The Warren A. Hood Library, an example of the Federalist style, houses more than 109,000 volumes and
approximately 500 periodicals.
In addition to the book collections owned by the College, there are periodical
subscriptions, record and compact disk collections, video cassettes, maps, vertical file
materials, periodical indexes, CD-ROM indexes/full-text databases, and reference materials
for all fields. With the addition of EBSCOhost, an on-line periodical citation and
full-text database accessible on the World Wide Web, the Library extends its resources
beyond the physical building.
Housed on the third floor of Hood Library is the Heritage Room, the official College Archives. Many historical items from Belhaven’s past are displayed in this working gallery, including pieces of the "Belhaven Silver" which was used by the students of the College during more "genteel" days. Next door to the Heritage Room is the Bessie C. Lemly Art Gallery. Named for the first art instructor at the College, this gallery is used to exhibit student and faculty shows along with traveling shows.
On the lowest level of Hood Library is Barber Auditorium, which seats approximately 175 people. Various events such as ballet, musical, and theatrical productions take place in this intimate setting. Barber Auditorium is named for Mr. Harold Barber and his wife Annie Ford Barber, class of 1925, one of five sisters who attended Belhaven. Mr. Barber was a member of the Belhaven Board of Trustees.
On permanent display on the middle floor of Hood Library is the McGehee Boehm Porcelain Collection. This large collection of Boehm porcelain was a gift to Belhaven by Mr. and Mrs. Frank McGehee of Natchez, Mississippi. Also on display in Hood Library are numerous pieces from the Belhaven Permanent Art Collection.
The library was completed in the fall of 1974 and named in honor of Warren A. Hood, a prominent Mississippi industrialist and chairman of Belhaven's Board of Trustees.
