At the conclusion of fiscal year 2018, the Mississippi Library Commission provided over $7 million in financial assistance to Mississippi’s 53 public library systems through state and federal funding.
Library systems that were funded included $131,123 to the Tombigbee Regional Library System, which serves the Webster County Library in Eupora and the Mathiston Public Library, and $87,509 total to the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Library System, which serves the Maben Public Library.
These funds were administered as grants and statewide services. Of the total amount provided, the state of Mississippi was the source of $6.74 million, with the balance of the funding provided by the federal government under the “Grants to States” program administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Funding from the state of Mississippi provided employee benefits throughout the state for library staff members; these funds also enabled each of the 53 public library systems to maintain highly qualified library professionals. The MAGNOLIA information database collection is an example of statewide services provided to public libraries through state funding made available to every citizen of Mississippi.
With federal funding, Mississippi’s public libraries can apply to MLC for grants used for a variety of purposes, such as purchasing new public access computers, administering innovative community programming and acquiring new books for their libraries.
Following the tabulation of monies reported for FY18, MLC Executive Director Hulen Bivins noted that, “The Mississippi Library Commission has worked with the state’s public libraries to both strengthen and enhance library services for the benefit of the state’s citizenry. This work has provided homework aid, business development assistance, and a furtherance of knowledge regarding issues in the fields of finance, law and medicine.”
Bivens added, “The achievements accomplished are a direct result of the cooperation and tremendous work of the 53 public library systems in using the funding made available by MLC in an efficient, cost-conscious manner.”
In addition to providing funding to the state’s libraries, MLC offers a wide variety of services to public libraries, including yearlong continuing education opportunities, technology services and support, computer network support and interlibrary loan of materials.
The Mississippi Library Commission supports innovative programs and initiatives to strengthen and enhance library services for all Mississippians. The agency is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, with additional funding provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, offering leadership in library services, advocacy and training for library professionals and paraprofessionals.
