Adventure Begins At Your Library

Welcome to a summer of fun at your local Mississippi public library! Mississippi participates in the annual Collaborative Summer Library Program, a national program that allows our libraries to pool their resources on a joint theme. It makes planning and implementing a summer of reading fun just that much easier. 2024's theme is "Adventure Begins at Your Library" and even though it's not officially summer yet (two days left!), this library celebration has already begun. Here are just a few of the amazing things going on at libraries across the state this summer, because if you haven't visited lately, you really oughtta.

New Albany Library Is Far From Ordinary

MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler visited the Jennie Stephens Smith Library in New Albany, MS, a few weeks ago to conduct a site visit and attend their first summer library program of the season. Union County Library System Director Sissy Bullock oversees the system that caters to 27,000 people in this northeast Mississippi county. While the library offers a great selection of books, naturally, Sissy has found new and innovative ways to involve the library in this community and the community loves it.

Union County Library System Director Sissy Bullock and MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler

Tanglewood Trail, a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy project located on the old Mississippi Tennessee railroad line, runs right by the library. The library decided the community needed better access to the trail and began a bicycle checkout program. All of the bicycles were donated by local patrons and businesses and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services donated bicycle helmets. They even have a volunteer bike mechanic! Right now, their twenty-one bikes live inside the library, but the county is building them a storage shed right behind the building.

Bicycles available for checkout at New Albany library

Safety first! Each checked out bicycle comes with a helmet.

The library has also begun participating in the local "Biscuits and Jam" Farmers' Market. They truck their little trolley down the street on market days and pass out bookmarks, library card applications, and news about upcoming events. Want to learn about their summer library program? Head to the Farmers' Market!

Little Red Library Wagon

Speaking of their Summer Library Program, Shellie said the kickoff was a lot of fun. A slew of kids turned out to see Magician Bentley Burns perform a special space-themed show and a good time was had by all. If you're near Union County, you should drop by the library for more interesting and educative programming!

Magician Bentley Burns performs for a rapt audience.

These books were purchased with money from an LSTA grant.

Shellie also noticed this display of new books about Mississippi and by Mississippi authors. The purchase of the books was made possible by an LSTA grant administered by the Mississippi Library Commission. As a MLC Library Consultant, Shellie will check in on Sissy in New Albany again in several months, but will be back sooner if she needs advice or help with any issues. For right now, we love seeing the novel ways Sissy makes this library an essential community hub.

Camp Kudzu: Libraries Rock!

Welcome back campers! It’s year three at Camp Kudzu and we’re promoting the Collaborative Summer Library Program theme Libraries Rock! MLC staffers Lacy, Ally, Mac, Lorietha, Margaret, Elisabeth, Katie, and our favorite volunteer Melvin celebrated our Mississippi musical heritage this year. We hope that your local Summer Library Program is just as much fun.

We had so many fun activities as the pics prove. Our band practiced diligently, and we even had an outdoor concert. Lacy provided some great guitar solos and Lorietha was outstanding as lead vocalist. Margaret and Melvin performed a special duet that everyone raved about.

We had such fun wearing our camp shirts and having fun with music. We never seemed to stop. Everyone was excited and couldn’t wait for the next camp activity. We had karaoke and it’s true – Mac can’t carry a tune in a bucket. A favorite this year was “Strike an Elvis Pose.” We can’t decide who had the better sneer, Katie or Elisabeth?

 Traditional camp activities were crafts (we made our own instruments) and a campfire sing-along.

 Ally taught us a new song but we all ended up doing different animal poses somehow! Oops!

Our merry band is already talking about going back to Camp Kudzu next year!

Mac Buntin
Senior Library Consultant

Is It Summer Yet?

Summer Library Programs don't kick off until June, but the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) is already preparing children's librarians across the state for this summer's fun. Last week, librarians from twelve Mississippi library systems gathered for the first of three workshops about "Libraries Rock!," this summer's theme from the Collaborative Summer Library Program. (The twelve systems with attendees were Bolivar County Library System, Central Mississippi Regional Library System, East Mississippi Regional Library, Jackson Hinds Library System, Judge George W. Armstrong Library, Madison County Library System, Noxubee County Public Library, Pearl River County Library System, Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System, Sharkey-Issaquena County Library System, Sunflower County Library, and Warren County Vicksburg Public Library.)

Librarians experiment with the way sound waves work at this STEM station. They'll adapt these

experiments and recreate them this summer for Mississippi Summer Library Program participants.

