Mississippi Library Association

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The Official Account of the Mississippi Library Association misslib.org

Official proclamation from the Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves, recognizing National Library Week 2026
Registration open MLA Annual Conference 2025 October 16-17 2025 Hattiesburg Convention Center Hattiesburg Mississippi. Photo contains image of Hattiesburg Convention Center.
The Virgia Brocks-Shedd Scholarship is awarded by the Mississippi Library Association Black Caucus Roundtable (BCRT) in honor of the late Virgia Brocks-Shedd who devoted twenty-six years of outstanding service to the Humanities. This award is made annually to a minority student and is a one-time, non-renewable award paid directly to the recipient. The recipient must attend the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg. Learn more: www.misslib.org/virgiabrocks-shedd
The Peggy May/MLA Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for the education of individuals planning to be professional librarians, information specialists, or media specialists in academic, public, school or special libraries. The scholarship award of $1000 will be made each spring to a qualified undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled or officially admitted in the School of Library and Information Science at The University of Southern Mississippi. Learn more: https://www.misslib.org/peggymayscholarship
The Terry Lajaunie Memorial Conference Scholarship is awarded by the Mississippi Library Association’s Public Libraries Section. This award was designed to provide financial assistance of $500 to a member of the Public Library Section toward the cost of attending the Mississippi Library Association Annual Conference. The award recognizes candidates for excellent service to the Mississippi Library Association (MLA) and public librarianship in Mississippi. Learn more: www.misslib.org/lajaunie
Raise your voice. We urge all Mississippians to contact their congressional representatives and speak out in support of library funding. Your voice is essential to protecting the resources that strengthen our communities. Image includes MLA logo, link to official website misslib.org, and hashtag MSLibrariesStrong.
Cutting IMLS Threatens. Cutting IMLS funding would disproportionately harm rual and underserved communities, limiting educational and economic opportunities. It would also restrict libraries' ability to purchase books, maintain technology, attend professional training, and provide essential services that saw over 4.3 million in-person visits in Mississippi last year. These cuts represent more than $600,000 in funds that directly support local libraries through the Grants to States program, which also provides statewide databases for reference services, Talking Book Services for those who are visually impaired, computers and Wi-Fi, eBooks and audiobooks, cataloging, interlibrary loan, collection management, and more. Image includes MLA logo, link to official website www.misslib.org, and hashtag MSLibrariesStrong
Libraries are essential. Libraries receive just 0.003% of the federal budget, yet they provide essential services that benefit all Mississippians. This funding supports early childhood literacy programs, high-speed internet in rural areas, job search assistance, and access to technology. Image includes MLA logo, link to official website misslib.org, and hashtag MSLibrariesStrong.
MLA responds to White House order on IMLS. The Mississippi Library Association opposes the Trump administration's executive order, Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, which includes eliminating "non-statutory components and functions" of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This decision threatens a critical program that provides essential funding for library services and programs across our state. We urge the administration to reconsider and rescind this order to protect these vial resources. Image includes official MLA logo, website link misslib.org, and hastag MSLibrariesStrong.
MLA Press Release — Statement on White House Executive Order Regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services The Mississippi Library Association opposes the Trump administration’s executive order, Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, which includes eliminating "non-statutory components and functions" of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This decision threatens a critical program that provides essential funding for library services and programs across our state. We urge the administration to reconsider and rescind this order to protect these vital resources. Libraries receive just 0.003% of the federal budget, yet they provide essential services that benefit all Mississippians. This funding supports early childhood literacy programs, high-speed internet in rural areas, job search assistance, and access to technology. Cutting IMLS funding would disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities, limiting educational and economic opportunities. It would also restrict libraries’ ability to purchase books, maintain technology, attend professional training, and provide essential services that saw over 4.3 million in-person visits in Mississippi last year. These cuts represent more than $600,000 in funds that directly support local libraries through the Grants to States program, which also provides statewide databases for reference services, Talking Book Services for those who are visually impaired, computers and Wi-Fi, eBooks and audiobooks, cataloging, interlibrary loan, collection management, and more. We urge all Mississippians to contact their congressional representatives and speak out in support of library funding. Your voice is essential to protecting the resources that strengthen our communities. MLA Executive Board, March 2025 www.misslib.org
Photo of librarians and library advocates at the Mississippi State Capitol for Legislative Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Photo of Mississippi State Capitol building with the text "Mississippi Library Association, Legislative Day at the Capitol, Wednesday, March 12, 8-11:30 a.m., State Capitol Rotunda, Jackson, MS"