electronic resources from on campus or at home.
- Answering questions or concerns about any library service or connecting researchers with the appropriate person that can help.
- Serving as a point of contact for information about activities in the library.
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library stimulate support for library objectives, enlist the involvement of College alumni/ae and friends, and generate financial support for the Library. Membership is open to everyone. For information about how you can become a supporter, contact the head librarian at 615.687.6904.
Hours
General Hours
The Reference Room
The Reference Room is the heart of the Library and accommodates special collections. Hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:00-6:00
Friday 9:00 - 12:00Variations from these times will be announced in advance and posted on the front door of the library.
Phone Numbers
Phone Numbers:
Reference Desk (Questions): 615.687.6893
Director of Library Services: 615.687.6904
E-mail: jwalsh@abcnash.edu