BY [ Pamela TOLSON ]
The Walter L. Smith Library:
A Synonym for Learning
3Dr. Walter L. Smith, Sr.
FAMU’s 7th President
Learning can be defined as the
knowledge or skill acquired by
instruction or study.
Starting today, the word “learning” should
be defined as the Walter L. Smith Library, a
place that turns young minds into a future of
promise.
Most people think of a library being full
of rows after rows of books or a place to
do research. The Walter L. Smith Library,
located in Tampa, Fla., may not have rows
and rows of books, but it is a place that
exposes our future generations to Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela,
nutrition, astronauts, science, black history,
Olympians, African artifacts, Malcolm X and
more.
In 2004, Dr. Walter L. Smith, using his
life savings, opened the library, which used
to be his childhood home.
What inspired Smith to open the library
was the need for young boys and girls to
have a place to learn.
“Students did not have anything constructive to do after school,” Smith said. “I
wanted to provide them with a place where
they had an opportunity to learn. Some
students do not have access to a computer
at home. They can come here to use the
computers to do their work.”
The local community also uses the
library as a venue for their meetings and
conferences. One community member feels
Smith’s library is fulfilling a need.
“The library is definitely a jewel,” said
Shirley Foxx-Knowles, city clerk for the City
of Tampa. “In the West Tampa area, there
are a lot of kids that need this support. They
[kids] really look forward to going to the
library. Dr. Smith has given so much to the
public, which makes him so special.”
Smith’s future plans for the library is to
add a STEM center.
“I want to add a STEM center for science,
technology, engineering and math studies,”
said Smith, who earned his Bachelor’s of
Arts degree in biology and chemistry from
FAMU.
During his years as a student at FAMU,
Smith, who has a thirst for science, was in
charge of running the lab at FAMU’s hospital
at night while he carried a full academic
schedule. Additionally, he served as a tutor
in the science laboratory under Professor
E.E. Ware. One of his students was the late
Robert “Bullet Bob” Hayes. After receiving
his bachelor’s degree, he went on to earn
his master’s degree in school administration from FAMU. In 1974, he earned a
doctorate from Florida State University.
Smith earned a GED after serving three
years in the Army during the Korean War
era.
Smith has accomplished many feats
during his career. In 2009, he was the first
African-American recipient of the National
Education Association’s Applegate-Dorros
Peace and International Understanding
Award. Some of Smith’s numerous awards
include the President’s Award by the
National Conference of Black Mayors; IBM
Corporation’s Red-X Award; 100 Black Men
of Tallahassee’s 2008 Education Award;
Urban League’s Scholarly Distinction Award;
and Alumni of Distinction Awards by the
National Association for Equal Opportunity
in Higher Education. Additionally, Smith has
been inducted into the Florida Association
of Community Colleges Hall of Fame, the
FAMU Education Gallery of Distinction and
the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame. He was also
honored by Florida Memorial College with an
honorary doctorate degree.
Yes, Smith, at the age of 77, is a man
that strongly believes in teaching and
learning. He is doing something many
individuals can all learn: you must get
involved in order to grasp hold of our youth.
The next time you are in Tampa, stop
by the Walter L. Smith Library, located at
905 N. Albany Ave. where learning is an
experience you will never forget.
A&M Magazine // winter 2013 // 33