Meet MLC Monday: Derrion Arrington

Meet Derrion Arrington, Reference Librarian at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC)! Derrion began working for MLC back in January of 2018. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in History and Sociology from Tougaloo College. Derrion and a small team of researchers answer simple questions (Can you get me the number to Waffle House?) to tough ones (How much radiation would someone soak up from an undetonated nuclear bomb?) all day long. Patrons can come to the building in Jackson for assistance, but they also by send questions by mail, Facebook, phone, etc. The team answers thousands of queries each month, mainly from Mississippians, but also from people in different states, and even different countries. Derrion says answering people's questions is his favorite part of his job because he seems to learn something new every single day. He also assists with  collection development and shelving.

Derrion says he likes libraries for several very good reasons. "Libraries provide free educational resources for everyone. They are also safe refuges for the homeless and underserved populations." He also appreciates all the books they offer because he loves to read. He says, "With my background in history, I still read a lot about it. My favorite book currently is Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond." Derrion also plays the saxophone and writes. Writing is his favorite hobby; he focuses on historical events here in Mississippi, especially those dealing with the Civil Rights Movement and the Civil War.

On the Road with MLC - Hancock County Library System

By MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler

I recently traveled to the Hancock County Library for a tour of all five of the libraries.  My first stop was the Bay St. Louis Library where I sat in on a Department Head Meeting that included all of the branch managers and various other staff members.  It was very informative and gave me a great feel for the outstanding programming and plans going on in this library system.

Bay St Louis Branch

A particularly interesting passive program encourages staff and patrons to dress up as their favorite literary character which has been a favorite program in the past.  I also learned the system has a new website and they are working on a new logo.

The library system recently handed out library card application folders to 1st-3rd graders in the area schools.  The folders contained library card applications and library program information for parents.  There was a letter to teachers explaining the process and that the library cards would be delivered back to the class.  The class with the most applications would get a free pizza party.

The Bay St. Louis branch has been focusing on doing roving reference and the children's area is now staffed at all times.  The branch manager Amber Stephenson mentioned that they are working to redesign the branch to have a more open concept.

Waveland Branch Manager, Angie Christoffer and MLC's Shellie Zeigler

The next library on my route was Waveland. They were preparing for a "Pirate Day" planned for the following weekend.  It is such a charming branch with a large pirate ship as the focal point in the children's area.  The storytimes are conducted on the ship which must make them a great experience for the children.  The branch manager Angie Christoffer gave me a tour and loved showing off the large front porch that is a favorite of the patrons.

Pearlington Branch prepares for GED class

Next on my list was the Pearlington branch where I met with branch manager Andrea Pack.  This branch does a great deal of community-oriented programming.  They offer exercise classes for seniors, GED preparation classes, and they participate in the "Feeding the Gulf Coast" program to help children and adults.  They are excited about their upcoming "Bunny Hop" event that is similar to a trunk-or-treat program they do in the fall.

Children's area at East Hancock Library

After a night of rest I visited the East Hancock branch in Diamond Head where I met up with System Director Jennifer Baxter.  After a visit with Jennifer, the branch manager Gerri McCleskey gave me a tour of this lovely facility that has a colorful and fun children's area.

Children's program at The Kiln branch

My last stop was the branch in Kiln. Jennifer and I talked with branch manager Nell Ducomb.  There was a storytime going on in the children's area and an Excel by 5 representative was present to provide information for the parents.  This library has a wonderful fireplace that was a popular area on this cool morning.

Hancock County Library System Director Jennifer Baxter, MLC's Shellie Zeigler and The Kiln Branch Manager, Nell Ducomb

It was time to head back to Jackson, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Hancock County.  I can't wait to go back!  Special thanks to Jennifer and everyone on her staff for making me feel so welcome.

Digitization and Public Libraries

Patrons and libraries can do so much with digitization! And with the Mobile Archive Project, the Mississippi Library Commission wants to help make that possible. The Mobile Archive Project is one of the services offered by the Mississippi Library Commission. Libraries can check out a portable scanner kit for use in a digitization project. A member of the Mississippi Library Commission will bring the scanner kit to the library and show librarians how to use the scanning program, scan objects, and save digital files for ease of use.

The scanner in the kit is an overhead scanner. Unlike a typical flatbed scanner, an overhead scanner is perfect for scanning 3D or fragile objects. You simply place the object on the provided mat, press the button on the scanner, and it scans an overhead view of whatever object you’re scanning. This is great for scanning physical objects like medals, art projects, or plaques. It is also good for scanning books: the overhead scanner has a setting that accounts for the bend of a book’s pages, letting you edit it so all the text is straight, readable, and not crooked.

