All the Best Books of 2015

There are hundreds and hundreds of books published every year. By the end of December, when the next year's books are trumpeting their siren call, I'm still gazing backward, wondering what I've missed and trying to catch up. Here are just a few "Best of 2015" book lists for you to double-check when looking for book recommendations:

• Amazon
• Book Riot
• The Clarion-Ledger
• Goodreads 
• The Guardian
• The LA Times
• Lit Hub
• The New York Times
• NPR
• The Wall Street Journal

Reference Staff here at MLC loved these 2015 books. You should probably (definitely) add them to your to-read list as well:

• Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli 
• The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate
• Almost Famous Women: Stories by Megan Mayhew Bergman
• Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman 
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and illustrated by Erica Henderson
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson
• Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
• The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler  

Here's hoping that now have plenty to read, or at least enough to tide you over until 2016. Happy New Year and happy reading!

MS Library Spotlight: Kemper Newton

DeKalb Public Library

Earlier this week, Kemper Newton Regional Library System received a visit from some folks who were definitely in the holiday spirit.

KNRLS Director Meredith Wickham

Meredith Wickham is the new director of the five branch system in eastern Mississippi. She says that each year, Liberty Fuels, a local coal company, donates money to use "for the betterment" of the Kemper County libraries. The company believes in "the importance of reading" and think that it is a key "building block of education."

MLC Director Susan Cassagne

In the past, the libraries have used the generous influx of cash to buy new books, but this year they're considering new carpeting or even tablets with learning apps.

DeKalb Branch Manager Lawson Smith,
MLC Director Susan Cassagne,
KNRLS Director Meredith Wickham

We can't wait to see what they decide to do with their lovely donation from their community partner. Thanks for letting the Mississippi Library Commission be a part of this exciting day!

Collection Development 101

The Mississippi Library Commission has a lot of great programs and events for libraries and librarians that you need to know about. Case in point: for the past several months, some of our super-talented library consultants have been hosting and archiving webinars on collection development. So far, they've presented on fiction, non-fiction, comics and graphic novels, and audiobooks. Each webinar has an accompanying power point and list of materials mentioned. (Check this page for links.) Webinars on picture books, young adult books, and books to watch for in 2016 are in the works, as well as webinars on a slew of other topics. We can't wait for you to try them! Please let us know if you have questions. We hope you have fun adding these new books to your collections.