What's a Faulkner, Mom?

The ninth annual Mississippi Book Festival is in the books! As always, the festival was filled with opportunities to discover new authors, learn about literature, and explore interesting books. Your Mississippi Library Commission offered a cool sanctuary for those who wanted to escape the heat outside; people who needed a break flocked to room 202 of the State Capitol for book swag, Mississippi author fortunes, brailling demonstrations, and our pop-up library. Several of MLC's staff were on hand to answer questions about libraries in Mississippi, and many of us chose to brave the 102 temperature to explore the greatest book festival in the U.S.A., Mississippi's Literary Lawn Party. Here are some of our staff's takeaways:

"I had a good time telling people about Talking Book Services! Some old friends stopped by the Pop-Up Library that I haven’t seen in a while; it was so good to catch up with them and spread the word about the library." Mary Rodgers Beal, Talking Book Services Director

"I moderated the In Short panel with three amazing writers of short fiction: Deesha Philyaw, Andrew Porter, and George Singleton. The whole panel was thoughtful and engaging, but George brought down the house several times. That guy is a hoot!" Tracy Carr, Deputy Director, Library Services

"I was pleasantly surprised to see the turnout considering how amazingly hot it was! I had a great time walking around, looking at all sorts of books to buy later, and running into fellow book lovers to chit-chat with." Katie Gill, Cataloging Librarian

"My highlight of the festival was seeing the iconic Lois Lowry talk about her books The Giver and Number the Stars. She had such a huge impact on me as a young reader, and it was an honor to hear her talk about what inspired her to write." Kristen Hillman, MAGNOLIA Outreach Coordinator

"I sadly didn’t attend any panels this year; I waited too long and got there too close to my shift. (The sadness!) I observed so many people so excited to be there, though, and it made me so happy to see people coming together to bond over their favorite books and authors! I loved one kid in particular who asked his mom 'What’s a Faulkner?' when I gave him his Mississippi author fortune." Riley Houston, Patron Access Librarian, Talking Book Services

"I enjoyed working at the MLC Pop-Up Library because I got to meet so many people and tell them about libraries. I even ran into a former patron and his mother who I knew from the Autism Resource Center at the Jackson/Hinds Library System. I was delighted to see the progress he's made over the years and to find out he's now a student at Hinds Community College." Ruth Jinkiri, Library Consultant

"I discovered that USM has a graduate study program dedicated for the historical study of war. As a medieval history enthusiast and a military mom, I found the books and topics written by faculty interesting and enjoyed speaking to the staff present at their booth." Kristina Kelly, Public Relations Coordinator

"I had a great time at the book festival. I got to chat with some old friends from my previous job and I met so many other nice people at the MLC booth. The highlight of the day was attending the Literary Thriller panel. Clemence Michallon spoke about her book The Quiet Tenant, which is one of my favorite books of this year. Kevin Powers and Brendan Slocumb were also on the panel. I haven't read their books before, but I plan to now. It was a great conversation." Amanda Minor, Library Consultant

"Of course, there is the obligatory, 'It was SOOO HOT!', but luckily, I had the pleasure of meeting Biscuit, a little cutie who came all the way from D.C to make it to the Book Festival. This was her second trip to Mississippi this year; this seventeen-year-old even broke out her pearls as she explored the Capitol grounds." Charlie Simpkins, Special Collections Coordinator

"I loved seeing Jason Reynolds and Ebony Lumumba in conversation. It was fascinating to hear him talk about his path to becoming an author and his influences over the years. I really enjoyed getting the nitty gritty on Miles Morales and how he developed that Marvel character." Elisabeth Scott, Reference Librarian

Did you miss a panel that you really wanted to see? Be sure to check out the Book Festival's videos of Saturday's activities. 

Did you have a wonderful time? Fill out the Book Festival's survey about this year's fun.

Did you have a favorite moment this year? Which was your favorite panel? Did an author or book or encounter wow you? Drop us a comment and let us know. 

Now that the 2023 festival is over, we're preparing for next year. See you August 17, 2024!

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: Charlie Simpkins

Elisabeth Scott

Reference and Social Media Librarian

Meet Charlie Simpkins, Special Collections Coordinator at the Mississippi Library Commission! MLC's kits collection is geared toward meeting public libraries' programming needs, and Charlie is in charge of all things kit here at MLC. He identifies new and interesting products libraries could want or need; then he acquires them so that Mississippi libraries can use them in their communities. The range of items is wide and all-encompassing: from kits focusing on STEM skills, 3D printers, and building kits that fire the imagination and promote learning, to board games, puppets, storywalk, and book club kits that make learning as a community exciting and fun... MLC has them all and Charlie is their curator. He also handles training libraries in kit use, as well as other MLC training needs, and he catalogs our giant large print collection as new books arrive. Charlie loves his job. He says, "My favorite part is getting to hear stories about how excited patrons get at library programs. Getting to see pictures and videos that libraries and their patrons share is like spotting a rainbow on a stormy day. It hits me right in the feels.”

