Shellie Zeigler
Library Consultant
Over a period of several days, I recently visited all of
Central Regional Mississippi Library System’s (CMRLS) branches in Rankin and Scott counties. (I missed the Puckett branch due to a timing issue, but I’ll catch them next month). Director of CMRLS, Mara Polk, accompanied me to each branch: Pearl, Flowood, Brandon, Lake, Sebastopol, Forest, Morton, Florence, Richland, Sandhill, Pisgah, Pelahatchie, and Northwest Point Reservoir. Amazingly, that's not even all of CMRLS's branches. Mara oversees a twenty library system!
Our first stop was the Pearl Library, one of the “Big Three” at CMRLS (Pearl, Brandon and Flowood). Branch Manager Morgan Lee was there to show us around and introduce me to their two new full-time staff. Pearl Library has a large children’s area and an inviting teen area. They also have a garden that is maintained by community members and often decorated with children’s crafts. They have many inviting and informative displays and showcase an area with staff book recommendations. This branch recently hosted their own Comic Con event with nearly 1,600 people coming through their doors in one day. This library is
bustling!
Our next stop was Flowood Library, the CMRLS 2019 Large Library of the Year and
another Big Three branch. I was disappointed to find I had just missed a children’s program when I
arrived. Their children’s programs are always very well attended. The circulation
staff were dealing with a large patron donation. This branch receives a lot of donations and they have an ongoing book sale of items
they don’t use for their collection. Flowood Library is beautifully
designed with unique features, like flooring that resembles the flow of a river. The library sits next to a gorgeous park and tennis courts.
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| Brandon Library bird watching stand |
We traveled to the last Big Three branch, Brandon Library, at the end of this first day. Brandon Library is also located next to a park and tennis courts. It boasts a large genealogy room and offers a vast amount of programming for adults, teens, tweens, and children. As is true in all CMRLS branches, everyone is getting ready for upcoming Summer Reading events. The theme “
A Universe of Stories” is evident in the space themed decorations seen everywhere. There is also a cute bird watching stand in the children’s area that is very well-loved. Brandon Library is a busy branch that is well-used by its community.
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Lake Library Branch Manager Selena Swink, MLC Library
Consultant Shellie Zeigler, and CMRLS Director Mara Polk |
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| MLC Library Consultant at Lake Public Library |
On our second day, Mara and I traveled to the Lake branch. Selena Swink, the branch manager, had coffee ready for us. This is charming branch that is the perfect size for the Lake community. They host programs down the hall in a community meeting room. The library is right down the road from the school and is well maintained by the branch manager.
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| Missing Man table at Sebastopol Library |
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Sebastopol Library Branch Manager Megan Sanders, MLC Library
Consultant Shellie Zeigler, and CMRLS Director Mara Polk |
When we arrived at Sebastopol Library, the branch manager was working on a huge, cardboard rocket ship for the Summer Reading program. I have to say, I was pretty impressed! There was also a
Missing Man Table to honor fallen, missing, and imprisoned members of our military. While a small branch, it is a very clean, inviting library with a well-maintained collection, just part of the reason it won the CMRLS 2019 Small Library of the Year.
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| Forest Library |
I managed to catch a children’s program at the Forest branch and was completely charmed. The Forest Library’s building almost 10 years old and in pristine shape; it is a gorgeous library. In February, they held a book drive for recent non-fiction books. They had a goal of 100 new non-fiction books and were able to meet and exceed that goal. I think this is such an innovative idea to boost a collection!
Our last stop on this day was the Morton Library. Like all the CMRLS branches, the collections were well maintained with enough room on their shelves for growth. They have an novel way of persuading patrons to pay fines; the names of any patrons who pay their fines in full (no matter the amount) are added to a drawing to win a goodie basket. And what nice baskets they are!!
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| Combat Wounded parking space at Richland Library |
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| Combat Wounded parking sign at Richland Library |
Our last day of traveling to branches started with Richland Library. It boasts a perk that I have never seen at a library before, a
Combat Wounded parking sign. The space itself is painted purple and recognizes and honors our veterans who were wounded during service to our country.
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| MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler |
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| Zipline behind Pelahatchie Library |
The Pelahatchie Library has a large ongoing book sale, as well as a permanent zipline behind the library. Pretty cool!! The Sandhill Pisgah Library was charming and already in Summer Reading mode with a Star Wars display. Our last stop, Reservoir Library, is situated right next to a walking trail. It is nestled next to Mill Creek, where one can spy alligators from time to time.
All the CMRLS branches I visited over these three days were not only well-maintained, clean, and inviting, but they were also all distinct to the community where they resided. I admire the administration for encouraging the branch managers and staff to make each branch “their own.” No cookie cutter libraries here! I am very much looking forward to seeing what the other CMRLS branches are like and what treasures I will find. Look for my post next month about their Smith and Simpson county branches!
