Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Al Harris Library Day with a special event on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Al Harris Library. Members of the campus community and the public are invited to attend. The event will include light refreshments, and attendees can sign a commemorative card to share notes of appreciation for library staff. The celebration coincides with National Library Workers Day, which is observed during National Library Week.
Al Harris Library Day was first recognized on April 25, 2001, after a proclamation from former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. The designation acknowledged the library’s role in providing public access to federal and state government information. SWOSU became part of the Federal Library Depository Program on July 24, 1958, and later expanded that role by becoming a state government depository on July 1, 1994. These milestones reflect the university’s long-standing commitment to making information accessible to students, researchers, and residents across western Oklahoma.
The current Al Harris Library building opened in 1968. Students formed a line across campus to move books from the previous library, now the Art Building, to the new location. That effort reflects a long-held emphasis on access to information and shared responsibility for learning within the SWOSU community.
“The Al Harris Library has long been central to informed citizenship, academic success, and lifelong learning across Southwestern Oklahoma State University and beyond,” said Dr. Joel Kendall, SWOSU Interim President. “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Al Harris Library Day, we honor the generations who have made the library not just a place, but a gateway to opportunity for our university and the people of Oklahoma.”
“Serving as a vital partner in their academic journey, the library empowers students to explore, question and succeed in an ever-expanding, information landscape,” said Jason Dupree, director of Al Harris Library. “The library has stood at the heart of our university, supporting student success and preserving knowledge that defines our academic community.”
The original 2001 proclamation will be on display throughout April at Al Harris Library as part of the anniversary recognition. The event reflects SWOSU’s continued commitment to access, education, and service through its library.
For more information about the Al Harris Library and its services, visit https://library.swosu.edu/.
About Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit swosu.edu.
