Volume 83, No. 1 Spring 2020 Mississippi Libraries Vol

Volume 83, No. 1 Spring 2020 Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 1

Editorial Staff Contents President’s Page...... 2 Editor Tina Harry The Butterflies Flutter By...... 4 Catalog & Asst. Automation Librarian The University of Mississippi Jamie Stanfield [email protected] Jason Cantu

Jordan Roberts Assistant Editor Tracy Carr SLIS Notes...... 7 Library Services Bureau Director Teresa S. Welsh Mississippi Library Commission [email protected] Libraries at the Capitol...... 9 Tonja Johnson

Copy Editor News Briefs...... 12 Audrey Beach Resource Librarian People in the News...... 14 Mississippi Delta Community College Book Reviews...... 14 [email protected] The Barrens What Would Elvis Think? News Reporter Hali Black First Year Experience Librarian University of Southern Mississippi [email protected]

Book Review Editor Michele Frasier-Robinson Education and Human Sciences Librarian University of Southern Mississippi [email protected]

MLA Reporter Janessa Ullendorf On the cover: Baby Quilt by Libby Thornton, Bay Springs Municipal Library, East MS Regional Circulation/Media Specialist Library Univeristy of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast [email protected]

Indexer Kristin Rogers Electronic Resources & Discovery Librarian Mississippi Libraries is a quarterly, open access publication of the Mississippi Library The University of Mississippi Association (MLA). The articles, reports, and features herein represent viewpoints of [email protected] their respective authors and are not necessarily the official options of the Association. In order to assure the widest possible audience for the works published in Mississippi Libraries, the work is added, by contractual agreement, to one or more EBSCO Publishing databases. Mississippi Libraries is also indexed in Library Literature and Information Science Abstracts. For more informaton, visit http://misslib.org/publications Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 2

2020 Executive Board President’s Page President Mary Beth Applin Happy spring to everyone and District Dean of Learning Resources welcome to new members of our as- Hinds Community College sociation! MLA board and member-

Vice-President ship have been busy this year with Mara Polk a variety of projects. The 2020 MLA Director Advocacy Campaign kicked off this Central Miss. Regional Library System spring and has been active with li- Secretary brarians and staff from all over the Tamara Blackwell state participating in forays to the Reference Services Bolivar Library System state capitol and visits, phone calls and messages to legislators. This Treasurer year’s legislative advocacy cam- Lori Barnes Library Director paign is an effort to ask lawmakers Library Action Day was recognized Jackson-George Regional Library System to 1) provide level funding for the in the House and Senate that day Mississippi Library Commission and goodie bags were assembled Immediate Past President Sarah Crisler-Ruskey (MLC), 2) fully fund MAGNO- and distributed to all of the legisla- Director LIA at $1,350,000, 3) provide the tors to help keep Mississippi librar- Harrison County Public Library System MLC with an additional $395,000 ies on their minds. Legislative visits

ALA Councilor to their budget to offset the loss of will continue through March 18th, Meredith Wickham federal funds from the IMLS, and 4) including Mississippi Library Com- Director provide a 10% increase ($330,000) mission Day at the Capitol on March First Regional Library System to the Personnel Incentive Grant 10th. Thanks to Tonja Johnson, SELA Councilor which provides funds to help hire Hulen Bivens, Paula Bass, Mississip- Ashley S. Dees and retain qualified public library pi libraries and their wonderful staff Research & Instruction Librarian University of Mississippi Libraries professionals. This year’s legislative and volunteers who make our Advo- campaign was organized by Tonja cacy Campaign possible. Section Chairs Johnson, Executive Director of In addition to advocating on be- Association of College and Research Madison County Library System, half of the public libraries in our Libraries (ACRL) Section Chair Kristy Bariola and was themed “Libraries Change state this year, the association is ad- Lives.” The campaign included vocating on behalf of K-12 libraries. Public Library Section Chair photo opportunities for lawmakers In 2012, the Mississippi Department Phillip Carter with their constituents in front of of Education (MDE) removed a vital School Library Section Chair giant postcards of oversized library standard that assured adequate bud- Angela Mullins cards. These cards contained stories get funding for public school librar- Special Libraries Section Chairs from community members of how ies. Since then, many school libraries Stephen Parks the library “Changed Their Lives.” across the state have seen significant Library supporters were provided cuts in library funding. For a school Trustees Section Chair Rickey Jones an additional opportunity to gather library to have a collection of books at the Mississippi State Capitol on that is balanced, diverse, and updat- For more information, visit: February 5th for MLA’s Library Ac- ed, as well as computers and other http://misslib.org/Executive-Board tion Day. Libraries from around the technology that meets the needs of state set up exhibits in the rotunda students, teachers, parents, and the of the Capitol highlighting some of school’s curriculum, school librari- the wonderful library programs and ans must have adequate, consistent, services provided by their libraries. and sustained funding. Therefore, Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 3

