Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi Delta Community College’s library system has joined the Mississippi Library Partnership, adding its approximately 27,000 titles to the consortium that now includes 55 members from across the state.
Originally established in 1993, the partnership offers member institutions cost efficiencies and shared resources. MLP provides a library automation system, administered by Mississippi State University Libraries, which also lends technical expertise, support and training to members.
“The Mississippi Library Partnership is a very successful example of what our state’s universities, community colleges and local libraries can achieve by working together,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Innovation and collaboration are a focal point for Mississippi State, and we look forward to working with MDCC and all of our other partners to further enhance this productive initiative as technology continues to transform libraries and learning resources.”
MDCC President Tyrone Jackson said, “Mississippi Delta Community College is excited to partner with Mississippi State University in enhancing technological services to benefit our students and others at MDCC. The expansion of library and learning resources elevates student access by providing additional tools in the matriculation process.”
MLP allows patrons to request books from any member library and pick them up at their own local library.
MDCC’s library system includes three entities—the Stanny Sanders Library at the Moorhead Campus, the Greenville Higher Education Center Library and the Greenwood Center Library.
Patrons easily can search the database of not only their home library, but they also can see resources shared throughout the consortium and check out materials conveniently with their local library card. A courier service delivers needed books to the various member library locations, which vary in their loan periods.
Mississippi Delta Community College Director of Library Services Kristy Bariola said there are several reasons the MDCC library system is excited to be joining “such a great group” in the MLP consortium.
“One reason is that if we have any questions or problems, we can get an immediate response from technical support for our library automation system instead of waiting two to three days. We also will be able to provide our faculty, staff and students access to a wealth of additional resources through this partnership.”
Stephen Cunetto, associate dean of MSU Libraries, said that in addition to other cost efficiencies, member libraries have access to a larger, more robust automation system for what they pay.
“With MSU managing the whole system for all the different libraries and training their staff, it’s more individualized and specialized,” Cunetto explained. “Through the Mississippi Library Partnership, we open another layer of resources for patrons.”
For more about the Mississippi Delta Community College library system, visit https://www.msdelta.edu/library.
For more on MSU Libraries’ role in the Mississippi Library Partnership, visit http://lib.msstate.edu/mlp.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.