Smith named PRCC libraries director | Schools

The following is a press release from Pearl River Community College:

Tracy Smith’s association with Pearl River Community College began when she was a student.

As of July 1, she continued her 20 years with PRCC with a promotion to director of college libraries.

In her new job, she is in charge of the Garvin H. Johnston Library on the Poplarville campus as well as the libraries at Forrest County Center in Hattiesburg and the Hancock Center in Waveland. She succeeds Jeanne Dyar, who retired last month.

“I’m excited,” Smith said. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill. Mrs. Dyar was a very good director. I hope I can continue to keep that service up for our students.”

After graduating from Poplarville High School, Smith earned an associate’s degree at Pearl River while holding down a work-study job in the library. She went on to the University of Southern Mississippi where she received the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science.

She and her husband, David, live in Poplarville and are the parents of two daughters, both of whom attend Poplarville schools.

Smith has worked in the PRCC library full time for 20 years, most recently as public services librarian.

“She started working there from the ground up,” said Dr. Martha Lou Smith, vice president for general education and technology services. “She has earned this and deserves it. She has visions of how the culture of the library should be used for the benefit of the college community.”

Computer lab equipment in the Poplarville library will be replaced during the fall semester and 12 computers will be added to the lab in the Forrest County Center library. Students will not see other changes in library operations, she said.

“It will be business as usual,” Smith said.

Purchase of new books and materials has been limited in recent years by budget constraints with acquisitions guided by the needs of students first and faculty and staff second.

Through an international organization students can borrow material the college library doesn’t have, she said. Users of the PRCC libraries also can use the libraries at USM, Poplarville High School and Pearl River County.