Reference and Social Media Librarian
Sunday kicked off the annual celebration of all the wonderful things that libraries do: National Library Week. Started back in 1958, the event encourages people to use their library and to read. These days, though, libraries do more than ever. Yes, they are still the perfect place to go to find a book, but now libraries offer a range of programs and items to check out far beyond the printed word. This year's theme is There's More to the Story, which focuses on all the stories libraries tell: stories from books, yes, but other stories, too.
Here in Mississippi, there are 230 public libraries divided between 53 systems. Some library systems are very small, like Long Beach Public Library, which serves one city of 3,400 on our Gulf Coast. Other library systems are quite large, like First Regional Library, which serves over 300,000 people in five counties. Big or small, our Mississippi libraries have a lot to offer! Here are a few things you may not know about your local public library:
- Your library has eBooks. EBook lenders vary from system to system, but most systems offer at least one of the many lending platforms, like Libby, hoopla, and the Palace Project. Ask at your local branch to see what's available.
- Your library brings in great people from the community. From visits by authors and musicians, to events led by astronauts and magicians, your library has a non-stop calendar of people to meet and learn from. Many libraries post about their upcoming programs on social media and their websites, so give them a follow online to stay abreast of their latest.
- Your library is a learning resource, even when you don't set foot inside. Many Mississippi libraries offer language learning apps, genealogy websites, and online classes to their patrons, in addition to websites that are available statewide, like LearningExpress Library, a tutorial and test prep resource, and MAGNOLIA, a database of articles and eBooks for research and learning. Check with your librarian to see what's on offer.
- Your library lends more than books. Check your library's catalog; you could walk out with anything from a laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot to seeds and a gardening kit. Some Mississippi libraries check out bicycles, cake pans, and art. The list is limitless, but you'll never know what's available until you ask.
- Your library has access to a huge number of kits provided by the Mississippi Library Commission. One of MLC's original tasks was to provide advice to public libraries. This original mandate has expanded to support public libraries in our goal to provide quality library services to all Mississippians. Offering StoryWalk kits, the Mobile Archive Project, Book Club in a Box kits, and STEM kits, is one way that we can ensure that everyone has access to new experiences and ideas.
We hope you head to your Mississippi public library this week (and the next, and the one after that) to see what all they have to offer. Need to get in touch with them? Check out our handy public library directory. And remember, there's more to the story than just books! (But books are pretty great, too.)
