Local bank donates $50k for CC library

The Donley County State Bank made a donation to the Clarendon College Foundation totaling $50,000 Tuesday afternoon.

The money was earmarked for use as seed money for the college’s proposed library, one of the projects of the New Horizons Campaign.

“This is something we’re very pleased about,” said CC President Myles Shelton. “The library is very important to the future of Clarendon College.”

Shelton said the current CC Library, which is a part of the Administration Building constructed in 1968, is not big enough to meet the present needs of the institution. The library now has approximately 4,000 square feet of space and holds 22,000 volumes. For a school the size of CC, it should be 8-10,000 square feet and hold 30-40,000 volumes, the president said.

“The library is a major project of our capital campaign,” Shelton said, “and we’re very pleased that this gift will set the standards for this project.”

An adequate new library is expected to cost CC at least $1 million, but Shelton said the “ideal” facility would cost about $2 million.

Donley County State Bank President Jimmy Fowler said his bank has been a longtime supporter of the Panhandle’s oldest institution of higher learning.

“Hopefully this gift will be a little start that they can build on to reach their goal,” Fowler said.

The New Horizons Campaign was authorized by the CC Board of Regents in May of 2000. Its two main objectives are the construction of a new library and a livestock and equestrian center. Secondary goals include raising money for scholarships, upgrading technology, and other campus improvements.