Library Development staff offer consultation to public library system directors, staff, library trustees, Friends groups, governing authorities, and others on a variety of public library policy and management issues.

Library Development staff provide training and continuing education opportunities to assist in increasing library staff competencies in both traditional library services and in new and emerging technologies.

Consulting Services

Each library system has an assigned consultant who serves as a liaison to the services provided by the Library Commission. Public libraries are encouraged to contact their consultants for advice on library management, personnel, boards and trustees, building maintenance/construction, programming, as well as assistance with policies and LSTA grant applications. Click here for consulting designations.

Online Resources

• Directors’ Guide
• Mississippi Public Library Policy Development Guide (July 2021 Update)
• Mississippi Trustee Handbook (May 2023 Update)

Continuing Education

The continuing education program is an important part of MLC’s services to the public library community. Each year the Mississippi Library Commission provides a skills development program with training opportunities in both traditional and emerging library services.

Current Year:

• FY25 Continuing Education Catalog Part 2 (January-June 2025)
• FY25 Continuing Education Catalog Part 1 (July-December 2024)

Previous Year:

• FY24 Continuing Education Catalog Part 2 (January-June 2024)
• FY24 Continuing Education Catalog Part 1 (July-December 2023)

Need specific training for your library staff? Use our online form to get the training you need:

• MLC Staff Training form

MLC Webinars

The Continuing Education Calendar includes webinars produced by MLC. These are located on MLC’s YouTube channel.

WebJunction

WebJunction’s library-specific courses are available for free to all library workers and volunteers across the nation. Simply create an account at learn.webjunction.org, and then explore the catalog of library-focused courses and webinars. Certificates of completion will be available to you after you have completed any course or webinar that you enroll in from the catalog.

CEUs

The Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) is authorized, through the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), to grant continuing education units (CEUs) using the formula of ten contact hours equal one CEU. Continuing education credit is given for programs that are planned learning experiences designed to bring about changes in knowledge, skills, or attitudes which contribute directly to the delivery of quality library services and the competent practice of librarianship. Credit is not given for business meetings, reports, announcements, breaks, or meals. Credit is not given for content unrelated to library service. CEUs are only provided to school library media specialists and licensed educators.

• Individuals or organizations wishing to offer CEU credits for workshops they present must contact the library development director Sharon Davis at 601-432-4005 or sdavis@mlc.lib.ms.us at least six weeks before the program begins. The contact person will be notified of the procedures necessary for the issuing of CEU certificates.
• For questions about MDE requirements and standards, please contact MDE’s Division of Educator Licensure.

Statistics

In keeping with Mississippi law, Section 39-3-107, Mississippi Code, 1972, public libraries submit annual statistics to the Mississippi Library Commission. The State Data Coordinator then reviews, verifies, and submits the data to the Institute for Museums and Library Services for the Public Library Survey. For previous years’ statistical reports and links to related data, click here.

Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc.

As charitable organizations in Mississippi, local Friends chapters can choose to share the Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc.’s U.S. Internal Revenue Service 501 (c)(3) non-profit designation. It is also important for all Friends chapters to register as tax-exempt charitable organizations with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office: http://www.sos.ms.gov/Charities/Pages/default.aspx

Starting a Friends Group in Mississippi:

• Forming a Friends Chapter in Mississippi (PDF)
• Bylaws Sample (PDF)

Maintaining a Friends Group in Mississippi:

• 2024 Friends Membership Renewal (PDF)
• 2024 Friends Membership Renewal (WORD)
• File IRS Form 990 e-Postcard
• First time filing? Follow the IRS User Guide

Tools to Help Friends of the Library

• Power Guide for Successful Advocacy

• United for Libraries: With its mission to motivate and support citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for all types of libraries, the United for Libraries website features many resources that can enhance a chapter’s program.
• Libraries Need Friends: Starting a Friends Group or Revitalizing the One You Have by Sally Gardener Reed: This free toolkit is geared mostly toward public library Friends groups, but has good tips on membership and outreach for Friends groups of any type.
• Understanding Roles: The Separate But Complementary Roles of Friends, Trustees, and Library Directors will help you define the roles of the Friends, Trustees, and library staff in working together to support the library.

The Margaret Murray Grant

The purpose of the Margaret Murray grant is to advance library programming and literacy for Mississippi public libraries through activities sponsored by the local Friends of Mississippi Libraries chapters.

Funds are earmarked for programming, collection development, and literacy activities. Funds are not intended for administrative or operational use.