» Library Development

Library Development

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.

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.

Current Year:

Previous Year:

Need specific training for your library staff? Use our electronic 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. Previously archived webinars, along with accompanying presentation materials and handouts, are located here.

In some cases, Mississippi library staff may receive continuing education credit for viewing a webinar. If CEU’s are available for a particular webinar, the amount will be shown beside its listing on the archived webinars web page linked above. Registration in advance of viewing is required for CEU credit. For an application and registration link to a CE credit-eligible webinar, please contact MLC’s Continuing Education Coordinator, Beth Samson, at bsamson@mlc.lib.ms.us or 601-432-4057.

For information about CEUs, please see our CEU page.

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.

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, Tracy Carr, 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:

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.

Margaret Murray Grant Application for 2024
Application deadline: February 29th, 2024

Margaret Murray Grant Evaluation for 2024
Evaluation deadline: December 30th, 2024