Knowing how to use the scanner is good, but what should you scan in the first place? There are so many items that could benefit from digitization. Does your library have fragile records? You could digitize those to help save wear and tear on the physical copies. Does your library have a collection of letters by a famous author? You could digitize those so that they could be easily shared with multiple people. Does your library have a photograph collection? You could digitize those so they could be shared on social media.

Now that you’ve digitized these items, how can you share them with the world? If your library is a partner with the Mississippi Digital Library, they can host the files for you. If you want to keep the files for staff use only, uploading them to a flash drive or a Google Drive account will do the trick. High use items can be hosted on the library’s website or by an image hosting site such as Photobucket—just be cautious about privacy and copyright limitations. If you REALLY want to explore your options and know someone tech-savvy, an open source collections management program like CollectiveAccess could give your collection a museum-like polish.

There are so many options with digitization! Proper digitization can help reduce wear and tear on some items and let you share other items with the world. If your institution has heavy traffic items, fragile items, or anything awkwardly shaped you want to share with the world, I hope you consider digitization to help continue the spread of information.

2019 National Library Week - Libraries = Strong Communities

As librarians and library advocates, we know that involvement with a local library builds a better, more vibrant community.  National Library Week, held April 7-13, is the perfect time to share the value of public libraries with others.

Think of ways to raise awareness in your area about what your library does to help the members of your community to grow and thrive.  Do you offer a computer training class for adults?  Do you help with online job applications?  Have you attended an outstanding program at your local library?  Sometimes the things we do become so second nature to us that we forget to tell our own story.

Library programs encourage community members to meet to discuss civic issues, work together using new technologies and to learn alongside one another in classes and programs.  Library staff actively engage with the people they serve, always striving to make sure their community's core needs are being met.

Governor Phil Bryant understands the value of Mississippi's public libraries.  He recently presented a proclamation officially declaring this week in April as National Library Week across the state.  Be sure to share this information with your patrons and others in your area. 

Take a moment to visit the American Library Association's website to find all sorts of information to help you plan your activities for National Library Week.  Here's a link to their NLW toolkit - http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/national-library-week-tools.  Happy planning!

The Joy of Reading to Kids

The summers of my childhood were filled with trips to my aunt's house in Mt. Olive.  She had four daughters...all older than me.  The youngest was like a sister to me, even though she was four years my senior.  We spent those summer days running, climbing and enjoying being kids.  When we finally wore ourselves out, we would come inside the wonderful old house where my mother and aunt had grown up and we would climb into bed to rest a bit.  The house had tall ceilings and large windows and I can still feel that warm afternoon air blowing through the windows.  My cousin loved to read to me and I would listen intently to every word.  There is something about having someone read aloud that is so special.

On a not-so-warm day recently I read to a group of third graders at Spann Elementary School.  The librarian, Jennifer Baker, is my neighbor and she asked me if I would read a Dr. Seuss book in celebration of his birthday. Of course I said yes!  My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Oh the Places You'll Go, so she said she would put my name on it!   This day is also known as Read Across America Day when lots of Mississippi public libraries and school libraries celebrate reading.  

Jennifer Baker, my neighbor and librarian at Spann Elementary

Jennifer was waiting when I arrived and had someone take me to my classroom.  The kids were so great and very attentive.  At the end of the story we sang Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss.  It was a fantastic experience that I will never forget.

If the opportunity presents itself, I encourage everyone to take time to read to children.  It is such a special experience!

Meet MLC Monday: Alex Brower

Meet Alex Brower, Reference Librarian at the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC)! People ask her and a small team of researchers every kind of question under the sun, which they answer by phone, email, social media, and all sorts of other ways. (Last fiscal year the team answered an average of nearly 2,000 questions each month, from people right here in Mississippi to people as far away as India.) As another part of her new job, Alex has begun traveling the state to train librarians on how to use MAGNOLIA, a statewide database consortium funded by the Mississippi legislature. She also contributes to collection development, suggesting books and other materials to add and remove from MLC's inventory

Alex started working at MLC just a few weeks ago and says she's very excited to be here. She enjoys helping people and finding answers to their questions. "I can learn a lot about a variety of different topics by helping people find the information they need. I enjoy helping people from all over the state find the information that they need. I think I’m going to enjoy working at MLC for many reasons, and I’ve been very impressed with how welcoming and helpful everyone I have met has been!" She earned a bachelor’s degree and her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). She received the Kathanne W. Greene Award and the Peggy May and H.W. Wilson scholarships while at USM.