MLA has begun a letter campaign $27 mil to $30 mil. Both of these officials. Please check out our Advo- to ask the legislature to require that federally funded programs provide cacy page and support funding pri- MDE reinstate standardized fund- dollars to our public and school li- orities for your libraries by writing ing that ensures EVERY school braries for technology initiatives, your congressman/woman today library receives adequate and sus- literacy programs and professional http://www.misslib.org/advocacy . tained funding to achieve the vision development. On May 4-5, a few National Library Week (NLW) is established by the MDE to provide MLA officers will participate in an- April 19-25 with the theme “Find a world-class educational system in other ALA initiative in Washington, Your Place at the Library.” MLA has Mississippi. D.C. - National Library Legislative a new NLW coordinator this year On the national level, the Ameri- Day to again advocate for this fund- named Tori Hopper. Tori is the Chil- can Library Association (ALA) held ing before the budget is finalized. dren’s Services and Programming its Advocacy Fly-in February 10 and As part of these legislative pushes, Coordinator for Columbus-Lown- 11 and invited chapter presidents MLA has updated its Advocacy web des Public Library and she is actively from around the country to partic- page. New to the page are important working to put together NLW post- ipate in advocacy training. After the facts about Mississippi public librar- ers, activities and other materials training, participants were sched- ies, school libraries, and MAGNO- for MLA members to use for their uled meetings with congressional LIA. In addition, the page provides festivities. Though Tori will be shar- members and/or their staff. I attend- details on the issues MLA is advo- ing those soon, please contact Tori if ed on behalf of MLA and met with cating for on behalf of libraries and you need materials, information or aides of Senators Wicker and Hyde- library professionals across the state. have some ideas you’d like to share. Smith as well as staff from Repre- Most importantly, the page provides As always, I appreciate all of the sentative Thompson’s office. We dis- MLA members and community volunteers who continue to make cussed the important role libraries constituents with a simple way to the library association a success play in the communities in this state contact their state or national legis- and all the members of the libraries and I encouraged their support of 1) lators to encourage them to support across the state – academic, school, increasing funding to the Institute funding for their libraries. Utiliz- public and special – that serve our for Museums and Library Services ing the ALA provided CQ Engage communities and help them be bet- from $189.3 mil to $206.3 mil, and software, constituents can quickly ter places to live, learn and grow. 2) increasing the Innovated Ap- send letters and/or twitter messag- Elections for MLA office will be held proaches to Literacy funding from es on specific issues to their elected this March/April. Be sure to vote!

To join MLA, or to renew your membership: http://misslib.org/membership 2020 MLA Executive Board Minutes: http://misslib.org/page-1860567 Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 4 The Butterflies Flutter By at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park Campus Colossal Waystation

