Controversy has been the primary theme across the country this year. This has been seen regarding a federal budget, immigration policies, gun regulations, and surprisingly, libraries. For each of the cited topics, strong opinions have been voiced at rallies, on social media, and as part of television news as well as other communication mediums. The widespread use of these mediums has shown the passion of advocates on both sides of these controversial themes.

For many individuals, to see libraries as a prominent location for controversy is surprising and disheartening. Such is because libraries offer so much to sustain society, advance learning, and provide historical material that helps a populace avoid repeating the errors of past years, over and over again.

What libraries offer is what is needed. It is because, within this need, libraries allow for and work to promote an understanding of everyone. Via literature libraries improve our ability to communicate with and support each other. Libraries are the places where we can become literate about our differences and where those differences can be examined based on the thoughts of many—not the thoughts of just a few. Indeed, to avoid the offerings of libraries is to practice foolishness that seeks to deny the expansion of knowledge and learning.

It has been said that it is only at the library, using twenty-six letters and a collection of punctuation marks, that learning can advance. Imaginations can be stimulated and inventions can be developed as the library user can, with available information, build anything.

Libraries traditionally have been promoters of an individual’s freedom to read anything. This freedom comes with the challenge that one should therefore take advantage of the opportunities presented to read everything available. The learning derived from this activity promotes freedom of ideas and a freedom of communication so we can do things collectively with progressive actions to sustain society while avoiding and disallowing controversy. Indeed, such actions encourage the advancement of both humanity and our society as we take advantage of the expanded world that libraries provide. Paramount is the understanding that what libraries offer is incremental knowledge that is based on prior learning and not simply a knowledge base that must be continually relearned.

Whether reading for educational purposes or leisure, reading is a good thing; no, it is a great thing! And it is at libraries that these reading opportunities are made available. Herein, everyone can exchange ideas, can communicate, express differences, become literate on a litany of subjects, and make sure everyone can make informed decisions that allow for the removal of controversy in libraries.

First Regional Library STEM Kit Success

The M. R. Davis Public Library, a part of the First Regional Library System, recently held a WeDo Lego program. Children were able to experiment and build Lego robots as part of this STEM program. Kits were checked out from MLC's special collections department.

Check Out Some of MLC's Newest Book Club Kits!

Each Book Club Kit comes with 10 copies of the title and a discussion guide for a three-month period. This includes the time to receive, distribute, discuss, and send the kits back. MLC has more than 170 book club kits ready for you to check out.

If you have questions or would like to reserve a Book Club in a Box Kit, contact Charlie Simpkins at csimpkins@mlc.lib.ms.us or 601-432-4498.

As part of a partnership with the Mississippi Humanities Council, MLC consultant Shellie Zeigler has been facilitating book club discussions for incarcerated individuals in Mississippi since October 2022. The book clubs have taken place in three facilities across the state:

• Parchman Correction Facility- October 2022- March graphic novel series (3 vol.) by John Lewis. Two virtual sessions and two in-person sessions.
• Delta Correctional Facility-March 2023-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Four in-person sessions.
• Delta Correctional Facility-April 2023-The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Four in-person sessions scheduled for April.

"I have learned a great deal about working with the incarcerated and the inmates were incredibly happy and honored to have the time to talk with them. They were respectful and kind," said Zeigler. "Many participants shared why they were incarcerated and it can become part of the book discussion."

She offers these tips for for establishing a non-traditional book club in general. A non-traditional book club can be one that is held in an assisted living facility, a senior activity senior, a prison, etc. Think about where the undeserved in your community gather and meet them there!

• Be flexible and patient!
• Don’t get discouraged easily. Setting up the book club just might be the hardest step. The key is finding the contact that can make it happen. This is sounds easier than it is.
• Let the participants be part of choosing the book titles.
• Be willing to give of yourself.

For additional information, please contact Shellie Zeigler at szeigler@mlc.lib.ms.us or

601-432-4123.