Book Clubs Transform Us All

Book clubs are social gatherings for the literary-minded, providing a space to discuss literature, share insights, and enjoy discussion with fellow readers. However, within the confines of a correctional facility, a book club can be much more than just a leisure activity. Book clubs can serve as a bridge between inmates and the outside world. They become a transformative tool that fosters rehabilitation, education, and emotional well-being among inmates. It also promotes critical thinking and reflection, builds communication skills, and fosters a sense of purpose and belonging. Books often reflect real-world issues and challenges, allowing inmates to stay connected to societal developments and current cultural topics. Furthermore, book clubs often involve external volunteers or facilitators fostering positive interactions with members of the community and breaking down the barriers of stigma and exclusion.

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.

A Splash of Red for Juneteenth

The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863; however, slaves in Texas were not informed of their newfound freedom until two years later, on June 19, 1865. This is why Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. The year Juneteenth became a federal holiday, in 2021, is the first that I first that I heard of this holiday, but upon learning its origins, I made sure to celebrate it every year. Other than the sweet cacophony of song and dance, my favorite Juneteenth tradition is eating and imbibing red foods and beverages, such as watermelon, red velvet cake, strawberry soda, and red rose sausages. As interesting as this tradition is, I realize that I never questioned the sentiment of consuming red foods on this holiday. What is the significance of the color red to Juneteenth? 

Read With MLC: Colorful Titles

Welcome to June, and the sixth reading prompt for our 2024 Read With MLC reading challenge: read a book with a color in the title. The idea behind our reading challenge is to inspire you to explore books year-round. There are tons of popular books available with a color in the title: just think about popular classics like Anna Sewell's Black Beauty or Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, human beings can identify approximately ten million colors. That's a lot of book possibilities!