 

The librarians split into groups to explore possible Mississippi Music programs. Teamwork and brainstorming ideas are the beginnings to fun summer events.

These children's librarians also explored animal sounds bingo and created their own banjos, both activities that can be adapted in their home libraries.

These new music kits are a new addition to MLC's Special Collections. They'll be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for use in programs related to this summer's theme.

We can't wait to see all of the music themed programs this summer. Don't forget: Libraries rock! Until next time, happy reading!

Summer Fun at the Library

As a parent, I understand the challenge of keeping kids busy during the summer. Finding fun activities was a challenge at best. The dreaded "I'm bored" made my head spin and made me count the days until school started again.

It doesn't have to be that way...thanks to your public library. The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. By combining resources and working with an exclusive contracted vendor to produce materials designed for CSLP members, public libraries in participating states or systems can purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates, and a variety of reading incentives at significant savings. It really proves the power of collaborative partnerships and library patrons are the ones who benefit.

Most libraries have something for all ages during the summer months. I've recently been traveling the state to check out some of these great Summer Library Program offerings. 

Baby Yoga at the Madison Public Library

 

These little ones had a wonderful time that day listening to stories about yoga and the importance of staying fit and healthy. They were able to spend time with their moms, aunts, grandmothers, or caregivers in a fun, relaxed environment. What a great idea!

Duct Tape Designs at the Warren County - Vicksburg Public Library

  

I had heard of folks doing creative things with duct tape, and it was great to see the kids who participated having so much fun with this! They were able to make a bookmark or beads to create a necklace. The library had lots of volunteers to help and everyone had a great time.

Summer Library Program Kickoff with Superheros at the 

Laurel - Jones County Public Library

 

Talk about an amazing Summer Library Program kickoff event! Having three superheros jump from a plane and land in front of the library was quite a sight to see. The children were so excited to meet all of the heroes up-close-and-personal. It made for a great beginning for Laurel's Summer Library Program.

Puppet Show at the Florence Public Library

What child doesn't love a fun puppet show?  This library knows just how to make them fun and exciting for the kids. I was even dancing and singing along to the upbeat tunes. The stories were so cute and it was a great way to spend an afternoon at the library.

 "Unbuild It" at the Batesville Library

This program was so cool! The children were able to actually "unbuild" computers, computer screens, and tape decks. They even had activities for the smaller kids, who were able to build with Legos and Duplos. What a fun day at the Batesville Library!

Colorcopia - Art Classes for Adults at the Southaven Public Library

Adults from the Southaven area recently had the opportunity to channel their inner Picasso! John Martin Barger, a teaching artist with the Dixon Gallery & Gardens in Memphis, taught the group how to do collage cubism. Those in attendance had a wonderful time and came away with some true masterpieces!

All of these stories will be combined into a short documentary film about the value of Summer Library Programs in Mississippi. Be sure to watch for it to be released in early 2018! Thank you to all of the libraries who invited us to come and be a part of your fun programs. Great job!

Let Me Put Some Words In Your Mouth

Summer Library Program at Winston County Library in Louisville,
a branch of the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System

Every winter and spring, libraries are preparing ahead and looking for great guests for local summer library programs. Animal caretakers, magicians, firefighters, policemen, and other local professional, nonprofit, and state agency employees all contribute to fantastic, eye-opening experiences for children (and adults!) across Mississippi. We recently caught up with ventriloquist Johnny Lowe to discuss his experience during his first summer performing at libraries.

Summer Library Program at Lincoln County Library in Brookhaven,
headquarters of Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library

Lowe says that though he performed in big and small libraries, every single one has been a great event with a spectacular audience. "A lot of kids have never seen a ventriloquist and their reactions can be pretty interesting. The younger kids especially get a kick out of seeing a purple cat be loud and obnoxious. They flock to the front after a performance and ask to pet and talk to my sidekick Hunter."

Summer Library Program at Prentiss Public Library,
a branch of South Mississippi Regional Library

"I’m no Jeff Dunham," says Lowe, "but I’m always learning and working to be as entertaining and funny as I can. Once in a while a kid will say, 'I saw your mouth moving!' and then Hunter will berate me for not rehearsing enough. Other times they’ll ask if the puppet is real. When they do, Hunter looks at me and says, 'Nope, he’s pretty fake.' I'll say, 'Hey, that was rude,' and he'll respond with 'What's your point?' The kids and I all have had a lot of fun and it's been wonderful sharing my passion for ventriloquism with them."

