Mid-MS Regional Library System Goes Mobile

 The Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System (MMRLS) has received over $41,000.00 in grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Mississippi Library Commission to provide mobile library services to Attala, Holmes, Leake, Montgomery, and Winston Counties. A new eighteen-foot-long customized mobile library vehicle will deliver materials, technology, and programming to communities and institutions with limited access to library resources, or to those who may want more convenience in receiving library services.

The mobile library will house hundreds of items available for checkout, including books and DVDs for all ages. Mobile library staff members will be able to provide programming, reference services, and even sign patrons up for a library card. The library system plans to offer additional services on the vehicle in the future, such as WIFI, wireless printing, and more.

MMRLS is seeking to partner with institutions throughout its service area to provide mobile library services by scheduling regular visits to local long-term care and senior living facilities, schools, daycares, and other community organizations. The library also plans to visit local festivals and other events. Those interested in scheduling a visit can contact their local branch library location or visit: midmisslib.com/mobilelibrary.

“Our new mobile library will offer our patrons almost anything they could get from a physical library building,” said Josh Haidet, MMRLS Executive Director. “Our thirteen branch locations do a wonderful job serving our communities. We are excited to now have the ability to bring our services beyond the walls of our physical buildings to any location throughout our five-county service area.”

For more information about all library services, call or visit your local MMRLS branch library or the library’s website at: midmisslib.com. All library services are made possible thanks to the continued financial support of our local elected officials.

Louisville Garden Club Plants Flowers

The Louisville Garden Club planted flowers in the pots outside the front of the library this week. Pictured are (l-r), Glenda Chandler, Kathy Sones (president), Sharon Kennedy and Kay Ward. “The ladies from this club come every fall and spring to help beautify our library.” said Librarian Beth Edwards. “We appreciate them so much!”

Kids N Kats Fishing Rodeo - Legion State Park - April 30th

The annual Kids N Kats Fishing Rodeo is coming up at Legion State Park on Saturday, April 30th. Youth from ages 4 to 15 are invited to come out to the lake and participate. Prizes and lunch including hot dogs will be available.

The MDWFP will stock the lake with up to 500 catfish prior to the rodeo, providing an opportunity for kids to participate in a great American sport. Friends of Legion will be aiding with the event.

Here's what you need to know:

• Registration begins at 7:00 am on Saturday morning and will continue til 9:00 am.
• After opening ceremonies and an announcement of rules and regulations, fishing will begin at 8:00 am
• Restroom and handwashing facilities will be made available.
• Rodeo open to kids from 4-15 years of age.
• All kids must be accompanied by a parent, grandparent or responsible adult.
• All participants must register and receive a wristband.
• Participants should bring their own fishing tackle and bait (sliced hot dogs or cocktail sausages are excellent)
• Only one rod per child.

Prizes will be awarded and other activities will be available for the kids as well.

Participate in "Litterless Louisville " - April 30th

Come be a part of the community and participate in stewardship. A new 5th Saturday tradition in Louisville, Mississippi, continues and has already proven to be successful. We know many hands make for light work and together so much can be accomplished. Nearly 2 tons of roadside litter has been collected and removed by the previous efforts.

Calling on all churches, businesses, neighborhoods, individuals, or civic organizations to participate in an organized effort to create a "LITTERLESS LOUISVILLE". This is a very unique opportunity for fellowship while serving others in stewardship. Beginning anywhere at any time we can all make a difference but together we can make an impact.

WHAT: The Good Steward Project
WHY: LITTER: Our community + our problem = our opportunity to be a Good Steward
WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 2022, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
WHO: Anyone
WHERE: Beginning rally point, First Baptist Church Louisville parking lot prior to 9:00 a.m OR anyone-anywhere is encouraged to begin from home, business, or your respective church
HOW: Trash bags, gloves, and accessories are being provided by the City of Louisville. You may choose a litter ridden area or be designated an area for you or your group to collect roadside litter. Filled trash bags may be left roadside for the City of Louisville to collect after the event.


The City of Louisville thanks you for your participation.

New Co-Presidents for Friends of the Library

Winston County Friends of the Library President, Theresa Bridges, resigned her position as of March 1, 2022. “It is with much regret and sadness that I am resigning my office,” said Bridges, “but I know the Friends will continue to thrive and grow and aid our library in every possible way.”

Under her six-year tenure, despite the pandemic, a lot was accomplished. Through annual membership drives and book sales, the Friends were able to purchase rocker chairs for the Teen Room, surveillance cameras for inside and outside the library, books for the library, hosted several City and County officials thank-you lunches, hosted brown-bag lunches for author events, hosted a Holiday Drawing event of over $1500 worth of merchandise from local businesses, new plants for the lobby, signage boards and even a cleaning unit for the HVAC unit. Friends was also awarded the Margaret Murry Grant in 2021 by the Mississippi Friends of the Library, which enabled them to purchase Wonderbooks for the library’s children’s collection.

Effective April 1, 2022 Cindy Ward and Marion Jones took over as the new co-presidents of the Friends group.

Ward, a Louisville native with over 30 years of experience in education, recently retired from Mississippi State University as Director of PREP (Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools). She has also worked with three national assessment companies, ETS of Princeton, NJ, Harcourt Assessment and CTB-McGraw-Hill Testing and was Director of Student Assessment for the Mississippi Department of Education. She was also and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Research at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Jones, a Delta native (NittaYuma) who now resides in Louisville, is currently the Mathematics Specialist and District Test Coordinator for the Corinth, MS School District. She has also served as Director of Student Assessment at the Mississippi Department of Education, and Director of Mathematics at Harcourt Assessment and Director of the Statewide Migrant Service Center for PREP.

“We were so sad to lose Theresa as head of our Friends group,” said librarian Beth Edwards. “She has been wonderful to work with and so supportive of the library. We will certainly miss her.” Of the new co-presidents, Edwards said “Cindy and Marion are so excited and are already working on fun ideas for fundraising. I look forward to seeing what they come up with!”