Jamie Stanfield the use of herbicides and pesticides like this and decided to apply for a Science, Nursing & Health Librarian on the remaining monarch friendly grant to assist with these costs. Rob- Jason Cantu plants hinders healthy larvae and erts and Stanfield met with the Gulf Architect & Space Planner for the subsequent butterfly growth, if the Park Physical Plant Director Pam Gulf Park Campus caterpillar hatches at all. Smith and Architect & Space Plan- Jordan Roberts Graduate Student In July of 2018, University of ner for the Gulf Park Campus, Jason Southern Miss graduate student and Cantu, to pitch their idea for the University of Southern Mississippi library assistant Jordan Roberts ap- project. They discussed the letters of proached Jamie Stanfield, Science, support obtained from student or- Each year, monarch butterflies Nursing and Health Librarian at the ganizations, other students and uni- migrate south from Southeastern Gulf Coast Library, about creating versity faculty to show student and Canada and portions of the North- a small monarch butterfly garden university employee interest. They eastern United States through the and waystation just outside of the discussed plans to apply for a grant Gulf Coast states to Mexico, follow- library. Their first plan was to gauge from the Southern Miss Fund to ing the warmer climates as winter student, staff, and faculty interest. fund the project. Smith and Cantu begins. Each spring, monarchs re- Did people want a butterfly garden expressed interest in a monarch turn to the Gulf Coast states, where on campus? Would it be of value garden and waystation and offered they lay eggs in milkweed plants, to students? To find out about stu- generous assistance. With revised native plants to these states. The dent interest, Roberts and Stanfield locations for the butterfly garden, larvae grow, hatch, and depend on reached out to organizations such Roberts and Stanfield submitted the milkweed for shelter and nutrients as Beta Iota Omicron, known as the grant. for growth. Adult butterflies depend BIO Club. The BIO Club promote Though it initially came as a dis- on nectar plants for food, and while ecological and biological issues af- appointment when Stanfield and some forms of milkweed bloom fecting our communities. The Stu- Roberts found out they did not re- flowers, there are many other nec- dent Government Association also ceive the grant, the Gulf Park Phys- tar plants native to Mississippi adult became involved. These organiza- ical Plant offered to help fund the monarchs use for nourishment. In tions spoke with students across project by replanting existing beds the Gulf Coast states, monarch pop- campus. They found out that many with organic plants and maintain ulations are suffering due to indus- students liked the idea of having a the beds without the use of herbi- trialization and agricultural expan- butterfly garden, with a walkway cides or pesticides, which can retard sions which remove the milkweed, and benches allowing for student or kill growing larvae. The revised necessary for monarch sustainabil- relaxation in the garden areas. Rob- plans took a small butterfly gar- ity. Cities across Mississippi, and erts and Stanfield also spoke with den project to a colossal monarch other southern states, mow or pull students, faculty, and staff. They waystation, providing thousands native milkweed in favor of other found faculty expressed interest in of square feet as a monarch refuge landscape designs. Because mon- possible research opportunities for and reproduction grounds. Through arch lay their eggs on milkweed and students that could arise with this further collaboration with faculty larvae must eat it to survive, the project, including the Vice Provost from biology and geography, be- decimation of Mississippi’s milk- at Gulf Park. cause a monarch waystation holds weed has effectively devastated the Roberts and Stanfield understood the potential for original research by monarch population. Additionally, the costs associated with a project both graduate and undergraduate Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 5 students and organizations across landscaping events at the library can campus, Roberts and Stanfield or- be fun, and participants feel they are ganized the University of Southern stakeholders. Nurseries will often Miss Planting Committee (hereafter donate seeds and sometimes plants USMPC). in support of such endeavors to help The USMPC created by-laws maintain the ecological balance. For and became a standing committee school and public libraries, children on the campus. Equal representa- can plant seeds in cups as part of an tion was a high priority to Roberts activity, or perhaps during a read- and Stanfield, so the committee has ing program about nature. In aca- equal representation from 3 facul- demic libraries, biology labs may ty, 3 students and 3 staff members. incorporate planting seeds as part The USMPC created social media of lab assignments. Once seedlings accounts to maximize exposure and are ready to plant, family planting engage not only university folks, days are a fun way to give all ages but those in the community. The a sense of pride, and they become vision of the committee was inclu- stakeholders in their libraries and sion. They sought to develop many often become stronger advocates for Photograph by Jason Cantu unique waystation areas across the the library. Monarch Maintenance is a day designed to hand weed and do 52-acre campus, inviting both the contain truly beautiful native plants, needed maintenance to the gardens. USM community and everyone in shrubs, and flowers. Families, students, faculty, and just the surrounding communities, in- Further flower and plant bed re- about anyone in the community can cluding tourists. organization followed as Cantu cre- easily assist. The ideas for involving Committee representatives met ated plans designed to certify over library patrons are unlimited. with university and student orga- 16,800 square feet of organic beds To illustrate an example of a small nizations to create events giving all certified by monarch waystation monarch friendly garden, notice the involved a sense of ownership and organizations. Dwarf Holly, Gold Lofty Return plans created by Jason a stake in the success of the waysta- Blood Flower Milkweed, and Black- Cantu for the Gulf Park monarch tion. For example, Monarch Mad- eyed Susan are just a few of the many beds. Select an outdoor area that ness, held in spring 2019 for the first plants in strategically designed beds receives at least six to eight hours time, invited everyone to meet at the with the life cycle and migration of sunlight near areas with small greenhouse to plant organic flow- path of the monarch butterfly in trees or large shrubs. When select- ers, plants, and shrubs across cam- mind. With this feat, the Gulf Park ing plants, choose a variety of native pus in freshly prepared