Memphis, Tenn., March 21, 2005 – Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis dedicated the hospital’s community library in honor of Ann L. and Joseph H. Powell on Friday, March 18.

The Ann L. and Joseph H. Powell Library is a 2,000-square-foot consumer library containing books, periodicals, DVDs and other educational materials on a variety of health-related topics. In addition, the library features two meeting rooms that may be used for seminars and support groups, as well as Internet access on three computer terminals. The library is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We think the library will be a tremendous asset to improving the collective health of our patients and their families in our community.” said Gordon Lintz, assistant administrator at Baptist Memphis. “We thank Mr. and Mrs. Powell for giving back so graciously to the Mid-South residents we serve and for making this library a reality.”

Joseph H. Powell was president of Baptist Memorial Hospital from 1980 to 1994 and president of Baptist Memorial Health Care from 1981 to 1994. During his tenure as president, Baptist experienced unprecedented expansion from one large hospital to a health care system with 32 health care-related entities, 15 of which are hospitals serving West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.

Baptist Memphis is a 706-bed hospital that is the flagship of the Baptist Memorial Health Care system. It serves as a major referral center for patients from across the Mid-South, and offers many diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services.

For the ninth time in a row, Mid-South consumers have voted Baptist Memphis their hospital of choice in a National Research Corp. poll. The hospital, which is celebrating its 25th year of service, has added hundreds of beds in the past few years with the opening of a patient tower and the Baptist Heart Institute. For more information, call (901) 226-5000 or visit memphis.baptistonline.org.