Friday, May 24, 2013













Bacone President Dr. Robert J. Duncan, Jr. wields the scissors for today's official Merritt Donaghy Betts Library ribbon cutting ceremony. Standing next to Duncan (on right) is Board of Trustee Chair Ann Barker Ong. Bacone's next ribbon cutting is 4 p.m., April 10 for the Student Life Center. (Baconian Online photos by David W. Reynolds)
Executive Vice President Dr. Robert K. Brown says more of the library
will be finished by its May grand opening, but "It probably won't be fully up to speed, with smart rooms and everything until August, when the students come back," he added. Bacone Board of Trustees Chair Ann Barker Ong announced the purchase of Northpointe Shopping Center, now Bacone Commons, on May 5, 2011.
Duncan delivers the presidential greeting at today's ceremony. "It's important that this facility is a gateway to the community," he said. Muskogee Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Tourism and Marketing Treasure McKenzie and chamber ambassadors also attended today's event.
Duncan prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon for Bacone's new library. The president said Ong's "vision and leadership have been instrumental at making this possible."
Executive Director of the Betts Library and the General Collections Librarian Faye Davis introduces herself and shared the story behind the facility's name. Merritt D. Betts donated funds to provide a new library in honor of her mother, Ester Getz Donaghy (NSDAR), said Davis.