When asked about her feelings regarding libraries, Alex responded, "I've always loved libraries because I love to read, but being a librarian has given me new and wonderful reasons to love them! Libraries are open to everyone, and they are some of the few institutions built that are built by and for their communities. Libraries provide so many needed services, from connecting patrons to a new favorite book to helping people apply for jobs, and they are wonderful third spaces that make their communities better simply by existing."

Alex says she loves to read. She doesn't have a favorite book--that changes all the time, but she is particularly fond of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. The last book she read was Enter Pirates by Laurie Notaro. When she's not thinking about libraries and books, Alex is teaching herself to sew and her grandmother is teaching her to crochet. She has also dabbled in watercolors and gardening, but with little success.

Save Libraries, Save Museums, Save IMLS!

Maybe you've seen the proposed national budget for FY20 and maybe you haven't, but it eliminates federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). That means essential programs provided by libraries and museums across Mississippi will no longer have the money to continue. This covers everything from your local public library, your child's school library, and university libraries to the Delta Blues Museum, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and the Mississippi Children's Museum. It also means that LSTA grant funds, which launch innovative programs across the state and are distributed by IMLS, will no longer be available. Both Loida Garcia-Febo, president of the American Library Association, and Kathryn K. Matthew, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, have issued responses regarding the proposed budget, and people across the country are rallying to our museums' and libraries' defense.

We want you to join the fight to fund museums and libraries. Take a look below at a small sample of Mississippi public library programs funded by IMLS in the past few years. Then click the Dear Appropriator letter at the bottom of the page to send an email to your congresspeople urging full funding of IMLS.

Lee-Itawamba Library System

The Lunching with Books program, made possible through LSTA grant funds, is a vital resource for information and socialization of learners who can no longer visit the library due to physical disabilities, advanced age, and/or lack of transportation. In order to serve these citizens, the library purchased the necessary equipment to record, archive, and live-stream the programs to offsite patrons. The program can be viewed at any time from the Lee-Itawamba Library System website. The library partnered with a local retirement home to screen the program on-site in a common area. Live-streaming the program off-site allowed patrons no longer able to attend in person the ability to actively participate in educational and entertaining library activities. This library system is in Mississippi's Congressional District 1, which is served by Representative Trent Kelly.

Sunflower County Library System

The Seniors Acquiring Computer Skills and the Senior Adults Moving Forward in Technology programs at Sunflower County Library System were designed to provide computer skills training to senior citizens who want to become computer literate. Using LSTA grant funds, the library provides computer literacy classes for small groups in slowly-paced sessions. Attendees learn essential basic computer skills, like word processing in order to produce letters and forms, spreadsheets to track financial information, and Internet competency, including search skills and database usage. After a sixteen-week training period, participants are able to use everything from email to Word and beyond, critical skills for the 21st century. This library system is in Mississippi's Congressional District 2, which is served by Representative Bennie Thompson.

Central Mississippi Regional Library System

New Maker Space Kits, acquired with LSTA funds by the Central Mississippi Regional Library System, travel back and forth between their 20 branches. The Makey Makey Kit, Snap Circuits Kit, Video Maker Kit, Strawbees Kit, and Jewelry Tool Kit emphasize STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities for K-12 through adult patrons. Every age group served has been excited and eager to learn and explore with the kits, making this an incredibly successful idea. These items give Mississippi citizens an understanding of how circuitry works and help them understand how to apply this new knowledge in their everyday lives. This library system is in Mississippi's Congressional District 3, which is served by Representative Michael Guest.

Laurel-Jones County Library System

An Early Childhood Library Development Center project garnered LSTA grant funds for the Laurel-Jones County Library System. It enables both libraries in the system to provide a fun and safe area where children can learn through imaginative play. The centers have an assortment of building blocks, interlocking and connective toys, matching and sorting games, and puzzles. These activities teach young patrons basic math and language skills, hand-eye coordination, counting, color and letter identification, motor skills, and social interaction skills. This library system is in Mississippi's Congressional District 4, which is served by Representative Steven Palazzo.

These programs, which cater to a wide range of interests, target people of all ages and walks of life. If you think that the learning, cultural, and social opportunities Mississippi libraries and museums provide are critical to keeping our citizens on the cutting edge of society, then help us out. Contact your congressperson and ask them to sign the Dear Appropriator letter. Then share this post in your email, on Facebook, or however else you reach your friends and family, and ask them to do the same. Thank you!