About Deets Library

Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, is a close-knit and welcoming academic community that values personal connections and holistic student development. Known for its focus on both intellectual growth and leadership, the college draws students from across Kansas and beyond who are interested in a supportive, small-college experience.

The Harold and Mary Ellen Deets Library, located at the heart of campus, serves as the academic and intellectual hub of Southwestern College. The library offers a welcoming environment that supports the diverse research, learning, and creative needs of students, faculty, and staff. Its extensive collection includes over 61,000 volumes, complemented by a wide array of digital databases, full-text articles, e-books, and interlibrary loan services accessible around the clock. In addition to its robust information resources, Deets Library provides collaborative and quiet study spaces, fostering exploration, discovery, and academic success across disciplines.

The first Southwestern College library, known for many years as the Magdalena Phillips Library, was housed in the school's original structure, known as the "College Building." It was named for the Phillips because the couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in the space and asked friends to bring a book instead of a gift. This helped to form the library's core collection. The library relocated to the first floor of Stewart Field House in the early 1920s (Wallace and Thompson).

According to Wallace and Thompson, the college finalized plans for the new Memorial Library on August 22, 1950. However, construction was slow due to shortages caused by the Korean conflict, "with shelving particularly hard to obtain" (81). The facility finally opened on November 28, 1951 and formally dedicated on May 17, 1953. Books were moved from the field house into the new building by students during a one-day holiday (81).

In 2008, the library underwent major refurbishments. At that time, the decision was made to rename it the Harold and Mary Ellen Deets Memorial Library in honor of donor and alum Harold Deets and his wife, Mary Ellen who has passed in 2002. The dedication took place in October of 2008 (Harold Deets 4).

Sources: 

"Harold Deets, a generous and gentle man, dies at 91". Southwesterner. Winter 2013. 

Wallace, Jerry L. and Pamela S. Thompson. Southwestern College: The Campus History Series. Arcadia Publishing. 2015.

The Harold and Mary Ellen Deets Library is centrally located on the west side of Southwestern College’s main campus in Winfield, Kansas. Positioned near key academic and student life buildings, it is adjacent to the Roy L. Smith Student Center and close to Christy Administration Building and the Beech Science Center. This placement makes it easily accessible for students and faculty throughout the day. The library overlooks the scenic campus green and is within walking distance of the iconic 77 Steps and Cole Mound Plaza, offering both convenience and a sense of tradition. Its central location reinforces its role as a hub for academic support, collaboration, and campus community life. 

100 College

Winfield, KS 67156

Main phone #: 620-229-6225

Click here for a map

Closed for summer break

Deets Physical Library hours (DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR):

Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - midnight

Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 1 pm. - 3 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. - midnight

Stir & Bustle Coffee hours (DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR):

Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 9:30 pm

Friday 8 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday Closed

Sunday 5 -9:30 p.m.