Summer Library Program at West Public Library,
a branch of Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System

Summer library programs are still going strong in public libraries across the state. Head to your local library to find out what fun and extraordinary offerings they have for you!

Camp Kudzu: Buildings of a Better World

Camp Kudzu is back this summer, contemplating this year's Summer Library Program theme, Build a Better World. Mississippi boasts a slew of fine architectural sites, so MLC staff "visited" some of the more fascinating buildings in Jackson on a whirlwind tour.

Oohs and aahs at the Greyhound Bus Station

The Greyhound Bus Station in Jackson was designed by William Strudwick Arrasmith in the Art Moderne style and built around 1938. (1) In 1961, the station was the site of arrests of Freedom Riders, who had ridden buses to Jackson to bring attention to the fact that Supreme Court ruling in Boynton v. Virginia was being ignored and that segregation on interstate transportation was still occurring. (2) The bus station is a site on the Mississippi Freedom Trail. You can read more about the Freedom Riders here and here.

Look up in the sky! What's that above Miss Eudora's house?

We've written about the Eudora Welty House and Garden before. This Tudor Revival style home was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick and completed in 1925. (3) It is a National Historic Landmark and sits across the street from historic Belhaven University. Pulitzer prize winning author Eudora Welty lived here from the age of 16 until her death at age 92. The home and garden are open to the public; check here for information about planning a visit.

Caution: The Mississippi State Capitol may
cause you to inadvertently give someone bunny ears.

This building, commonly referred to as the "New" Mississippi State Capitol, was designed by Theodore Link and completed in 1903. (4) (The "Old" State Capitol served in that capacity from 1833 to 1903. See? Much older!) It is in the Beaux-Arts style and was designated as a National Historic Landmark just last year.

If we've ignited a desire to learn more about buildings and Mississippi architecture, head to your local public library for books like The Architecture of William Nichols: Building the Antebellum South in North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi and Lost Mansions of Mississippi. Want to inspire your youngster with amazing buildings? Try Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building and Round Buildings, Square Buildings, and Buildings that Wiggle Like a Fish.

Registration for the summer library program is in full swing in public libraries across Mississippi, so be sure to head to your local library to sign up. Until our next Camp Kudzu installment, happy reading!

(1) https://misspreservation.com/2012/04/17/greyhound-bus-terminal-clarksdale/ 
(2) http://www.core-online.org/History/freedom%20rides.htm 
(3) https://eudorawelty.org/the-house/ 
(4) https://mississippitoday.org/2017/05/04/capitol-honored-as-national-historic-landmark/

Stories from the Road: Pearl River County

I have such great memories of Hwy 49! My family hails from Covington County, so I have memories of that trip for more years than I care to admit. Some of the best, though, were of trips to the Gulf Coast for family vacations. That road and I go way back.

When Library Consultant Mac Buntin asked me to travel with him to visit Pearl River County Library System, I just couldn't resist a trip down memory lane. Stopping at Shady Acres is worth the trip, not to mention getting a king cake at Paul's Pastry Shop.

 

The library in Picayune was filled with patrons and bustling with activity. Their Friends Chapter was planning a "Murder Mystery Theater" fundraiser for the following night, so there were many preparations going on for the event.

 

After a great visit at headquarters in Picayune, we headed to the Poplarville Library (not before a stop at Paul's!) to hear all about their upcoming Summer Library Program. Let's just say that anytime a magician is involved, I'm in! Those kids have a fun summer ahead.

This library is incredibly inviting, and thanks to Branch Manager Denise Davis, it smelled divine because of her love for essential oils. It's a lovely space and you can tell that those who work there love the library.

If you find yourself heading south, stop by one of these great libraries for a visit. They are wonderful folks and will welcome you with open arms.

Camp Kudzu Returns

Welcome back to Camp Kudzu! Last year, we introduced you to our mock summer reading camp and we have even more zany, campy fun in store for you this summer. Summer reading programs are popping up in public libraries across Mississippi, all with the Collaborative Summer Library Program's 2017 slogan, Build a Better World. There are countless ways we can build a better world... What better place to start than at your local library?

Charles and Mac aren't scared by the spooky stories they're reading!

Here at MLC, we couldn't wait to try our hand at building... our very own indoor fort! Pillow forts are easy and fun to create. Each one is completely unique and there are so many different ways to feed your imagination. If you need a little inspiration, we found these great indoor fort ideas just for you.

Great books, great company

There's nothing like reading a great book around the campfire. We chose one of Mississippi Center for the Book's book club in a box kits and read Lewis Nordan's harrowing Wolf Whistle. A full list of kits available for public libraries to check out can be found here.

