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Reference Services
Reference and research services are available to all types of libraries, state employees, and the general public. Reference staff can provide assistance to libraries to meet the information needs of their customers, to state employees seeking assistance, or to the general public seeking information on a variety of topics.
Besides the print collection, reference staff utilize subscriptions to specialized online resources in researching requests. Depending upon license agreements, some online databases are available for patron use at home as well as within the Library Commission.
The Lillian Lee Choral Music Collection of the Mississippi Girlchoir is available to the public.
To ask a question, contact the MLC Reference Desk. You may call the reference desk at 601.432.4492 or toll-free at 1.877.KWIK.REF (1.877.594.5733). You may call or text the reference desk at 601-208-0868.
State and Federal Documents
MLC collects, catalogs, and maintains an archival collection of over 60,000 Mississippi state agency issued publications as mandated by the Mississippi Code as a part of the State Depository Program. State government publications and reference services are accessible to patrons on the second floor of MLC and online at our state documents website. Additionally, agency websites provide yet another point of access to agency publications.
If you have questions regarding state or federal documents, contact Lawrence Smith, Collection Management Director and Patent Librarian.
Patents and Trademarks
The Mississippi Library Commission was designated as an official Patent & Trademark Resource Center (previously Patent & Trademark Depository Library) in 1990 by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. A wide variety of services are provided from extensive holdings of patent & trademark resources. While the primary users are inventors, attorneys, and researchers, the services are open to the general public.
If you have questions regarding patents and trademarks, contact Lawrence Smith, Collection Management Director and Patent Librarian.
Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Services
The Commission has a functioning library with materials available to check out. Anyone aged 18 and older may visit the library to use materials, do research with our reference collection, or simply use the library as a quiet place to study. Children and youth age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
MLC Library Card Application for Individuals
MLC Library Card Application for State Employees
MLC Library Card Application for Institutions
State and public library employees may visit the library in order to get a library card, or may scan/email completed applications to mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us.
Residents age 18 and older in good standing with their local public library are eligible for a Mississippi Library Commission library card. Applications from members of the general public (those who are not state or public library employees) must be returned in person and the individual must show a valid Mississippi public library card and another form of photo identification.
Interlibrary loan service is also available to MLC’s patrons.
Large Print Extended Loan Service to Libraries
Mississippi libraries may request older large print titles in a batch to supplement local collections. These “extended loan” titles are loaned for six months. Large print materials may be shipped between libraries free of charge through the U.S. Postal Service as “Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.”
For questions about LP Extended Loan or interlibrary loan, please contact Alex Brower.