beds. These campus became one of the largest species that will bloom throughout plants, carefully designed by Jason monarch waystations in the state, the growing season (both annu- Cantu, accommodate the life cycle the largest on the Mississippi Coast, al and perennial) plants. Focus on of not only the monarch butterfly and achieved Monarch Waystation plants that will support every stage but other butterflies and pollinators status/certification with Monarch of the butterfly’s life cycle. Monarchs as well. The first Monarch Mad- Watch and the North American will lay their eggs on a single milk- ness was a huge success. Nurseries Butterfly Association. weed plant that they will eat during donated organic plants, biologists Creating a small monarch way- the larval stage. Once Monarchs grew over 100 milkweed seedlings station is not difficult. In fact, li- emerge from the pupa stage, they to plant, and physical plant land- braries across Mississippi might will dine on nectar plants within the scape specialists prepared the beds find all aspects of their community butterfly garden. using no chemicals at all. These beds members interested in designing, Regarding plant spacing, place are not only organic and will remain creating, and maintaining a ded- colorful host and nectar-rich plants free of herbicides and pesticides, but icated area. Creating planting or Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 6 close enough to each other to pro- the pests, or make your garden at- area, a few plants, a few shrubs vide the larva with some protection, tractive to pest predators like lady- butterflies can hide in, some eager but far enough apart to prevent bugs and birds. To reduce weeds hands, and a small outdoor space. overcrowding. Place taller plants in your garden, include a layer of Many items may be donated or at the back of the garden and start mulch that will also help with keep- purchased at discount prices. The adding smaller plants toward the ing your butterfly garden moist. cost of creating a library monarch front or at garden edges. Including Monarch watch events are espe- waystation can be surprisingly shrubs may also help, as they can cially fascinating when thousands low. However, the payoff in terms offer shelter as well as food for the of butterflies migrate through the of patron participation and rec- caterpillars. Again, avoid pesticides area. Organizations across the coast ognizing they are stakeholders in and herbicides that will harm the create monarch centered library their library is genuinely priceless. butterflies and host plants. Should parties, events and other activities. you need to control pests, hand-pick A startup garden requires a sunlit Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 7 SLIS Notes Teresa S. Welsh 1. Collection-Centered Quan- • Content analysis – “A Content Professor and Director titative Assessment Analysis of Cinderella Illustrated School of Library and Information Science • Checklist method - the research- Storybooks Housed in the de Grum- The University of Southern Mississippi er compares a portion of a library’s mond Collection” (Smith, 2012) Greetings, dear scholars. Have collection to a curated list of titles found that 71 Cinderella illustrated you ever conducted a collection covering the same subject (Nisonger, storybooks in the collection includ- analysis? There are two basic types of 2008). “A Collection Analysis of the ed an animal helper character rath- analyses - materials-centered, such African-American Poetry Holdings er than a fairy godmother and most as determining how many materials in the de Grummond Collection” of those were classified as Asian or in a collection support a particular (Heidelberg, 2013) used poet lists for multicultural stories. curriculum i.e. collection strength the Harlem Renaissance and Black 3. User-Centered Quantita- (White, 2008), or use-centered such Arts Movement and found that the tive Assessment collection included all of the poets as analysis of circulation statistics to • Circulation analysis - “Mono- on the Harlem Renaissance list but determine items that were most and graph Circulation Over a 15-Year only 48% of the poets on the Black least checked-out (Crowley-Low, Period in a Liberal Arts University” Arts Movement list. 2002). (Cheung, Chung, & Nesta, 2011) Ciszek and Young (2010) sub-di- • Comparative method - “A Com- found that about one-third of book vides these two basic types of col- parative Analysis of the Religious acquisitions in the study were not lection analysis into quantitative or Non-Fiction Collections of a Pub- checked out and that circulation qualitative methodology: lic Library and a Christian Church within the first few years of a book’s 1. Collection-centered quantita- Library” (Bolton, 2014) compared acquisition was a good predictor of tive assessments such as those the non-fiction religious books in future circulation. the collections of a public library that compare one collection to • Citation analysis - “Citation versus a church library. The study another or to a list of recom- Analysis of Masters Theses as a Tool found that the public library had mended books or growth of the for Collection Development in Ac- seven times the number of religious collection over time ademic Libraries” (Gunasekera, non-fiction books than the church 2. Collection-centered qualitative 2013) analyzed the format, relative library. assessments such as examina- age, and journal titles cited by grad- tion of the condition of items in 2. Collection-Centered Qual- uate students. a collection or a content analy- itative Assessment 4. User-Centered Qualitative sis of a collection • Condition assessment – “Condi- Assessment 3. User-centered quantitative tion Survey of the Circulating Col- “Beyond the Scanned Image: assessments of usage such as lection: Cook Library, University A Needs Assessment of Scholarly circulation or citation statistics of Southern Mississippi” (Reinke, Users of Digital Collections” (Green 4. User-centered qualitative as- 2013) assessed a random sample of & Courtney, 2015) analyzed in- sessments of user needs, experi- books in a university collection for terviews and qualitative responses ences, and perceptions such as age, types and condition of cover from workshops to determine how focus group or interviews. material, types of physical damage, digital collections were used and paper acidity level, and degree of how they could be enhanced. Below are some examples of each paper brittleness. More than half the type of collection analysis to inform books in the study had some form of Mixed Methodologies and inspire you to conduct an anal- damage; about 80% contained acidic • Citation analysis (user-centered ysis or assessment of your library’s paper and 21% had already become quantitative) and surveys, interviews collection. embrittled. (user-centered qualitative) - “Moving Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 8

