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!

Memorial Day

Every Memorial Day, we gather as a nation to mourn our collective fallen servicemen and servicewomen. It is actually written into the United States Code, or the Federal Code of Regulations, that the president issue a proclamation each year "calling on the people of the United States to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace". Some interesting facts about Memorial Day, which has been observed since the close of the American Civil War, can be found below.

Talking Book Services Resources Roundup

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is "a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials." The Mississippi Library Commission's (MLC) Talking Book Services (TBS) is the local network NLS library in Mississippi. That means that MLC staff are here to help set you up with NLS, troubleshooting your BARD and equipment problems, and assisting with finding books you want to read. That's not all they do, though! Here are just a few of the extra services we provide.

Beyond the Encyclopedia

Have you ever wondered where on earth your local librarian found the answer to that extremely specific question you asked? You may assume that they are just better at Googling than you, but that is not the case! Well, sometimes it’s the case. But they also use a variety of sources that may not fit your idea of traditional reference materials and that you might not have access to at home.