Mendenhall Public Library: Home of Mississippi's Tallest Totem Pole

 

According to an article by RoadsideAmerica.com dated 2015, the tallest totem pole in Mississippi is located at the Mendenhall Public Library. The totem pole was a project by local artist and woodcarver, Johnny Knight. Before his death in 2003 he donated the totem pole to his hometown and the town decided that its home would be the Mendenhall Public Library. He also built an amazing tree house known as The Johnny Knight Tree House. You really should see it.

When I was tasked with writing an article about the Mendenhall Library, I knew that I wanted to include the totem pole in my article, after all, it's kind of hard to miss. As I was looking for information on the totem pole and about the library in general, I found an old scrapbook full of old articles. There are articles from libraries all across the state, so looking for information about the Mendenhall Library was interesting. 

Now I could not find any information on the original opening of the Mendenhall Library. I did see in one article I found, dated 1961 that stated the library started out in the "old grammar room in the school building" before being moved to "a small building located across from the courthouse." Is that the location in the picture? I'm not sure, I can't tell you when the article pictured below was written or when the picture below was taken, or if that is even the building mentioned in the article. As I looked through the scrapbook of gold, the historians that put it together forgot about adding the dates of the articles or the location of the pictures. We have all done it, clipped an article for a paper or magazine about family or friends, never thinking to include the details, such as the who, why, where, what, or when. They had the right idea of preserving history but as we age and the historians of the community go on, we forget the details of the stories we think that the stories will live on long after we are gone. Sometimes they do live on but the details change. I never knew the library was ever located anywhere other than where it is today. I was born and raised in Simpson County and for as long as I can remember the library has always been here. We will get to that in a minute.

Something else I discovered while looking for information about the library was the use of bookmobiles. Did you know that the Mississippi Library Commission also had a bookmobile that delivered books to the libraries in the state? I only know this now because of the scrapbook and the articles that I found. I can't tell you when the bookmobiles were in service or for how long. 

I can tell you that the library has been holding summer programs for the area's children for a long time. In the article below the library was part of the Capital Area Regional Library System. I do know from the history of CMRLS that in 1952, the Board of Supervisors in Hinds, Rankin, Scott, and Simpson established the Capital Area Regional Library System. In 1986, the Central Mississippi Regional Library System was born serving the residents of Rankin, Scott, Smith, and Simpson.

Eventually, the library outgrew its location and had to find a forever home. According to the plaque on the wall outside the door of the library that happened in 1975. With funds from the City of Mendenhall and State Funds via the Mississippi Library Commission, the brand-new Mendenhall Library was constructed at its current location (I also found the original blueprints). The city has added a community center to the rear of the library and renovated the inside as the needs and services of the library have changed over time. 

Life is all about change. 

 I was born and raised right here in Simpson County and in all those years, the library has sat in its current location. 

 

Check it out!

We bring it too you! Now that is what I call service.
Today seven of Central MS libraries (Raleigh, Magee, Mendenhall, Forest, Pearl, Richland, and Flowood) will start curbside service for you.
I know you have been missing your library materials but now you can get that next book you wanted to read or that movie you have been waiting to see.
It is simple, just place a book on hold or give us a call, and we will pull the book for you. When you pull up to the library, call the library and we will bring your books. Yes, you will need your library card. Have it ready when you call. You will need to drop all returning materials into the book drop. We can't wait to serve you!

Library Services Update

May 12, 2020

Dear Valued Library Patron

On behalf of our entire family of libraries, we want to thank you for your support during the past couple of months. While our doors were physically closed to you, our Central Mississippi Regional Library System Board of Trustees and Library Team was committed to providing digital services which included access to eBooks, Databases, eContent, free WiFi at all branches. We are grateful that you have continued to support us from a distance. Because of your support, we have been able to promote safety for our communities and our library team. We sincerely appreciate your vast loyalty and look forward to having you visit our libraries again soon.