Beyond Citation Analysis: How list of the top ten challenged books Bibliography Bolton, T.C. (2014). A comparative analysis of the Surveys and Interviews Enhance, with LGBTQ content to determine religious non-fiction collections of a public library Enrich, and Expand Your Research the strength of the collections of and a Christian church library. SLIS Connecting, Findings” (deVries, Kelly, & Storm, those materials in public libraries in 3(1): 47-68. Burke, M. & Vredevoogd, G. (2019). Let’s get tech- 2010) used citation analysis of fac- Alabama. nical--holistic collection assessment. Against the ulty publications as well as faculty • User-centered, quantitative - “Ac - Grain, 31(5), 94–95. Cheung, S., Chung, T., & Nesta, F. (2011). Monograph surveys and interviews to determine cessing the Collection of a Large circulation over a 15-year period in a liberal the effectiveness of library collec- Public Library: An Analysis of arts university. Library Management, 32(6/7), 419–434. tions and services. OPAC Use” (Waller, 2010) is an Ciszek, M., & Young, C. L. (2010). Diversity col- • Citation analysis (user-centered analysis of transaction logs of users lection assessment in large academic libraries. Collection Building, 29(4), 154–161. quantitative) and collection analysis of the online catalog of a large pub- Crawley-Low, J. V. (2002). Collection analysis (collection-centered quantitative) – lic library. techniques used to evaluate a graduate-level tox- icology collection. Journal of the Medical Library “Serials Use in Post-Graduates’ Dis- Association, 90(3), 310–316. sertations of Pharmaceutical Scienc- School Library Collec- deVries, S., Kelly, R., & Storm, P. M. (2010). Moving beyond citation analysis: How surveys and inter- es: Collection Building by Citation tion Analysis views enhance, enrich, and expand your research Analysis” (Nagaraja & Prashanth, findings. College & Research Libraries, 71(5), • Collection-centered, quantita- 456–466. 2015) analyzed a university library’s tive and qualitative - “Characters of Green, H. E., & Courtney, A. (2015). Beyond the resources cited by pharmaceutical scanned image: A needs assessment of scholarly Color: A Content Analysis of Pic- users of digital collections. College & Research science students in order to identify ture Books in a Virgin Islands Ele- Libraries, 76(5), 690–707. what frequently-cited sources were mentary School Library” (Brissett, Gunasekera, C. (2013). Citation analysis of masters’ missing from the library’s collection. theses as a tool for collection cevelopment in ac- 2012) examined the geographic ademic libraries. Journal of University Librarians You may have noticed that the setting as well as the ethnicity of the Association of Sri Lanka, 17(2), 96–111. Heidelberg, S. J. (2013). A collection analysis of the above articles, save the Bolton arti- main characters of storybooks in a African-American poetry holdings in the de cle (2014), focused on academic li- school library collection then com- Grummond Collection. SLIS Connecting, 2(1), 43-56. braries or special collections. There pared it with ethnicity of the student Kelly, M. (2015). An evidence-based methodology to are also articles that focus specifi- population. facilitate public library non-fiction collection development. Evidence Based Library & Information cally on the collections of public and • Collection-centered quantita- Practice, 10(4), 40–61. school libraries. tive and qualitative – “Assessing Minor, N. (2016). Assessing the graphic novel collections in Northeast Mississippi high schools: A the Graphic Novel Collections in collection analysis. SLIS Connecting, 5(1): 77-84. Public Library Collec- Northeast Mississippi High Schools: Nagaraja, A., & Prashanth, A. B. (2015). Serials use in post graduates’ dissertations of pharmaceutical tion Analysis A Collection Analysis” (Minor, sciences: Collection building by citation analysis. • Collection-centered quantitative 2016) examined the graphic nov- Collection Building, 34(3), 94–101. els in six high school library col- Nisonger, T. E. (2008). Use of the checklist method comparative - “An Evidence Based for content evaluation of full-text databases: An Methodology to Facilitate Public Li- lections, including genre, gender investigation of two databases based on citations of the main characters, as well as from two journals. Library Resources & Technical brary Non-fiction Collection Devel- Services, 52(1), 4–17. opment (Kelly, 2015) used World- number (and percentage) of fiction Reinke, S. D. (2012). Condition survey of the circulat- and non-fiction graphic novels on ing collection: Cook Library, University of South- Cat collection data of eight public ern Mississippi. SLIS Connecting, 1(2): 14-36. libraries’ non-fiction holdings to YALSA’s “Great Graphic Novels for Sheffield, S. (2017). An assessment of frequently chal- Teens” lists. lenged LGBTQ books in Alabama public libraries. compare against OCLC Conspectus The Southeastern Librarian, 65(2):1-14. subject categories to determine the Smith, K. (2012). A content analysis of Cinderella Feedback and suggestions are illustrated storybooks housed in the de Grum- strength of coverage of the libraries’ mond Collection. SLIS Connecting, 1(1): 22-45. collections. welcome – send to [email protected] or Waller V. Accessing the collection of a large public [email protected] Visit www. library: An analysis of OPAC use. LIBRES: Library • Collection-centered quantita- & Information Science Research Electronic Journal, tive checklist - “An Assessment of usm.edu/slis for additional infor- 20(1):1-27. Frequently Challenged LGBTQ mation, email [email protected] or call White, H. (2008). Better than brief tests: Coverage power tests of collection strength, College & Books in Alabama Public Librar- 601.266.4228 to speak with one of Research Libraries, 69(1), 155–174. ies” (Sheffield, 2017) used the ALA our great graduate assistants. Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 9 Libraries at the Capitol Tonja Johnson important work done in our librar- information, culture, opportuni- MLA Legislative Chair ies. While interacting with children ty and so much more at their local in the youth services section, I was library. Mississippi libraries truly On February 5, 2020, librarians very encouraged to see so many state change lives. from across the state gathered at leaders engage with and discuss the the Capitol in Jackson to showcase work done in public libraries.” —◆— the value and impact of Mississippi The event gave librarians and li- libraries. As part of the Mississippi Photograph captions, page 10 brary supporters the opportunity Library Association’s “Day at the to visit with legislators and discuss Capitol” libraries staged a pop-up 1) Children particapte in activities MLA’s legislative agenda for 2021. library highlighting computer and in the pop-up childrens area. Those asks are: technology services, story time, teen 2) Becky Bowen, Children’s Librar- Level Funding for the Mississippi STEM/STEAM programs as well as ian with Madison Public Library, Library Commission plus: adult programming such as work- reads Curious George assisted by force development in the Capitol • $330,000 (10%) increase in the Beverly Tarpley to a group of kids, rotunda. Personnel Incentive Grant (cur- February 5th at the Capital in Jack- One section of the rotunda fea- rently $3,300,000) son, MS. tured a “computer lab” with a 3D • Additional $350,000 for the 3) Children particapte in activities printer from Canton Public Li- MAGNOLIA databases for total in the pop-up childrens area. brary’s Digital Innovation Lab. The fu ding of $1,350,000 4) Becky Bowen, Children’s Librar- printer produced Mississippi key • $395,000 to MLC to restore loss ian with Madison Public Library, chains while laptops displayed free of Federal funds reads Curious George assisted by services and resources including the Beverly Tarpley to a group of kids, MAGNOLIA databases, language Lori Barnes, Director of the Jack- February 5th at the Capital in Jack- learning softwares, SAT and ACT son-George Regional Library Sys- son, MS. test prep and job skill development. tem summed up the day this way: 5)Bethany Carlisle, Youth Service Across the rotunda the Waynes- “I feel that setting up the pop-up Coordinator with Jackson George Re- boro-Wayne County Library dis- library in the Capitol was not only gional Library sings along with Becky cussed their award winning Laun- very effective, but it allowed our Bowen and Beverly Tarpley from dry and Literacy program while the elected officials to see firsthand the Madison County Library System children’s area featured a lively story tremendous impact public librar- with a group of kids at the MLA Day time for local school children led by ies make on their constituents’ lives at the Capital on February 5th. Jackson-George Regional Library every day. The truth is we do those System’s Youth Services Director things and so much more; our value Bethany Carlisle and Youth Services is immeasurable when you consid- Librarian Becky Bowen from the er the affect we have on the lives of Photographers: Madison County Library System Mississippians!” Braley Reed followed by Harry Potter themed Public libraries embody the val- PIO/Asst. System Admin STEM/STEAM programming pre- ues of democracy by offering free Evanne Flanders sented by youth services staff from Special Needs Programming and access to knowledge, and they play Outreach Specialist the Jackson Hinds Library System. a crucial role in connecting peo- Bethany Carlisle said, “Partic- ple not only to a wide range of re- Madison County Library System ipating in the pop-up library at sources, but also to their communi- MLA Day at the capitol was a won- ties and their best selves. Everyday, derful opportunity to showcase the Mississippians find new skills, new Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 10 Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 11

