MLC is Proud to Support Mississippi's Public Libraries

Hulen Bivins
Mississippi Library Commission
Executive Director

With the conclusion of Fiscal Year 2018, a final accounting by the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) shows that over 7 million dollars of support was provided to the state’s 53 public library systems. These funds were provided as direct grants, competitive grants, and via statewide services. Of the total amount provided, the State of Mississippi was the source of $6,737,643, with the balance of the funding provided by the federal government under the Grants to States program administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Using state funding, direct grants provided employee benefits throughout the state to library staff members; these funds also enabled each of the 53 public library systems to maintain a highly qualified, masters-degreed professional as the library director, thereby enhancing the services of each public library. Further, with competitive grants, public libraries were able to create and expand new services while maintaining traditional services. The MAGNOLIA information database collection is an example of a statewide service that is provided by public libraries through state funding and made available to every citizen.

The federal dollars received from IMLS supported a variety of services, such as the procurement of new public computers, community reading programs supported with new book titles in a variety of formats, continuing education activities, development of STEM programing, and cooperative activities with K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities.

Following the tabulation of monies as reported for the fiscal year, MLC Executive Director Hulen Bivins noted that, “In all of the activities enumerated, the Mississippi Library Commission has worked with the state’s public libraries to both strengthen and enhance library services for the benefit of the state’s citizenry. This work has provided homework aid, business development assistance, and a furtherance of knowledge regarding issues in the fields of finance, law, and medicine. The achievements accomplished are a direct result of the cooperation and tremendous work of the 53 public library systems in using the funding made available by MLC in an efficient, cost-conscious manner.”

Meet MLC Monday: Josh Saxton

Our Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Josh Saxton may have started at the Mississippi Library Commission back in August of 2017, but from February through October of this year we had to make do without him: his National Guard unit was deployed overseas. We welcomed him and his expertise back with open arms last month! Josh is in charge of all major equipment and systems at MLC, as well as everyday maintenance and monitoring. He holds a national EMT certification, HVAC/R certification, and a universal EPA license. He is currently working on an associate's degree in history.

Josh says that he likes working at MLC because of the atmosphere and the people. He also enjoys lunches with co-workers and paid days off to spend with his family. Josh is a big library fan and says, "I believe libraries play a tremendous role in education. They offer books, the internet, and other paths of knowledge to people who otherwise can't afford them." He loves to read Stephen King books; the last one he read was The Drawing of Three. In his free time, he likes playing guitar, working out, games and gaming, fishing, and sightseeing.

Meet MLC Monday: Sandra Tucker

Sandra Tucker is the Janitorial Supervisor at the Mississippi Library Commission. Since she joined our team five months ago in May, she has done an exceptional job in making sure that our facility is clean and inviting. Sandra says she likes working with all the friendly people who work at MLC and says one of the best parts of her job is greeting the staff and public who visit the library.

Sandra enjoys MLC's quiet environment. She also says, "I like libraries because you can always visit and learn something new. They're an important part of our community because people use them to study and find books that are the right fit for them."

Sandra isn't a big reader, but does like to read the Bible. She shared Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus with her grandmother recently and both of them had a great time reading the children's classic. In her spare time, Sandra likes to spend time with her family and attend church. She also likes to stay active by walking and playing tennis and softball.

Meet MLC Monday: Annie Watkins

Annie Watkins joined the team at the Mississippi Library Commission a year ago as our Collection Management Librarian. She adds new books, comics, DVDs, and special items to MLC's collection, as well as new documents to the state document depository. She also removes holdings that have been weeded from the collection. Annie holds a master's degree in Library and Information Science. She confesses that one of her favorite parts of working at MLC is that she has her own office; at her last job, she had a desk in a shared office. "It's nice to have my own space!"

"I like libraries because they provide a needed service to the public. They don't provide just entertainment, but also a place to learn and relax," says Annie. "I love libraries because they allow me to keep up with literary trends and to find new and interesting authors." Annie says that she loves to read, but doesn't have a favorite book and rarely rereads them. The last book she read was Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater, but says that it was "complete garbage" and doesn't recommend it. When Annie isn't working or reading, she loves playing video games. "I’m big into Overwatch right now. I usually main healers or Junkrat when I get sick of people spamming 'I need healing' even though they’re halfway across the map or in the middle of enemies, but I’ve recently discovered the pure joy of playing a tank and decimating my opponents."