From the beginning of the pandemic, we have continued to prioritize the health and well-being of our library team members and library patrons. As we enter phased reopening plans in our branches, we want to inform you of the practices and safety protocols we are following to ensure our libraries remain a safe place to work and provide library services. Below is a list of policies and operations that our libraries will be following, along with estimated dates of when each location plans to reopen.

We kindly ask that you refrain from visiting our libraries if you have any symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea), if you have had a fever of 100.4 in the past 48hrs, or if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID19. Additionally, we request your participation in our social distancing practices to safeguard our CMRLS team and patrons. Thank you for your assistance in this matter!

• Libraries will follow all local guidelines to open at specified capacity rates.
• In-person library programming, such as but not limited to story times and book clubs, will not be offered until further notice.
• The Library Team Member is required to undergo a series of health screening questions before entering the building. Those showing any signs of symptoms or fever are prohibited from entering the library.
• Study tables and computer stations are seated at least 6ft apart from one another.
• Availability of computers will be limited. We will adhere to thirty-minute sessions to allow for others to use computers. Free Wifi can be accessed on the outside of the library building.
• Curbside Document Delivery Services such as printing, copying and faxing are available for a fee. Wireless printing is available at select branches: Flowood, Pearl, Magee, Mendenhall, Forest.
• Notary services are available for a nominal fee at the following branches: Flowood, Magee, Mendenhall
• Library Team Members are required to wear protective masks and gloves with frequent glove changes and hand washing.
• Tables, chairs, and other library surfaces are sanitized after every use.
• High-touch areas such as doorknobs, screens, restrooms, etc. are sanitized frequently throughout each shift.
• Antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer are readily available for Library Team Members and patrons in the libraries.
• Library Team Members are provided proper training and guidance on safety protocols and steps to minimize the spread of COVID19.
• Meeting room use and study room use are discontinued until further notice.

CMRLS has a plan for our libraries. The first part of the plan includes opening Book Drops and offering Curbside Services. During this phase, patrons will not be allowed to enter our libraries.

Book drops at selected locations will be open starting Monday, May 18, 2020 (at the following locations: Floyd J.Robinson Memorial Public Library (Raleigh, MS), Forest Public Library (Forest, MS), G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Public Library (Flowood, MS), Magee PublicLibrary (Magee, MS), Mendenhall Public Library (Mendenhall, MS), Pearl PublicLibrary (Pearl, MS), Richland Public Library (Richland, MS)). All returned items will be quarantined for fourteen (14) days in the designated and approved area in the library. The returned items will be in quarantine. Items will remain on the patron’s account until the quarantine period is completed. However, it should not hinder the patron from borrowing more items.

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2020, Curbside Services will be available from 10:00 A.M.-5:30 P.M. at the following locations: Floyd J.Robinson Memorial Public Library (Raleigh, MS), Forest Public Library (Forest, MS), G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Public Library (Flowood, MS), Magee PublicLibrary (Magee, MS), Mendenhall Public Library (Mendenhall, MS), Pearl PublicLibrary (Pearl, MS), Richland Public Library (Richland, MS).

We will continue to closely monitor the recommendations of local health departments and authorities to ensure we are serving you in the safest way possible.

Warm regards,

Mara V. Polk

Executive Director

What a Blast! Mendenhall Public Library

Children and adults of all ages had a blast at this afternoon's program with MDWF Wildlife Biologist Corey Wright! Corey was very entertaining, as well as educational! Who knew alligators were born with teeth? 82 to be exact! And how can you remember how many teeth a baby alligator is born with? Because it's the same number of counties in the state of Mississippi! Corey brought with him an 11-month-old alligator and a 2-year-old alligator for the children/adults to see the difference in sizes at their ages. In addition to alligators, Corey brought an Indigo Snake, which is an endangered species but is still occasionally found in southern Mississippi. He also brought a Speckled King Snake. Corey was great with the children; even letting the ones who would touch the alligators and snakes. We so appreciate him sharing his love of animals with the children at our Summer Library Program! 

Be sure to join us next week at the Mendenhall Public Library for Animal Tales at 2 pm!