1) Hulen Bivens, Mississippi Library Commission’s Executive Director talking with Senator Sollie B. Norwood from District 29, Hinds County and Jenniffer Stephenson, new Assistant Director for Public Services, First Regional Library. 2) Magnolia information board.

3) Jill Ford, House Representative, speaks with Tonja Johnson, Director of the Madison County Library System, about the need for funding of the Personnel Incident Grant (PIG) to hire qualified staff at the library systems’ in the state. 4) Greg Haney, House Representative, speaks with librarians. Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 12 News Briefs

Hali Black Submitted by Humanities Research Council grant First Year Experience Librarian Karen Rowell from the University of Sheffield has University of Southern Mississippi Assistant to Director & Special Events made it possible for Southern Miss Coordinator/Children’s Book Festival Coordinator to not only share Mississippi’s culi- USM’S 2020 CHILDREN’S The University of Southern Mississippi nary past with Mississippians, but BOOK FESTIVAL, EZRA JACK KEATS AWARDS CEREMONY —◆— to make this legacy available to the world. Ultimately, this project will CANCELLED USM LIBRARIES RECEIVES The steering committee forGRANT TO DIGITIZE AND help to demonstrate that the local is the upcoming 53rd annual Fay B. TRANSCRIBE MISSISSIPPI global and the global is local,” said Kaigler Children’s Book Festival re- COMMUNITY COOKBOOKS Dr. Haley. gretfully informs you that the festi- Jennifer Brannock, the Curator To view some of the digitized and val and all associated activities are of Rare Books & Mississippiana at transcribed cookbooks, search the cancelled. Southern Miss, and Dr. Andrew P. Digital Collections at https://digi- Out of an abundance of caution Haley, Southern Miss history pro- talcollections.usm.edu/. For more and for the safety of festival partici- fessor and food historian, are recip- information about the Mississip- pants, the committee made the deci- ients of an £8,000 ($10,400) grant pi community cookbook collec- sion to cancel the festival due to the from the Arts & Humanities Re- tion and activities, contact Jennifer ongoing threat of COVID-19 (coro- search Council via the University of Brannock at Jennifer.Brannock@ navirus). No participants have been Sheffield (UK). The grant supported usm.edu or 601.266.4347. diagnosed with COVID-19, nor are the digitization and transcription of Mississippi community cookbooks Submitted by they showing symptoms; however, Jennifer Brannock a number of speakers and partici- with the final products added to Curator of Rare Books & Mississippiana pants have indicated that they will Southern Miss’ Digital Collections. The University of Southern Mississippi be unable to travel to the festival. This grant supported the ongoing —◆— We understand this is a major in- work focusing on the Mississippi community cookbook collection at MGCCC LIBRARY CELEBRATES convenience to festival-goers and a BLACK HISTORY MONTH loss to the City of Hattiesburg from the University of Southern Missis- WITH STUDENT ART an economic and tourism stand- sippi, which includes almost 1,000 The fine-art students of Missis- point, but the health and safety of cookbooks produced by Mississippi sippi Gulf Coast Community Col- all involved is being prioritized. We churches, woman’s clubs, and other lege (MGCCC) Jefferson Davis hope all of those who are impacted organizations as fundraising tools. campus in Gulfport, Mississippi by this cancellation will understand The Brookhaven Cook Book, pub- created works of art in conjunction and respect this decision. lished in 1904, is the earliest book with the Black History Month cel- Please visit the Fay B. Kaigler in the collection to date, but the col- ebrations taking place throughout Children’s Book Festival web- lection is still growing. The funding the campus. Student paintings and site at https://www.usm.edu/chil- also supports Dr. Haley’s Mississip- drawings featuring famous Afri- drens-book-festival for informa- pi Community Cookbook Project, can-Americans throughout history tion on registration return options, a digital humanities initiative that were placed on display in the Jeffer- or contact registration coordinator looks at cookbooks for the surpris- son Davis Library throughout the Adrienne Patterson at Adrienne. ing insights into the ways Missis- month of February 2020. [email protected] with questions sippians ate and how they thought Visual Arts faculty member, Ceci- regarding previous registration. about their hometowns, state, and ly Cummings stated, “The students even the world. of the classes, Painting II and Draw- “Participating in the Arts and ing II, are studying portraiture this Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 13

