National Library Week was extra special this year at Indianola’s Henry M. Seymour Library.
The library took the opportunity to honor several people who are special to the branch of the Sunflower County Library System.
There was a special recognition for Mattie L. Warren, who has worked for the Library System for 50 years.
She now works at the library as a cataloger, making sure everyone finds what they are looking for within the library.
Warren issued B.B. King his first library card.
“They ask me, ‘When are you going to retire,’ and I say, ‘Don’t worry about that – as long as I still have my mind and I can still do, I am going to thank the Lord and go ahead on.’” said Warren, during remarks at the celebration.
Staff members, family and friends all declared that when Warren speaks, they listen to everything she says. The Friends of the Library organization gave Warren a dinner at Nola Restaurant in recognition for all of the service she has been providing to the Sunflower County Library System.
In addition, Warren was also presented with a plaque as well as many certificates for her decades of work.
The library also honored board members who have been dedicated to them for five, 25 and even a half century of service.
“Libraries give a green light to truly something special. No matter where you find yourself on life’s road map your library is here for you all the way to the finish line. Ready, set, library,” said Mary Ann Griffin, the director of the Sunflower County Library System.
Griffin noted during her remarks that the deputy director of the Mississippi Library Commission was recently being interviewed on the radio. They were discussing National Library Week and all the things public libraries do in the state of Mississippi, and the Sunflower County Library System was brought up, she said.
The deputy director acknowledged the innovative programs that the Sunflower County Library System has to offer, Griffin said.
One of the most recent programs Sunflower County libraries has to offer is the Self-Pace Digital Literacy class. The class helps people of all ages improve their digital literacy skills at their own pace.
More volunteers have been recognized for the great deal of help they have brought to the Sunflower County Library System.
From the Drew and Ruleville libraries, Karen Mims was recognized for volunteering to help at the library when no one else can be found. She also does the libraries’ story time programs.
At the Indianola library, Rodney Hawkins, Glenda Brinston, Veronica Warren and Tamia Moore were recognized for the outstanding amount of service they provide.
Hawkins does some marketing and helps move heavy items around the library. Glenda Brinston does story time and cuts out the grab-and-go kits.
Veronica Warren does line dancing classes at the library.
Moore works for Sunflower Humphreys Counties Progress, Inc., and she comes to the library and helps with the cutouts and assists wherever else she is needed.
The volunteers that were recognized at the Inverness and Moorhead libraries were Za’Tayereion Earvin and Jameya Campbell. Both Earvin and Campbell help wherever they are needed. They often help with the cutouts for the grab-and-go kits, which help reinforce reading readiness and can be done by a person of any age.
The Sunflower County Library System provides volunteer opportunities for anyone in the community who needs community service hours.
Any high schooler or college student may collaborate with Sunflower Humphreys Counties Progress, Inc., which has a student volunteer program.
The library system’s board of trustees, which serves as the governing authority of the Sunflower County Library System, was also recognized. The board of trustees is comprised of volunteers: Edna Nelson, who is the board’s current vice president, represents Sunflower County District 1; Willie May Perryman of District 2 is the board’s president;Fran Davis represents District 3; Diane Woodard represents District 4; and Tierra Fountain represents District 5. They were all recognized for their excellent dedication to the Sunflower County Library System.
The Friends of the Library organization was also recognized at the National Library Week Recognition program. The organization has supported the Henry M. Seymour Library in many ways.
The most recent act of support was the purchase of a wall-mounted lightboard. The working officers of the Friends of the Library organization recognized were Robin Rosenthal, who is the current president, Vice President Dorothy Sykes and Treasurer Kim Sheffield.
Donald Sykes, who has volunteered to install the door locks for the library, was recognized by Kay Slater, who is the assistant director of the library.
Staff members were also recognized at the National Library Week Recognition program.
Vickie Lewis was recognized for serving an important role in helping the community receive books that the library does not currently have. Lewis also represents the library frontline staff at the headquarters’ weekly staff meetings.
She has been with the Sunflower County Library System for 25 years.
