The Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) recently named 12 public library systems as Star Libraries based on their statistics for fiscal year 2019 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019). The library systems are separated into four categories by expenditures that they report on the annual Public Library Survey, required by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. MLC then compares libraries’ per capita rates in these four areas:
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Mississippi Measures – This is a combination of interlibrary loan use, statewide database use, number of registered users, and items withdrawn.
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Circulation per capita
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Total program attendance per capita
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Public Internet terminal uses per capita
Star Library status is decided by recognizing the three highest scoring libraries in each of the four expenditure categories. Star Library status is awarded to the following libraries for their FY19 statistics:
Under $300,000
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Noxubee County Public Library System
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Covington County Library System
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Pine Forest Regional Library System
$300,000 - $599,999
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Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System
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Pearl River County Library System
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Sunflower County Library System
$600,000 - $999,999
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Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System
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Northeast Regional Library System
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Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library
$1,000,000 and above
This will be Sunflower County Library System's fourth time receiving Star Library Status, having received this award in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The winning libraries received a certificate and a digital Star Library badge to feature on their website. For further information on Mississippi’s Star Library Star program, contact Lacy Ellinwood, MLC Library Development Director, at lellinwood@mlc.lib.ms.us.
The Mississippi Library Commission supports innovative programs and initiatives to strengthen and enhance library services for all Mississippians. The agency is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, with additional funding provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), offering leadership in library services, advocacy, and training for library professionals and paraprofessionals.
Submitted by:
Mary Ann Griffin
Director
Sunflower County Library System