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��«Ӱҵ’s library system is now a member of the Mississippi Library Partnership, adding about 130,000 titles to the consortium that now includes 60 members.

��«Ӱҵ President Dr. Clyde Muse, center-left, and Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum, center-right, sign an agreement Wednesday formalizing ��«Ӱҵ’ new membership with the Mississippi Library Partnership. At left is ��«Ӱҵ District Dean of Libraries Mary Applin; right, MSU Associate Dean of Libraries Stephen Cunetto, and MSU Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman. (��«Ӱҵ/April Garon)

The two colleges signed a memorandum of understanding March 20, making it official. It is administered by Mississippi State University Libraries, which provides technical support and training to members. The partnership was established initially in 1993 to provide library users access to resources available among the Partnership’s member libraries.

“As a partnership, we share resources – that’s the biggest value of it,” said Mary Beth Applin, district director of Learning Resources at the McLendon Library on the Raymond Campus. “Any resources available at those libraries are also available to you and students at ��«Ӱҵ.”

Current members include Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Tombigbee Public Library System, Starkville Public Library System, East Mississippi Community College Libraries, Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System, Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System, First Regional Library System and Lee-Itawamba Library System.

Materials at any of those libraries will be available to current ��«Ӱҵ students, faculty and staff through a courier service provided by the Partnership.  ��«Ӱҵ library users will notice a new and improved catalog experience.  Any materials available from a partner library can be selected for delivery to the ��«Ӱҵ Library of their choice through the new “Place Holds” feature in the new catalog.  “Holds” allows patrons to be notified as soon as the materials are available for pickup.

��«Ӱҵ President Dr. Clyde Muse and MSU president Dr. Mark Keenum praised the partnership as another example of working to keep student success high at their respective institutions.

“When this opportunity came our way, it didn’t take me a second to know that ��«Ӱҵ wanted to be a part of this consortium,” Muse said during the signing ceremony. “We’ve had so many opportunities with Mississippi State University, such as our 2+2 programs in different areas. I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to show that special relationship between ��«Ӱҵ and Mississippi State University.”

Keenum noted a special understanding of how important strong libraries are to higher learning.

“My mother is a retired librarian, so I know about libraries,” Keenum said. “I understand its importance as a hub of knowledge to share with the community. It’s the heart of a college.”

Keenum toured the Raymond Campus and visited with students before and after the ceremony, including those in the Honors Institute and nominees for presidential scholarships at MSU.