Library Development staff offers 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.
Need direct help with a specific subject? Our staff has designated subject specialties. Click here for a list of who to contact.
Online Resources
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.
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.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs):
- Individuals or organizations wishing to offer CEU credits for workshops they present must complete the CEU credit form and submit it to Lorietha Myers, Development Services, Mississippi Library Commission, 3881 Eastwood Drive, Jackson, MS 39211.
- Participants wishing to receive CEU credits for a workshop they attend may request them from the individual or organization presenting the workshop, provided the presenter has made the above arrangements with MLC.
- Complete information on CEUs, including guidelines and instructions, can be found on the second page of the CEU credit form.
Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc.
The Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc. serves as an advocate for library issues on the local, state and national levels, encourages the enhancement of local library services, and promotes reading and the enjoyment of books by all Mississippians.
For more information on Friends of Mississippi Libraries, including information on starting a chapter, filing for charity status, and bylaws, click here. For questions about Friends of Mississippi Libraries, contact Lacy Ellinwood.
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, Joy Garretson, then proofs the data and submits it to the Institute for Museums and Libraries for the Public Library Survey. For a presentation on public library statistics, click here.
2014 Annual Statistical Report
For previous years’ statistical reports and links to related data, click here.
Summer Library Program
MLC is a member of the Collaborate Summer Library Program, a consortium of libraries nationwide that work together to provide summer library program materials at a low cost to public libraries. MLC pays for the annual membership of all public libraries in the state, provides public librarians with summer reading manuals for early literacy, children’s, teen, and adult, provides promotional materials to public libraries for use in programming, and arranges multiple summer reading trainings each spring.