May 2024

Always Learning

by Hulen Bivins, Executive Director

“Multipotentiality” is a word that I recently learned about while reading an old Forbes magazine article in the waiting area of a doctor’s office. By definition, multipotentiality is a term that describes individuals who have many interests and creative pursuits, most often concurrently. Such individuals, called multipotentialite, pursue these interests either sequentially or simultaneously (or both).

Although the name “multipotentialite” is a modern term, the idea of a person with many passions is not new. An example would be the inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. Bill Gates might be another more modern example. Librarians, both individually and as a group could be viewed as a large class of multipotentialites due to their involvement in the many types of activities the profession of librarianship offers.

When you think of librarians as multipotentialites you can see the connection of the person to the word. Librarians often have a non-linear career path. Public librarians differ from academic, school, and special librarians in the diversity of tasks undertaken and the diversity of the library user’s needs fulfilled by librarians. Another connection can be seen in the fact that librarians easily make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts of both thought and action. Librarians often suffer when things become routine (boring?) or very predictable (like the same reference question from 50 students). Innovative programs, new ideas, and meetings constantly generating challenges provide the potential to avoid conformity while experiencing innovation and the enhancement of interests that are woven to create a career of unique value for each librarian.

With the beginning of a new fiscal year, librarians shall be engaged in multiple activities such as budget creation, program development, client services, personnel management, and generating the latest ideas of service. All of this will be done because of the librarian's love of learning that comes with the guarantee of unlocking additional opportunities. Yes, librarians are multipotenialites. Be looking for the librarian business card that identifies the individual not as a director or as a department head but rather as a multipotenialite.

Read the article Here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyblaschka/2023/06/27/6-clues-you-might-be-a-multipotentialite-and-the-best-way-to-leverage-it/?sh=6b2641b26e70

Around the State with Mississippi Public Libraries

Find out more: https://www.marshall.lib.ms.us

Marshall County Library System and Noxubee County Library Receives $500 Penguin Random House Grant

Find out more: https://www.noxubee.lib.ms.us/

Penguin Random House in partnership with the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) awarded a $500 in-kind grant to the Marshall County Public Library and the Noxubee County Library. Library Directors will work with the Penguin Random House team to select titles to add to their collection. This is part of a rolling grant program that will provide support and recognize rural, small and tribal libraries that support underserved communities across the U.S. This program awards grants to libraries that demonstrate a true need and are helping to build strong communities.

Find out more about the WWCL at https://wwcls.lib.ms.us/about-the-libra ry/

Cheers to 90 years!

The Waynesboro-Wayne County Library recently celebrated 90 years in service to the public.The library seeks to encourage reading and the use of current technology for life-long learning, to provide educational programs, and to collect and preserve the history of Wayne County, Mississippi.

CMRLS Literature & Arts Brunch

In honor of National Library Week, the Rankin County Libraries of Central Mississippi Regional Library System held a Literature & Arts Brunch on Saturday, April 20. In attendance was Executive Director Hulen Bivins and Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler.

Learn more about CMRLS at http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us/

Pictured: Hulen Bivins, CMRLS director Mara Polk, and Shellie Zeigler.

Margaret Murray Grant 2024 Awardees

The Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2024 Margaret Murray Grant recipients. Each group will receive $500 from the Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc. to support their project. There were 18 applications this year and all were very compelling for the reviewers. The Friends of Mississippi Libraries, Inc. would like to thank everyone that applied for the grant this year.

Friends of the Pass Christian Public Library, Harrison County Library System

The library noticed an increased number of expectant mothers coming into the library and research shows that there are benefits to reading to babies, even prior to delivery. The library plans to house the Family Resource Center for the community Excel by 5 program. This will support literacy skills in children and encourage families to read together while promoting the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Grant funds will purchase books, bags, and print resources. Books will include board books and “Read to the Bump” series available for library checkout. Bags will contain relevant literature and will be offered to families who check out these books to encourage library usage, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program, MSU Extension’s Happy Healthy Baby Program, and local resources.

