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.
No comments:
Post a Comment