WE-rate This Fantastic

Congratulations to Sharmaine Frazier, State E-rate Coordinator at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC), who has been selected to join the national E-rate Task Force. "What is E-rate?," you ask. It's a gem of a national program that helps eligible schools and libraries afford high-speed internet and other telecommunication services. Amazing, right?

Sharmaine Frazier has been serving as the State E-rate Coordinator for the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) since 2019. In her role, she works closely with Mississippi library directors to make the most of the E-rate program and reduce costs, thereby enabling communities to have access to broadband and connectivity. Sharmaine finds inspiration in Helen Keller's quote, "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much," as it highlights the importance of collaboration. Every remote session that Sharmaine conducts with library directors is part of a team effort to ensure that all Mississippians have access to up-to-date technology resources through their libraries, which is one of MLC's core goals.

It's worth noting that there are eighty state E-rate coordinators across the country, like Sharmaine, in addition to school and tribal E-rate coordinators. 

The E-rate Task Force (ERTF) comprises 12 members representing various regions across the country. These members work directly with the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Their primary objective is to enhance and streamline the existing operations and future development of the E-rate program.

Sharmaine says, "I am excited to work with libraries and to be a part of this task force that has big things planned for the future." If you have any questions about E-rate, you can head to MLC's website or contact Sharmaine directly at sfrazier@mlc.lib.ms.us.

Meet MLC: Jeremy Hammack

Elisabeth Scott

Reference and Social Media Librarian

Meet Jeremy Hammack, IT Support Technician at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC). Jeremy installs, upgrades, troubleshoots, and maintains library operating hardware and software systems on-site at MLC and remotely at Mississippi's public libraries. He also assists with on-site technology assessments.

 

Jeremy began working at MLC in February of 2023. He says that his Technology Services team has been very welcoming, with distinct personalities and a shared drive. "I hope to learn a lot from them as we work together."

Jeremy is already a library fan, and adds, "What makes libraries so vital is their potential to expand accessibility of stories, knowledge, and community."

He also loves to read, enjoying stories in almost in any medium. Novels and Manga are his go-to faves.
His current favorite read is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin; one of his latest reads was The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giefsbrecht. When he's not hard at work battling any tech mishaps at libraries, he likes to write and draw; he says he's constantly crafting characters and narratives. His guilty pleasure is Table-Top RPGs--including Dungeons & Dragons--which he plays weekly, if he can.

Meet MLC Monday: George Brantley

Elisabeth Scott

Reference and Social Media Librarian

Meet George Brantley, Help Desk Specialist at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC)! George assists with technical support at MLC's Help Desk by directing the flow of incoming requests and following up on technical difficulties at MLC. He also helps edit the web page design for Mississippi's public libraries. George holds an associate degree in General and Computer Science, as well as certification in Apple Products and Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Chrome laptops.

George began working at MLC in May 2022. His favorite part of working here is our "office culture". He points out, "Work is defined by what the job demands, but it’s the people that make it what it truly is." Technology has always been a passion of George's and he loves empowering people with the tools and help needed to advance their skills in practical ways. He tells us that as a Help Desk Specialist, he can fulfill this role while also learning more about technology.

George loves libraries! He says, "Libraries are an arsenal of knowledge. Whether you need to find information regarding research or simply need to wind down with a good novel, you will always find ways to use a library when it comes to enlightenment or entertainment. In a world filled with digital archives and social media, libraries are the hard copies to which one can fall back on. If the digital world should perish, it will be books on which humanity can rely on for knowledge." 

Reading is one of my George's main hobbies, but he admits to being picky about the books he spends time reading for pleasure. He struggled to pick a favorite book among so many available, but said Ready Player One ranks high on his list. "As an avid gamer, I can appreciate the subtleties that the author, Ernest Cline, touched on: how gaming can be an escape for people, but 'real life' is worth living too." When he's not reading or working hard at MLC, George loves going to the gym. He enjoys editing his form and technique and seeing the results of his efforts. George is also a die-hard gamer. He says, "I love how video games can bring a community together. I think it's great how you can escape into a different world and character, much like reading a book. It can bring that same joy."

Meet MLC Monday: Jason Walker

Meet Jason Walker, Systems Administrator at the Mississippi Library Commission! Jason is one of the helpful voices you hear when you call our Technology Services Help Desk. He also assists with the agency's website. Jason holds a Google Professional IT Support Specialist certificate and has a background in software development. He began working at MLC at the beginning of January.

Jason says he likes his new job because of the new people he has the opportunity to meet and help. "I enjoy working at MLC because I get to educate Mississippians on the technology side of their library systems. I basically get to show them all the things technology has to offer us in order to help our communities grow and prosper."

Jason thinks the fact that libraries provide many, many resources one location is key to their success. "Libraries are priceless, in part because they do so many important things. They educate, they let you escape to new places when reading, and they store information for future generations."

Jason loves to read, and he reads pretty much anything and everything. His favorite book is the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. The last book he read was Introduction to C# for Beginners. In his spare time, Jason spends most of his time with his family and church community. He also likes coding, and is a professionally sponsored RC (remote control) race car driver.

Meet MLC Monday: Russell Hawkins

Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian/Social Media Coordinator

Meet Russell Hawkins, Systems Administrator at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC). Russell began working at MLC in early November. He provides ongoing support, monitoring, and maintenance of technology systems and computer equipment, both internally to agency staff and externally to public library staff. He also works on special projects, such as assessing library technology needs and working on library websites.

Russell thinks libraries are important because "libraries allow the average person to 'get into the heads' of the greatest minds to have ever lived." He enjoys reading and is a big fan of the urban fantasy genre, especially Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and M.D. Massey’s Junkyard Druid. He just finished Garon Whited’s latest book in the Nightlord series, Mobius. Russell also likes to attend church and play the bass guitar. He and his wife have two children.

Meet MLC Monday: Jennifer Todd

 Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian/Social Media Coordinator

Meet Jennifer Todd, Director of Technology Services at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC). Jennifer oversees MLC's Technology Services Team and the day to day operations of the department, as well as planning, developing, and coordinating technology projects and initiatives for the agency. She holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Mississippi and associate degrees in Cyber Security Technology and Computer Networking Technology from Hinds Community College.

Jennifer returns to MLC after four years at the Hinds Community College Learning Resource Center in Raymond. She says she enjoys the variety in day to day activities and the wonderful staff here at the Commission. She started working in libraries as a shelver during high school and hasn't looked back since. "I enjoy the atmosphere and the people I meet--both staff and patrons."

When asked her opinion on libraries, Jennifer says, "Libraries play a vital role in society: they provide education, entertainment, and opportunities."

Jennifer is a member of the Mississippi Library Association, the professional organization for librarians and library workers in Mississippi. She is the co-chair of the Web Committee. In her spare time, she likes to read, try new recipes, and spend time with her family. Her favorite books are young adult historical fiction, like Copper Sun by Sharon Drake.