PEARL RIVER COUNTY —
The Pearl River County Library System’s mission is to provide service, technology, reading and reference materials; respect the freedoms and rights of each individual; carefully plan for the future; listen to patron needs and concerns; and support the people and communities of Pearl River County. Through programs and services, the two libraries in the system, Crosby Memorial Library as Headquarters in Picayune and the Poplarville Public Library have consistently measured up to this mission. In most cases the services offered have been at no or very low cost to the public. The library system gets its funding from a variety of places. It receives a small amount from the federal government. The funds received from the state is a little more, but that, too, is being reduced. Most of the library system’s funding comes from local governments, the cities of Poplarville and Picayune and Pearl River County. The cities have been able to maintain their funding commitments. But, the recent budget cuts from the county have forced the library system to reduce its operating hours and increase some of the fees charged for certain programs and services. Pearl River County Board of Supervisors reduced the 2012 budget by $50,000.00 nine months into the budget year; $25,000 of that was returned, but the supervisors are cutting the library system an additional $19,200 for the 2013 budget year.
The reduction of hours was due to the severe cuts and the cash flow problem they have created. The staff was encouraged to use vacation time due to them during these closed hours, and to make appointments with doctors at this time. The professional staff has been furloughed four hours per week or 16 hours per month. The library system has lost 5 employees through attrition that have not been replaced. The library system no longer has the staff to maintain the open hours it did just a year and a half ago.
In order to increase cash flow to continue services and be more in keeping with libraries around the state, the Board of Trustees of the Pearl River County Library System decided to increase fees for certain items as follows:
Overdues:
Books 20 cents per day; audio books & MS Collection 50 cents per day; DVD & Interlibrary Loan $1 per day; other overdues will stay the same. All overdue fines will be capped at the cost of the item.
Photocopies and computer printouts : 20¢ for black and white of all sizes and $1.25 for color copies of all sizes.
Fees charged to use the meeting room:
Daytime (2 hours): $25
Evening or when library is closed: $35
Whole day: $50
Whole day & evening: $75 to $100 – at the discretion of the library director.
$100 deposit for any large meeting or reception where there is food served or at the discretion of the director.
Many of the fees are remaining the same such as:
First card - free. Simply bring a picture ID and proof of physical address to get a card. A replacement card is remaining the same at $2.50 for the first replacement and $5 for each replacement after that.
Interlibrary Loan - free. The cost of postage is being paid by a grant provided by the MS Library Commission.
The new fines and fees are in effect as of Monday, October 1st.
To meet the reduced library operating budget, the book budget has been reduced to nothing. To help acquire new books, the library system is instituting a “Sponsor a Book” program.
As of Monday, October 1st, each library will have placed a ‘wish list’ of books that would normally be bought for the collection. A person may choose a book from the list to sponsor and donate the cost of the book to the library. In this way, the library will be able to purchase the book in a binding that is special for libraries and many times at a lower cost than can be purchased at a retail store. A book plate will be placed on the inside front cover stating by whom the book is sponsored.
Each library has a donation jar at the circulation desks. The money collected in these jars will be used exclusively for the purchase of books for the respective library.
Along with the new fees, the library has had to reduce hours that it is open to the public. As soon as more operating capital is available in the new 2013 budget year, which will begin on October 1st, the trustees hope to reinstate some of the “open” hours that have been lost, perhaps in November 2012.
Lifestyles
New policies in effect at Pearl River County Libraries
- Lifestyles
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Arboretum Paths
At the recent Master Naturalist training held at the Crosby Arboretum, Master Gardener Susan Swope discussed how using more natives in our landscapes can save us both time and money. She went on to describe some methods well-suited to lazy gardeners. One was to create planting beds in lawn areas. First, mow the grass as short as possible, then add layers of newspaper or cardboard, add a thick organic layer such as leaves, and there you go— less grass to mow.
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CBAC Did you know? program highlights dangers to senior citizens
Senior citizens face many dangers, said the speakers at the Did You Know? seminar at the Senior Center, and they sought to give the seniors information to help them navigate the risks. The Community Business Advisory Committee (CBAC) hosted the seminar at the Senior Center on Friday, May 17.
- 2013 Partners for Pearl River County By Jodi Marze The 10th class of Partners for Pearl River County celebrated its graduation at First Baptist Church on Friday, May 10, in the Fellowship Hall. The graduating class included: Jason Bounds, Nacole Dillon, Christy Goss, John Huck, Jeff McClain, Teenia Perry, Paul Reese, Brooke Rester, Eric Stafne, Richelle Stafne, Kristin Thibodeaux, Pat Tidmore, and Jim Walker. The staff is comprised of: Jo Woods, Tricia Knight, Shirley Wiltshire, Marilyn Bailey, Rod Lincoln and Scott Langlois (Program Chairman).
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Tami Harris takes state
Local business owner and community volunteer Tami Harris has won the coveted title of 2012 Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) Club Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi. A member of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune, Harris is one of only three club members, along with Darlene Adams and Leslie Lincoln, to take the state title.
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Arboretum Paths
Last week, students participating in the 2013 Mississippi Master Naturalist Program visited the Crosby Arboretum for an all-day training. The session was part of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction they will receive, educating them about natural resource management and environmental stewardship, and is a part of their preparation to become Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists.
- Chamber Ribbon Cutting Children's International Medical Group held a grand opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at their first Mississippi location, located in Picayune.
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Historic City Hall Dedication Friday
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. the New City Hall will be dedicated on Goodyear Boulevard. This event will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Historic City Hall building.
- PRC Community Band presents: An American Legacy The Pearl River County Community Band, under the direction of Johnny Baker, will present “An American Legacy: An afternoon of American music for concert bands,” on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium.
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Arboretum Paths
On their recent tour, fifth grade students from Lamar Christian School in Purvis encountered a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, ranging from crawfish to inchworms, to writhing masses of spiny, newly-emerged caterpillars. There is no such thing as a “typical” walk around the Arboretum’s Pond Journey and Pitcher Plant Bog. Every venture reveals something new to every group of visitors.
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Beebe returns to Main Street
“I was excited when the Picayune Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors asked me to return as manager to the local Main Street program. Also, extremely grateful to Picayune City Manager Jim Luke, Mayor Ed Pinero and city council for their blessings and approval to relocate our office,” says Beebe. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.’ I have to say, I had a blast working on committees, projects and events with the most dedicated staff and group of volunteers in Pearl River County from March 2005 to May 2010. I look forward to getting new committees in place and working with ‘seasoned’ volunteers as well as new volunteers who share the same passion and desire to keep Picayune moving forward.”
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