Brandon Public Library- We've come a long way!

 Brandon Public Library- History Personified (Look How Far We've Come!)

by Amy Lee, Brandon Public Library Branch Manager

The City of Brandon is chockfull of history.  Today, Brandon, Mississippi is currently paving the way for today's modernized society.  A valuable gem of this charming southern town, withstanding the true test of time, is the Brandon Public Library.  Located off of West Government Street, the Brandon Public Library is conveniently nestled between the older and newer parts of the city, providing the ideal meeting point.  The sleek, modern building, built and designed in 2003 for multipurpose use, has been the bridge of connection to endless possibilities. 

While today's current library facilities have been around for almost two decades, what many of you may not know is the fascinating history behind them.  Specifically, "once upon a time...," this library was not the shiny, gorgeous "house of learning" that serves us today.   Here's a bit of a backstory...

History:

The oldest records trace back to 1830 when the City of Brandon had humble, simpler roots.  In 1830, an academic learning group, called the "Brandon Library Society" was formed.  Later, in the 1970s,  the Brandon Public Library building was built.  By 1993, a study of the old library building was done, after concerns about the lack of space.   Around 1997, plans to construct a new library building were presented to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.  By 1998, the news spread throughout the city for a call for not only a new library but for more space.  Branch Manager, Ann Graham brought forth to the board that the old building, being at only 3,900 square feet, was running out of room.  Graham, additional library staff, and Friends of the Brandon Library officers supported the need for a new library building, with at least 20,000 square feet of additional space.   In addition, a member of the City Board supported library staff and patrons, stating that the city "deserved a new library."  The Mayor and board seemed to agree, but one major issue stood in the way- funds.  Soon, the Mayor devised a plan for a new Restaurant Tax.  Specifically, all restaurants in Brandon would add a 2% tax to all customers' bills.  As predicted, many citizens in Brandon and local restaurant owners did not take to this very well, especially as reflected on many voters' ballots, when the new tax was proposed.   As a result, the library saw a significant decrease in participation, including volunteers from the Friends of the Library group.   Later, after much persuasion and push from local officials and citizens, plans to rebuild a new Brandon Library, City Park, and Tennis Courts, as well as a new multipurpose center attached to the new library, began to take place.  Johnson, Bailey, Henderson, and McNeel designed the new library, and by 2003, the new (and current) Brandon Public Library building opened for service, and the rest is history! 

Current Brandon Public Library Building (opened in 2003)

Services:

As previously mentioned, the Brandon Public Library is a valuable gem of the city of Brandon, MS.  Much of this value comes from the awesome programs and services the library has to offer, warmly welcoming its community.  

We have staff members who are certified notaries, and notary services are offered Monday through Friday, and Saturday (by appointment only).  There is a nominal fee of $3.00.  Office services, including black and white ($0.25 per page)  and color printing ($0.50 per page), faxing ($1.00 per page), scanning ($0.50 per page), and copying are also available.  There is also an industrial-strength shredder, provided generously through our Friends of the Brandon Library, and all patrons and staff can use it for free.  Patron computers, as well as free Wi-Fi, are also available. We also offer proctoring test services for college students.

We also offer a variety of programs, including, but not limited to, DNA discovery and Genealogical society monthly meetings, a monthly book club, Family Night, weekly Preschool Story Time, monthly Teen programs,  Quilting, a Coin Club, VMA Veteran's monthly meetings, the Friends of the Brandon Library group (monthly meetings), and more!  

Genealogy Room:

Speaking of more, did you know that the Brandon Public Library has its own Genealogy Room?  That's right!   When the Brandon Library's new 2003 building opened, the plans included a special room, designed for Genealogical services. The collection started with 2,000 items, but it has grown so so much, since then.  Today, the room houses City Almanacs and Directories, yearbooks, slideshow/photo CDs of historic city events, city scrapbooks, artwork by local MS artists, newspaper clippings, maps, cookbooks, and so much more!  In addition, many wonderful organizations, such as the RCHS Red Jacket Chapter, MS State Society, and DAR have generously donated a huge selection of materials for our Genealogy Collection. We also have three computers with access to Ancestry.com, as well as a cool feature where users can not only discover their roots but can design their own family tree!  As previously mentioned, our DNA Discovery Group and Genealogical Society meet every month at the library.  The meeting/program is free for anyone to attend.  

Brandon Public Library Genealogy Room

The Brandon Public Library is located at 1475 W. Government Street in Brandon, MS.  We are open     9-8 Monday through Thursday, 9-5 on Friday, and 9-4 on Saturday (closed on Sunday).  For more information, please feel free to visit us in person, or contact us at 601-825-2672 or at brbm@cmrls.lib.ms.us.   We look forward to having you visit us!   I hope you have enjoyed today's visit down memory lane.  I am firmly convinced that the Brandon Public Library holds the key, which enables the past, present, and future of Brandon's community (as well as its people) to make and "unlock" these connections.   