Be sure to follow the rest of our escapades at the beautiful Camp Kudzu this summer, as we bring you more ways to build a better world. Don't forget to sign up for the Summer Reading program at your local library. We'd love to hear your experiences, so feel free to share how much fun you're having this summer, Until next time, happy reading!

Mississippi Public Libraries Host Successful Summer Programs

Susan Liles

PR Director

Mississippi Library Commission

Summer Library Programs have become more popular across Mississippi as a way to keep children's reading skills proficient while away from the classroom. The Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) is a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) which is a nationwide consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.

MLC assists Mississippi public libraries with the costs related to membership in CSLP, and provides the manuals, posters, and other materials. MLC also offers workshops for those libraries interested in participating. Local funding makes up about 96% of the costs related to offering the programs, so the majority of the support is on a community level.

There are four separate manuals to the annual program that include a children's program, an early literacy program, a teen program, and an adult program. Since 2013, public library participation in all four of the programs has risen from 9 library systems to 20 systems in 2016.

The children's program alone reported 164,716 attendees with 7,262,601 minutes read, which is over 21, 043 hours or 5,043 days. There were 8,201 teen participants and 6,506 adults who took part. These total 179,423 participants during the program months of June and July.

Public library participants have been successful in building community partnerships by working with their local parks and recreation departments, 4-H groups, athletic teams, and local businesses. They have recruited senior and tween volunteers to assist with the program and to serve as reading coaches.

Library systems serve many patrons who are from underprivileged areas of Mississippi. Susan Cassagne, Executive Director of MLC, stated, "It is very important for this agency to be able to help public libraries offer this essential program to the residents of their communities. Many of these students were able to start the school year at a higher reading level due to their participation."

For more information on Summer Library Programs, contact MLC Senior Consultant Mac Buntin at kbuntin@mlc.lib.ms.us.

The Mississippi Library Commission supports innovative programs and initiatives to strengthen and enhance library services for all Mississippians. The agency is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, with additional funding provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), offering leadership in library services, advocacy, and training for library professionals and paraprofessionals.

Camp Kudzu: Part Two

Earlier this week, we told you about our escapades at Camp Kudzu and promised you a sequel. Without further ado, we give you the further adventures of the Camp Kudzu campers. Drum roll, please...

We ran across this book holding contest online and thought it was too much fun to pass up. Basically, the rules are to "hold" as many books as possible with the covers showing. As you can see, we had varied results.

Campers spent time learning about one of our favorite pieces of tech, our 3D printer, and created bracelets emblazoned with Camp Kudzu. Remember, Mississippi public libraries can check out one of our 3D printers for programs and other activities. Contact Joy Garretson for more information.

Last, but definitely not least, our campers participated in a grueling relay race. The course was rough, but they soldiered on until they reached the finish line.

With thoughts of summer reading in their heads and fond memories of Camp Kudzu in their hearts, our campers headed home. We're sure they're already looking forward to next year's camping fun.

Until next time, happy reading!

Camp Kudzu: Part One

Welcome to Camp Kudzu! Nestled amid soaring stands of pine trees in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, you'll find this haven for summer readers. While the wildlife prowls about outside--we've spotted deer, foxes, bats, birds, snakes, and nearly a million squirrels--we've been beating the early summer heat with our mock summer library program, which we've dubbed Camp Kudzu.

The Collaborative Summer Library Program's slogan this year is "On Your Mark, Get Set... Read!" with a theme centered around wellness, fitness, and sports. With Camp Director Mac and campers Charles, Tracy, Elisabeth, and Jennifer, we took aim...

and hit the bull's eye! By the way, the roaring cardboard campfire is available for loan to Mississippi public libraries. Contact Ally Mellon to set it up.

 

We found that we've outgrown pillowcases for sack races (even the king size!) but sleeping bags made a great substitute.

After our exertions, we settled down for spooky stories around the campfire, read by none other than our Camp Director Mac.

There's nothing like the taste of roasted marshmallows to round out the perfection of a good book.

After a full day of Camp Kudzu fun, we snuggled into our sleeping bags for a good night's sleep, ready to see what bookish fun awaited us during our next day of camp. Well, most of us went to sleep. There's always that one camper who stays up past bedtime...

Catch us later this week with Part Two of our Camp Kudzu adventures. Many library systems across Mississippi offer summer library programs; don't forget to register!

Until next time, happy reading!