Suzanne Byrd Poynor Named MLC Board of Commissioners Chair

We are pleased to announce that  Suzanne Byrd Poynor has been named MLC Board of Commissioners Chair. Poynor was the president of the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs from 2012-2014 and has served on MLC's Board since 2014.

Poynor is a Mississippi lady through and through. Born in Forest, she grew up in Tupelo and moved on to Clinton for her higher education. After obtaining her bachelor's degree and master's degree in elementary education at Mississippi College, she taught for over thirty years in Rankin County, mainly in Florence. She and her husband Larry have been married forty years.

A huge book lover, Suzanne was raised in a reading family. Her grandparents and parents all loved to read, and she raised her son to be a reader too. Suzanne says that she's one of "those" people. "I always have a book with me. Reading is my favorite hobby."

Suzanne is also a big fan of her local public library in Florence. "I believe that every child deserves to have a book in their hands. Access to libraries makes this possible for so many people that otherwise wouldn't have this advantage." Poynor also admires libraries for their role in making technology available to people who don't have access to WiFi, computers, and the internet.  She points out that, "In many towns, the library is the center of the community."

Suzanne follows MLC on Facebook and was tickled to find herself in this #ThrowbackThursday picture. She's the little girl on the right wearing black pants.

The Mississippi Library Commission's Board of Commissioners comprises five members. Four members are appointed by the governor and one is the President of the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (or her appointee.) Of the four gubernatorial appointed members, two are appointed at large by the governor and two are chosen from a list presented to the governor by the Mississippi Library Association. Of the two chosen from MLA's list, one must be an active librarian and one must be an active board of trustees member of a Mississippi public library.