The West Texan: WT’s Cornette Library Marks 50-Year Anniversary

Throughout the sprawling ground floor, students unfold laptops at study tables, or sink into cushy chairs to read.   Upstairs, a history class has gathered in a corner reading room, diligently working on a group project.  

In quiet nooks, splayed-open book bags, piles of periodicals, and scrawled-in notebooks provide evidence of ongoing research. 

The West Texan Winter 2023: This article appears in the Winter 2023 edition of The West Texan, in mailboxes soon. Click the image to read the full issue.

For 50 years, the James and Mary Elizabeth Cornette Library has anchored West Texas A&M University’s campus, a sanctum for studying, learning and exploring for students and community members alike.  

The library celebrates its half-century milestone this year. A series of special events, exhibits, and a reception to mark the anniversary are planned.  

“An academic library is the heart of a university,” said Shawna Kennedy-Witthar, director of information and library resources. “And here, we strive to be that place, where everyone can find what they need and have a place.” 

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, a year-long exhibit on the library’s first level showcases the evolution of WT's library history.

WT has had a library space since it opened in 1910. The institution's first library, from 1910 to 1914, was in the school’s Administration Building, which was destroyed in 1914 by fire.

From 1916 until 1952, the library was housed in Old Main. And for the next 22 years, the library was located adjacent to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. (The building was annexed to the museum in 1986.)

Artifacts from those previous locations are on display in the first-floor exhibit, including original bookcases, archived catalogue materials, and a section of a stained-glass window. The current library opened in 1974—a 88,900-square-feet facility in the center of WT’s campus.

The library is named for James and Mary Elizabeth Cornette; James Cornette was WT's third president, serving from 1948 until 1973, a year before the new library opened.

Cornette’s 25-year tenure at WT was marked by significant expansion, both in enrollment and, subsequently, in campus construction. The Cornette Library was among one of those additions.

Jim Cornette ‘55, son of the late James and Mary Elizabeth Cornette, graduated from WT in 1955. He continues to stay connected to the University, and his visits to the campus frequently include a browse through the library which bears his family name.

“WT has maintained the vitality of that library,” Dr. Jim Cornette said. “It’s still such a viable place for students.”

Emanuel and Maritza Muguria, siblings from Amarillo and freshmen at WT, gather to study with other friends in the library almost daily.

“This is the spot we do all our homework,” Emanuel said, while studying on the second floor of the library on a recent Thursday afternoon. “It’s an environment with all we need and no distractions.”

The library currently houses more than 304,000 print book titles and nearly 15,000 print serial titles, primarily journals and newspapers.

One of the library's most prestigious – and yet, lesser-known –features is the Texas Poets’ Corner, an impressive collection of rare books, artwork, and furniture on the library’s second floor.

"The Texas Poets’ Corner is a hidden gem," said Dr. Emily S. Kinsky, the Jenny Lind Porter Professor of Communication in WT’s Department of Communication. "It's a treasure trove."

The space was established in 2003 with a $2.8 million estate gift by the late Dr. Jenny Lind Porter Scott, a former Texas Poet Laureate and WT assistant professor of English. Among the items on display is the original handwritten manuscript of O. Henry’s short story, “A Fog in Santone,” a grand piano dating to the 1870s, and a lithograph portrait of William Shakespeare displayed at the World's Fair in 1853.

The library also boasts extensive electronic resources. “Technology has changed so much,” said Kennedy-Witthar, who has served as the library's director since 2010, but first joined the library staff in 1993. “I remember when we got the Internet.” A state-of-the-art digital hub—the recently renamed Marmaduke Internet Innovation Center—occupies the library basement, connecting visitors to near-limitless resources.

To manage the vast collection, the library typically employs 27 full-time staff members, plus student workers.

The library’s purpose extends beyond providing materials, though. “When you hear ‘library,’ you think books,” said Kelly Hoppe, the library’s head of outreach and instruction. “But the services that the library provides is so much more than that.”

From movie nights and poetry slams to cookie decorating and gaming contests, the library offers a variety of events aimed at supporting students throughout the year.

“It’s opportunities to be in a safe place and de-stress,” Hoppe said. “They can connect with others.”

For its 50th anniversary celebration, the library is planning a reception and dance on Feb. 13, themed “I ❤️ Cornette Library.” Then, in late March, the Texas Poets’ Corner will host a poetry reading and award ceremony for its essay contest winners. The event also will spotlight the library’s 50-year history.

“There is more to the library than many people realize,” Hoppe said. “There’s a place for everyone here.”