Messages from the MLA President:

Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Center for Disease Control recommends that the best way to slow the spread of this virus is to engage in work from home whenever possible, avoid gatherings, and avoid discretionary travel. So we believe the safest course of action, both for our employees and our community members, is to stay home.  It is important for libraries to do their part to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and protect our staff and communities.  We encourage library administrators and Boards of Trustees to pay full wages and benefits including health coverage to library staff while libraries are closed.

I again commend everyone for your immense dedication and service to the communities you serve.  Please be safe and stay well. Let us know how we can help.

Sincerely,

Mary Beth Applin

President, Mississippi Library Association

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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear Mississippi Library Community,
I wanted to send out a note of support to each of you during this unprecedented and trying period of time. I hope everyone is faring well. I just wanted you to know that your Library Association is here to help in any way possible so please let us know if there are ways that we can assist you.

Our communities rely on our services and resources in times of crisis.  Closing our doors is certainly antithetical to our nature.  But during this unusual event, it is important that each of us implements what best serves our unique community - whether that be temporarily closing our doors or improvising creative measures to continue certain services. I urge each library to communicate with their local health officials who can advise on the level of transmission in the community and help decide the appropriate strategies and precautions that will keep your library staff and patrons safest.

Libraries play a critical role in helping patrons discern factual information from misinformation.  During this confusing and fast changing pandemic, it’s more important than ever for us to be able to share key resources to help our communities stay well informed.  As part of that effort, MLA is currently working on a web page of resources for its members that will include a listing of coronavirus informational sites, library closures, precautions libraries are taking, and more.

If you would like information posted to this MLA site concerning your library’s closure or precautions, please send us the information through this short form and we will post it as soon as we can.

MLA will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and continue to share information and resources as needed. We welcome any ideas or suggestions for anything we might overlook. As we move forward, I’d like to thank each of you for your immense dedication and service to the communities you serve.

Sincerely,
Mary Beth Applin
President, Mississippi Library Association