I wanted to capture as much of Jimi’s In her session “Graphic Medicine,” essence in this watercolor portrait as Jamie Stanfield spoke of her work in possible,” Dingman said. the emerging genre of graphic medi- In regards to the partnership be- cine and health literacy and covered tween MGCCC’s Fine Arts Depart- the benefits and potential pitfalls of ment and the Jefferson Davis Li- adding graphic medicine materials brary, Cecily Cummings stated “The to library collections. Jamie Olson library has been a great advocate for presented “American Sign Language the arts, displaying works by stu- for Librarians,” in which partici- dents year-round.” pants were instructed in basic signs that are helpful for those working Submitted by with library patrons. Aimee McGe- Shake DeLozier hee guided participants through a Librarian Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College dialogue on common accessibility Painting by Morgan Dingman issues and led group activities which MGCCC student painting featuring Jimi —◆— Hendrix sought to simulate the difficulties MAKING IT WORK: ACCESSI- that special needs populations may BILITY IN THE LIBRARY experience in library settings. semester, and Black History Month The Mississippi Gulf Coast Com- Conference participants enjoyed has been the perfect opportunity for munity College (MGCCC) Library, breakfast and interactive presen- them to practice drawing the face”. in partnership with the Universi- tations, which included games, Cummings added that students ty of Southern Mississippi (USM) questions, and group activities. Fa- were also able to share personal ex- Gulf Coast Library hosted a half cilitator and host Shake DeLozi- periences with some of the subjects, day mini conference on January 24, er, MGCCC Librarian stated, “We stating that “after seeing a classmate’s 2020 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. The really hope to make this an annual drawing of Malcolm X, another stu- event, Making it Work: Accessibility event. We want to continue to fos- dent revealed that he had known in the Library, was open to all library ter collaboration between all the Malcolm when he was a young man. staff and faculty and featured three Gulf Coast libraries.” Regarding the Though he [Malcolm] is best known guest presenters: Jamie Stanfield, mini-conference attendance, Jamie as a passionate human rights activ- Science, Nursing and Health Librar- Stanfield noted, “It was great to ist, the student remembered him as ian and Assistant Professor at USM see so many staff members attend, quiet and reflective.” Gulf Coast Library; Jamie Olson, and the audience engagement was Fine Arts student Morgan Ding- Interpreter Training Technology awesome!” man of Gulfport chose to portray instructor at MGCCC and religious Jimi Hendrix. “I wanted to have programs director at the de l’Epee Submitted by a very colorful experience for the Deaf Center; and Aimee McGehee, Jamie Stanfield viewer. I approached painting this Student Support Coordinator at Science, Nursing and Health Librarian piece with an extremely delicate MGCCC. The University of Southern Mississippi hand and an airy layering of colors. Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 14 People in the News

Hali Black University of Mississippi Libraries. Servant Award during the banquet. First Year Experience Librarian John also has 12 years of experience In addition to having served on the University of Southern Mississippi with the Lafayette County and Ox- Board of the Mississippi Library As- Hinds Community ford Public Library. He earned his sociation, Brewer has served as the College Libraries has M.L.I.S. from the University of Al- director of the Waynesboro-Wayne hired John Sanders as abama in August 2018. County Library facility since 1993, the Serials and Refer- —◆— earning the library numerous state ence Librarian at the and national awards. Brewer was McClendon Library on the Ray- The Waynesboro-Wayne County honored not only for her dedication mond Campus. Prior to joining the Library staff were recently honored to continuous library improvements, HCC team on December 2, 2019, at the Waynesboro Lions Club An- but also her extensive contributions Sanders spent 3 ½ years working in nual Banquet in December 2019. to civic organizations and quality of the Interlibrary Loan and Research Library Director Patsy Brewer was life programs in Wayne County and & Instruction Departments at the presented with the Lions Club’s Civil the surrounding community.