The Forest Public Library -- From Grit to Great

by Dianne McLaurin, Forest Public Library Branch Manager

GRIT: in psychology is a positive non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual's path to accomplishment and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. 

For a more hands-on definition, visit the Forest Public Library and read the library's well-documented history. After perusing a binder filled with primary sources, one word comes to mind - GRIT. The Scott County Library (as it was named for years) started in the home of Miss Mary Katherine Knoblock. It was organized in 1933 by Rev. Jim W. Sells during the time of the Works Progress Administration. The WPA supplied paid jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression to build up public infrastructure. According to an article in the Scott County Times, dated Thursday, January 21, 1954, only a few books were available at the beginning; however, through the efforts of Rev. Sellers, some collections were sent from Boston and other places.

The next ten years consisted of packing and moving, changing directors and assistants, and setting up library stations throughout the county. The following is a quote from the article: "The going was rough and the very existence of the library was often threatened. Funds were extremely low and sometimes nonexistent, and the library was constantly being moved due to various reasons."  The article also states that the library moved three times in as many years, from the high school to the county agent's office to the community house. GRIT.

In 1936, Miss Carrie Pevey began serving as the director with various assistants. Later, in 1943, the library closed for several months. Miss Pevey was so interested in the work of the library that she continued to work without pay. She became ill and died in February of 1945. That summer, Mrs. H.E. Bishop, Mrs. Ollie Ott, Mrs. V.R. Lackey, and Mr. Beamon Triplett met with the Scott County board of supervisors and succeeded in re-opening the library with a donation of $1200. GRIT.

A library board was established and met in the home of Mrs. V. R. Lackey. Board members included Mrs. Lackey, Mrs. H.E. Bishop, Mrs. W.W. Gaddis, Mr. Beamon Triplett, and Mr. Lamar Rigby. Mrs. Bishop was appointed to serve as the librarian, and Mrs. Ollie Ott assumed her vacated spot on the board. Throughout the summer of 1945, Mrs. Bishop salvaged through the neglected books. Another quote from the article records her efforts. "They (the books) had been scattered all over the room, torn, and abused until the task seemed hopeless. Practically all the records had been destroyed. Many of the books were obsolete and were later discarded." At the final count, 1,713 books were placed on the shelves of a new location above the W.F. Stevens store on the corner of Main Street. GRIT.

Still, more moves would be part of the library's future. The article documents a move to the upstairs floor of the Masonic Lodge in the summer of 1948, and by the date of the article in 1954, the library was housed on the street floor of the building. According to the article, "This is the most desirable location." 

Little did they know nor would they see how their seeds of grit would grow. According to an entry in the Scott County Mississippi History and Families, 1830-2002, the old band hall at 210 South Raleigh Street was remodeled in 1967 with funds provided by the city of Forest and the Library Services and Construction Act in cooperation with the Mississippi Library Commission. In 1986, after the merge and split of two library systems, the Forest Public Library became part of the Central Mississippi Regional Library System, which currently serves public libraries in Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. Then in 1988, the library was remodeled again.

In 2010, those seeds of grit would grow into a great achievement realization. The new construction of the current Forest Public Library began - a city block of 28,000 square feet which would include 15,300 square feet of building area, 23 total parking spaces on the lot, and landscaped areas surrounding three sides of the library at a construction cost of $2,230,230.00 and an architect cost of $96,000 covered by the city of Forest. Approximately $100,000 additional dollars were donated by businesses, groups, organizations, and individuals to furnish the new library building.

Primary sources provide documentation of the magnitude of the building process. All the contents of the library were moved to the Community Bank annex building during the construction process. The old band hall, the renovated library, the remodeled library...demolished down to the ground, and in its place would stand a beacon for all those gritty individuals who never gave up. TRUE GRIT.

A Mississippi news anchor once described the Forest Public Library as "the Taj Mahal of Mississippi libraries." With its high ceilings, large columns, floor-to-ceiling windows, and impressive facade, the current library houses 12 access computer stations, five work computers, a conference room, a large meeting room, a children's story room, 13 individual study tables, two large sitting areas, a kitchen, two public restrooms, a genealogy room, two employee work rooms, a branch manager office, a reference room, and an employee restroom. The library is a one-of-a-kind civic structure, not only in the county but also in the state. The library boasts the newest technology, an up-to-date collection of circulation items, and a community presence that is both relevant and recognized. From the library's humble beginnings to its promising future, the GRIT of many became something GREAT for all.