Meet MLC Monday: Will Barber

Will Barber is the Patron Services Librarian in the Mississippi Library Commission's Talking Book Services Department. He provides customer service for patrons by assisting them with readers' advisory, sending them digital books, and assisting with outreach efforts. Will holds a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Archives and Special Collections

Although Will has worked at MLC for less than a month, he says he likes "making sure that every patron I come into contact with is left with a wonderful and fulfilling experience. Having the ability to provide specific services to people that are not available elsewhere is an amazing work experience." He says working at MLC is great because of the friendly environment.

Will is also a longtime library lover. "I like libraries because they are the centers of information for communities. They enable anyone to find information about anything and everything. Libraries are important because they not only enable people to learn, they also bring communities together."

Will says that he absolutely loves to read. His favorite book of all time is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. He recently finished My Girls: A Lifetime of Carrie and Debbie by Todd Fisher. When he's not reading, Will enjoys catching up on television and movies. An animal lover and a history buff, he also likes to fit regular exercise into his routine, rotating between cardio, weight lifting, and yoga. Will is also a regular at his church.

Training on the Road: MLC Style

I recently traveled to the Paul E. Griffin Library in Camden, Mississippi, early on a Thursday morning to meet up with my colleagues from the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) for an all-day staff training for the Madison County Library System (MCLS). Canton Flea Market days are the perfect opportunity to do trainings because the main branch is located just steps away from the goings-on in the Canton Square. Getting to the library that day is almost impossible for staff and patrons. The Camden Library, in a quieter part of the county, is located next door to the community center... the perfect spot for a gathering of librarians.

 

The day of training started with MCLS Director Tonya Johnson giving an update on things going on system-wide. There are some great things in the works for the patrons of this library system thanks to this director and her hard-working group of librarians. 

MLC staff members Lacy Ellinwood, Ally Mellon, and Shellie Zeigler had their toolboxes loaded with all sorts of information to help these folks better serve the residents of the Madison County communities. Shellie started everyone off with tips on how to better serve older adults, a new offering by MLC.  

MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler shares ideas about how to serve senior adults.

Ally provided everyone with an outstanding and detailed training on how to use MAGNOLIA and its databases, explaining what a value it is not only to patrons, but to librarians too. This ole girl even learned a few tips!

MLC Information Services Director Ally Mellon talks about MAGNOLIA.

Lacy talked about customer service and how to effectively help patrons, including those who can be challenging. She included an activity that let everyone talk about the most commonly asked questions in the library. She also went over different personality types and how to deal with them, even if they don't match your own!

MLC Library Development Director Lacy Ellinwood discusses customer service.

It was a great day with these folks and I am once again amazed by the knowledge and generosity of my colleagues at MLC. Helping librarians be the best they can be is their number one goal. I'm honored to be their traveling buddy and official photographer. I even learn a thing or two!

Special thanks to Tonya and all of the staff of the Madison County Library System. It was a fantastic day!

Meet MLC Monday: Lisa Boyd

Lisa Boyd began work at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) about one month ago, filling the position of Purchasing Specialist. This position involves processing purchasing requests and acting as property officer for MLC's equipment and assets. She says she enjoys working for the agency because everyone is so knowledgeable and friendly. "I feel honored to be working here!" Lisa adds with a big smile.

When asked what it is she likes about libraries, Lisa says, "Libraries hold a special place in my heart. Throughout my years, I have found that books are more interesting than movies. With a book, your imagination can run wild. One page of a book might have you sailing the oceans in search of sea monsters; another page might see you riding horses on the wilds of a ranch while hunting down outlaws. There are helpful books available, too: books to help you fix your car, books to help you cook your meals, and even books to help you host guests from foreign countries. There is so much more in a book than just pages! In a library, a person can find anything, no matter their interest."

Lisa loves to read and says her favorite book is the Golden Spur award-winner Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson. She says it's based on the true story of Cynthia Ann Parker, a young white girl kidnapped by the Comanche people in 1836. Lisa also enjoys cooking for her family. She likes trying out new dishes, some of which she says are hits and some aren't as popular.