Prairie View A&M University News November 27, 2013 Coleman Library Celebrates 25 Years It’s been 25 years since the opening of the existing John B. Coleman Library and its place in PVAMU’s history was recently celebrated. Members of the PVAMU community joined together to celebrate the library’s 25th anniversary. The occasion was marked by reflections of the importance of the facility and the role is has played in the lives of thousands of PVAMU students. The ceremony also honored the work of the library’s namesake, Dr. John B. Coleman. He was the first African American appointed to Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in appreciation for his long service to the board and support of higher education at traditionally black universities in Texas. Prior to the opening of the present library facility, the original W.R. Banks Library, which was named after the former PVAMU principal, was funded by the Fifteenth Texas State Legislature. In April 1879, the library was issued a budget of $19 for books. Today, the library’s holdings are approaching 400,000 and boasts a total capacity of more than a half million volumes. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance <mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> <http://www.hbculibraries.org/>www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 <http://www.lyrasis.org/>www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.