Friends of the Laurel Jones County Library, Laurel-Jones County Library System

The local community donated a trolley to the library system that is being transformed into a mobile library. Home-bound patrons often depend on caregivers to find books for them at the library. Children in the most rural areas often do not have access to library collections because the library is too far away. Due to the rural service area, Lottie the Trolley will allow far-reaching patrons access to library services. Lottie is more than a bookmobile; her main mission will be to put books in the hands of patrons. Funds from this grant will go directly to books for Lottie the Trolley’s collection.

Friends of the Oak Grove Public Library, Lamar County Library System

Lamar County has a grade of “D” for violent crimes. A crime is committed every two hours and forty-seven minutes. The county only has one organization to help victims, and that organization serves 11 counties. Grant funds will be used to purchase books geared towards helping people in the community that have been victims of assault and traumatized by crime. The books will be used for future speakers and programs to help empower the community.

Friends of Southaven Public Library, First Regional Library System

Manga is the most consistently requested material by Southaven teens. While the library is part of a 14-branch system and a statewide consortium, the selection of manga titles available through these broader resources is still limited. The library has added to this collection over the last year but needs to expand it to provide the manga hub that teens seek. Grant funds will purchase popular and requested manga titles to build a meaningful collection for teens.

The next Margaret Murray grant cycle will open in October 2024. Please join us in congratulating these local Friends groups.

News and Opportunities for Libraries

MAGNOLIA Training Available

MLC now has a MAGNOLIA Outreach Coordinator to help you learn and share information about how to access and use the MAGNOLIA databases. Trainings are available in person or virtually. Contact Kristen Hillman at khillman@mlc.lib.ms.us to schedule your staff training today!

ARTS Mini-Grants for Organizations

Designed to support professional development and capacity building for arts organizations, Mississippi-based non-profit organizations and government entities are eligible to receive Mini-Grants to hire professional artists such as those listed on MAC’s Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster. Organizations can receive up to $1,000 for this grant.

https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=missarts

Mini-Grant applications are due by 11:59pm on June 1.

Update to Large Print Collection

Our Large Print collection is the most used physical collection here at MLC, which supports our Large Print Extended Loan (LPEXT) program, the Large Print Direct program (LPD), and general circulation. Due to an increase in TBS patrons using Large Print Direct, we have updated some of the procedures regarding our Large Print programs.

Public libraries have two main accounts that they use to borrow material: their LIBPUB accounts and their LPEXT accounts. The LIBPUB account is what we use to send ILLs to your library, and staff with the log ins for these accounts can also place holds on all types of MLC materials to borrow for 6 weeks, including new LP books. These materials are checked out to your library and then mailed, like a more direct ILL. The LPEXT account is used to reserve an unlimited amount of older LP books for a 6-month checkout period. “Older” in this context means they have been in the LP New collection for about 6 months.

Our Large Print Direct patrons receive a monthly catalog of our new titles in the mail and are frequently unable to get the titles listed due to their popularity with libraries. To resolve this, we have set two things in motion:

The materials listed in the LPD catalog will be placed in a special location in our catalog (LPD Priority) for a month in order to give these patrons a chance to request them. These will be unable to be reserved by libraries.
The limit of new large print titles with the 6-week checkout for LIBPUB accounts is now set to 20.

Questions can be sent to Information Services Director, Alex Brower at abrower@mlc.lib.ms.us.

LSTA Grant Reminder for Libraries

Questions about LSTA subgrants should be sent to Caleb Stephens at cstephens@mlc.lib.ms.us.

Would your library like a Talking Book Services Display?

Please contact Megan Fleming at mfleming@mlc.lib.ms.us or (601) 432-4093 to arrange one to be sent to your library.

Photo is an example of items that could be part of your display. Special requests can be worked out with Megan.

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Mississippi Library Commission | 3881 Eastwood Drive | Jackson, Mississippi 39211

601.432.4111

www.mlc.lib.ms.us

The Mississippi Library Commission was established in 1926 to ensure that all Mississippians have access to quality library services in order to achieve their greatest potential, participate in a global society, and enrich their daily lives. The Mississippi Library Commission is committed --- through leadership, advocacy, and service --- to strengthening and enhancing libraries and library services for all Mississippians.

This publication is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Grants to States Program as administered by the Mississippi Library Commission.

May 2024﻿