Charlie began working at MLC in June of 2018. Prior to that he held positions as Reference Librarian at the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood and Branch Manager at the Northwest Point Reservoir Library, both part of the Central Mississippi Regional Library System. Before jumping into the library world, Charlie taught fourth grade at Highland Bluff Elementary School in Flowood. Charlie holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in English and Social Studies. He also holds a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

We asked Charlie what it is that he loves about libraries, and he said, "Libraries equalize the playing field. A library is a place people can go to explore concepts and ideas that they might not otherwise get to discover. I tell my wife that if I don’t learn something new in a day, it feels like a day wasted. Libraries have helped me learn something new so many times because they encourage lifelong learning."

Charlie loves books and loves to read. He says his favorite adult books are probably Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, but quickly gets distracted listing his favorite children's books. Reading Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes was a transformational experience in college. He regularly recommends Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings and What Do They Do with All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz to his friends, young and old alike. This paragraph could extend into eternity if Charlie had his way.

When he's not championing libraries or reading, Charlie is spending quality time with his wife Kelly and his pup Walden. He likes watching movies and TV, tabletop gaming, attending church, and attempting to write. Charlie has also begun picking up new crafts, like knitting and crochet with his wife.

If you have questions about book, STEM, or other MLC kits, give Charlie a holler at 601-432-4498 or send him an email at csimpkins@mlc.lib.ms.us.

Shorty McShortersons

Beth Samson
Continuing Education Coordinator

“I’m too busy to read books.” “I love reading, but I have so many things to do.” How many times have we heard these phrases? How many times have we said these phrases? Our lives have become so busy that we find it difficult to pencil in time to read an entire novel. Sad, but understandable. However, there is a middle ground: short stories. Bite-sized bits of literature to give us our reading fix while still leaving time to go… adult. One of my personal favorites is one that is, pleasantly enough, in the public domain: “A Scandal in Bohemia”, the first short story of Arthur Conan Doyle starring Sherlock Holmes. 

 

 

This story is part of the book, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a collection of Sherlock short stories and the third Sherlock work overall. It consists of three “chapters” and is about as long as the average fanfiction that genuinely has a plot. What attracts me most about this story (other than the mention of the former kingdom of Bohemia itself) is the fact that it is the sole work featuring the infamous Irene Adler. I absolutely adore her, and I praise Doyle for the creation of such a delightful character. I also appreciate the levels of wit and snark in the story, customary of Holmes, but wonderful to find in other characters as well.

To give a brief, spoiler-free summary, Watson visits Holmes after he has been married for some time. Holmes tells him about this mysterious letter (well, trying to be mysterious letter) that is requesting a meeting and his help. Apparently, the King of Bohemia had…well, indiscretions with Ms. Adler, a “well-known adventuress” about five years previously. She has proof of this relationship and the King is absolutely determined to get it. Enter Sherlock: the only man that the King believes able to retrieve the proof from the woman with “the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men”.

This story will always hold a special place in my heart, not just because of how much I enjoy it, but also because it showed me the value of short stories. I highly recommend it, regardless of your schedule.

P.S. You can check it out at MLC or your public library, plus you can download it on BARD. Also, since it’s in the public domain, you can read it anywhere! For example, here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1661/1661-h/1661-h.htm#chap01

Getting to Know Us, Getting to Know All About Us

Elisabeth Scott

Reference and Social Media Librarian

Did you know that the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) was instrumental in the establishment of the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) and 75% of the public libraries in the state? The organization was so important to libraries in the state that, when MLC was officially formed by the state legislature in 1926, Senator Belle Kearney--the first woman elected to the Mississippi State Senate only four years earlier--and her committee ensured that the President of MFWC was a permanent fixture on MLC's Board of Commissioners. MFWC has continued its interest in literacy and libraries over the years. The President's Special Project, which changes with each club president, is "Get Back to Your Roots by Promoting Public Libraries, Education and Literacy". Current President Theresa Buntyn chose this theme because of her close involvement with libraries, both within her family and her local club.

 

Women's Club members across the state are answering Buntyn's call to "get back to their roots" by getting even more involved in their local libraries. The Women's Club of Poplarville partnered with the Pearl River County Library System to hold a sewing club for area children. The Fine Arts Club of Bruce volunteered during the Summer Library Program at the Jesse Yancy Memorial Library in Bruce. Another group of Club Women led a special storytime at the Lee County Library in Tupelo. The list goes on and on, and we are absolutely delighted.