Book Reviews

Michele Frasier-Robinson winning Mississippi author who the lovelorn Ray Sanders who loves Education and Human Sciences Librarian uses the South as a backdrop for bikes and his coworker in the story University of Southern Mississippi many of his stories, such as the “Pit “Flag Day.” The titular work “The Stop,” which takes place on the way Barrens” is not published elsewhere Floyd, John M. to Starkville. and is a treat for people who like The Barrens How short are the stories? Some magical realism and a happy ending. Brandon, MS: Dogwood Press, of them are very brief, such as “Pre- This book is recommended for li- 2018. 352 pp. $24.95 (hardcover) monition” and “Flu Season,” while braries that have short story collec- others, such as “Rooster Creek” are tions, Mississippi author collections, In our increasingly time-strapped lengthier. or patrons who like a quirky sus- society, short stories are so easy to There are thirty stories in The Bar- penseful mystery with great char- read and recommend to library pa- rens, most of which have been pre- acterization, dialogue, and a twist at trons. Since all of the characters and viously published in magazines and the end. all the pieces of the plot in a sin- books like Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery gle short story can be discovered Magazine and Horror Library, Vol. 6. Maya Berry in minutes instead of hours, most Digital Librarian The stories are typically suspenseful people will be able to squeeze in at Northwest Mississippi Community College and usually have a mystery to solve. least one in a day. Good short sto- They also often come with a sur- —◆— ries can be tricky to pull off without prise ending. Although the works Lowe, Johnny, ed. a skilled writer who can set a scene are short, Floyd is able to quickly in paragraphs instead of pages, but What Would Elvis Think? introduce settings and characters, we have one in John M. Floyd and Clinton, Mississippi: Clinton such as the criminal Elton Spivey his compilation of short stories, The Ink-Slingers, 2019. 227 pp. $16.00 who is determined to make a clean Barrens. (paperback) getaway after breaking out of pris- John M. Floyd is an award- on in the story “Crow Mountain” to Mississippi Libraries Vol. 83 No. 1 • Spring 2020 Page 15

Mississippians in Mississippi is heat? Lottie Brent Boggan’s “The new beginnings that often follow the simple compelling connection Crossing” watches the Vaseline in grief. A student from Hattiesburg of all the narratives and characters young Frank’s hair melting from an decides to go back to medical school in the anthology What Would Elvis especially hot Mississippi sun, while after a tragedy sets him off track. Think? Lowe effectively blends an Brent Hearn’s “The Stars and the Another woman literally regains assortment of writers with solid Saints” counts the days to its tragic her voice with her husband’s death. literary experience mixed in with finale by marking the slow decom- In two other stories, very different a dash of serious potential, while position of a dead dog in the road- married women seem to find per- cover artist Gary Walter’s signature side heat. sonal freedom by the deaths of their vision of a typical snip of Highway Several stories touch on the deep abusive husbands. 61 sets the tone for all things Missis- bonds formed in the typical Mis- A few stories especially convey sippi right off the bat. sissippi church. The small church the memories and nostalgia import- The collection roams through a funeral of Kyle Summerall’s “What ant for any Mississippi tale. One broad range of genres and an im- if We Were Strangers” portrays the daughter recollects fishing with her pressive number of places in the familial ties that bind church mem- father, while another tells about Magnolia State. Chuck McIntosh’s bers across generations and congre- a horrifying drunken drive with “The Tenant” thrusts accountant gations. Wendy Harms, in “Home her dad in a MGB convertible. A Mark Capers into a pulp fiction-like Free,” demonstrates the isolation a grandfather and his granddaugh- setting in Tupelo. Janet Taylor-Per- church congregation can cause in ter remember past experiences as ry’s “Your Life Is Not Over” pulls on a community, as well as its equally they try to cope with the threat of themes from her Raiford Chronicles powerful capacity for love and be- bad news. John Floyd’s light-hearted series to portray the grief of a strug- longing. Judy H. Tucker’s “Joy in the final story (memory? tall tale? you gling teacher desperate to make a Morning” reminds the reader that decide) ends the collection with a difference in an underserved high joy comes from faith and patience. wink and a nod. school in Yazoo City. Wendy Barn- Some stories are tales of grief. A With authors and characters from well takes us on a “Roadtrip” to the recently widowed man navigates his just about every part of the state, if Delta, where people wear shorts in first holiday season without his wife you live in Mississippi, you will find October while a peacock screams at of many years. Another story sees one of your neighbors in this book. a poolside funeral party, and Janet a woman throwing the memories For this reason, What Would Elvis Brown’s traditionally southern ghost of her ex-husband off the side of a Think? is recommended for all Mis- story “Ghosts and Grits” details the cruise ship. One women loses her sissippi libraries, especially any with struggles of a household who seem husband in Afghanistan, while an- Mississippi fiction collections. to have brought an unwelcome oth- other man loses himself in Vietnam. erworldly guest to their home. One man grieves for a love he never Judith Hilkert And what story collection about quite had by serenading a young Technical Services Coordinator Hinds Community College Mississippi would be complete with- woman’s grave with an Elvis song. out mention of the sticky southern And some stories focus on the