Several months ago, MFWC asked MLC's Public Relations Coordinator Kristina Kelly to create a BINGO card about MLC and MLC's services. A fun game all about us? No problem: Kristina delivered in spades. She created a beautiful card that highlights many of MLC's features: ways that we serve libraries and you, our adoring library public. The BINGO squares are listed below to give you the fun of scoring a BINGO too.

• Like the MLC Facebook or Instagram page
• Try MLC's Bookmatch 
• Read On the Same Page - MLC's newsletter
• Share info about Talking Book Services
• Invite local officials to experience an SLP program
• Check a Book Club in a Box kit out
• Share info about Patents and Trademark Resource Center
• Read the FY22 Annual Report
• Use the MLC catalog to search for a book
• Sign up for a hoopla account
• List your favorite online database
• Search a topic on MAGNOLIA
• Explore a tutorial on LearningExpress
• Write an article for your local newspaper about the importance of libraries
• Help someone sign up for a library card
• Watch a webinar on the MLC YouTube channel

This Saturday, the MFWC holds their annual Summer Institute here at MLC. We look forward to this event and many, many more in the years to come. What a beautiful partnership!

You can download your own copy of the BINGO card here:

We’re All in Knits Together

Alex Brower

Information Services Director

MLC’s Craft Club had its third meeting on June 16th, 2023. We used the video "How to Knit" by Carla Scott on Creativebug to learn some basic stitches and, in some cases, make the beginnings of very small scarves!

We had 15 attendees for our meeting, and a few people brought their own knitting needles and yarn. Our knitting kit for public libraries will have 10 sets of needles; if your library expects a large crowd, I suggest advertising that people can bring their own supplies. (Sometimes people do some well-intentioned crafts shopping but never quite make it to the learning-how-to-knit part!) We also received an extremely generous donation from Benton County Library of many, many skeins of yarn, which our participants eagerly took home to keep practicing!

Set-up for this craft club only took a few minutes, as did tear-down. I brought a box with the knitting needles and yarn, and had participants pick up supplies on their way in. If you're looking for a program that doesn’t require lots of supplies and clean-up, this is it. Plus, if you've gone the route of asking people to bring their own supplies, you get another added bonus: you'll have less to clean up, and they'll be able to continue their work at home. (Our participants had to return their needles and thread, so I would probably do a smaller craft next time so that they can take their projects home once the class was done.) Once the club ended, attendees undid their work and returned their knitting needles. 

We went through each step as a group and tried to get everyone on the same page before we moved on: good for those who needed a bit more help and less useful for those who picked up the steps more quickly. I’m not sure what the fix would be for this: watching the video all the way through at the beginning, having each participant at a computer/tablet so they can follow along at their own pace, or some hybrid of the two. One of our attendees looked up a diagram of the steps, which she found more helpful than the video or instruction from a classmate.

I practiced the skills in the video before the class, so I was able to walk around and assist. It's more difficult to explain a skill when you aren’t super familiar with it, so having more experienced knitters in the class was incredibly helpful. It went very quickly from one large group to several smaller groups with an experienced person in each. 

Our program was great for getting the basics down and would be a good beginning for a series of knitting classes where participants learned new skills each time. The class could work their way up to making bigger projects like scarves, blankets, or any number of things! Creativebug also has a knitting pattern library; your library could host a knitting circle where patrons work on their own projects or start new ones, alone or in groups. 

MLC’s knitting kit will be available soon, with knitting needles, yarn, and a darning needle set your patrons can use to create their own beautiful projects!

Video: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/how-to-knit-part-1/1/0
Supplies:
Needles: https://www.michaels.com/product/10-anodized-aluminum-knitting-needles-by-loops-threads-10154295
Yarn: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085FS14Z7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A Very Mississippi Fourth

Elisabeth Scott

Reference and Social Media Librarian

When talking about William Faulkner and Willie Morris in his book A Place Like Mississippi, W. Ralph Eubanks says, "If you can find where the past and the present intersect within Mississippi, you can indeed understand the world." I have lived in other states and other countries, but I keep coming home to Mississippi. It is a place that is uniquely itself and yet, somehow, the essence of life in the United States. When our nation got its start 247 years ago, Mississippi wasn't even a territory. We have grown together with our sister states as America has grown, year by year, century by century. Mississippi is a microcosm of the United States: a distillation of all that is good and bad about the land we all love. This Fourth of July, let's celebrate with some books from MLC's collection that showcase the food, fun, and music of the Magnolia State that are reflected in our nation's culture as a whole.