News

There are two job changes at Mississippi State University Libraries.

Jessica Perkins Smith joined Mississippi State University Libraries in May 2016, as Manuscripts Archivist in the Mitchell Memorial Library Special Collections department.  Jessica received a B.A. in History from Millsaps College in Jackson and an MLIS with an Archives concentration from Louisiana State University.  She comes to MSU from the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, where she was a processing archivist working primarily on African American Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) collections.  

Jessica’s research interests include Mississippi Civil Rights, African American history, and improving access to archival collections.  Jessica is from New Orleans but has Mississippi roots, with family from the Delta and Golden Triangle areas.  Her grandfather graduated from Mississippi State, so cheering for the Bulldogs is in her blood.  She also enjoys running, is an avid Saints fan, and is having a great time exploring Starkville with her husband and two-year-old daughter.

Jennifer Jones is the new graphic designer for the Mississippi State University Libraries. Born in Columbus, Mississippi, she moved with her family to Alabama in the fourth grade. Jennifer received her degree from the University of Alabama in 2001. After graduation, she moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she worked at an advertising agency for five years before taking a job at the University of South Alabama in the Publications department where she worked as part of a team that was responsible for the design and printing of most of the University’s marketing communication pieces. Jennifer is excited for this new opportunity to support the Library and University and is looking forward to spending time with her family cheering on the Bulldogs and making herself a part of the Starkville community.

There are two faculty job changes at the University of Mississippi Libraries.

Laura Harper, Associate Professor and Head of Government Publications at the University of Mississippi’s J. D. Williams Library, retired on August 31, 2016 after 45 years of dedicated service.  She held various positions during her career at the University, including Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Reference Bibliographer, and Head of Online Search Services, before becoming the Regional Depository Librarian in 1988.  She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education (1968) and an M.L.S. (1969) from Louisiana State University.  Before moving to Mississippi in 1971, she was a public librarian in her hometown of Monroe, LA. 

Over the years, Laura has been an active member of MLA, serving as chair of the Automation & Networking Roundtable (1983), of MLA-ACRL (1992), and of MLA-GODORT (1991, 2003, 2008, and 2012).  She was also active in ALA as a member and chair of several ACRL, RASD, and GODORT committees.  From 2007 to 2011, she served on the inaugural Steering Committee for ASERL’s Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program.  In 2011, she was honored as the recipient of the Bernadine Abbott Hoduski Founders Award by ALA-GODORT. 

Laura says she knows she will miss her colleagues at the library and in the depository community in Mississippi but is looking forward to participating in volunteer activities in retirement and continuing to serve on the board of Friends of the Library.  

Cecelia Parks started at the University of Mississippi Libraries in July as a research and instruction librarian with liaison responsibilities to the departments of history and political science.  Originally from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Cecelia received her MLS from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2016.

Mona Vance-Ali was elected to a three-year term on the Mississippi Historical Society Board of Directors at their 2016 conference this past March.  She currently works as the archivist over the Local History Department at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library in Columbus, MS. 

Lakesha Smith is the 2016 recipient of the Peggy May Scholarship.  Lakesha graduated from Hinds Community College in May 2007 with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, earned a Bachelor’s degree in History at Jackson State University in May 2010 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library Science at the University of Southern Mississippi.  She is acting Administrative Librarian for Hinds Community College’s Jackson Academic and Technical Center.

Amanda Clay Powers is the new Professor and Dean of Library Services at Mississippi University for Women.  Dean Powers has a Masters in Library Science from Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and Bachelors from Wellesley College in English Literature.  Prior to joining MUW, she was the Coordinator of Research Services at Mississippi State University.  Dean Powers has served as President and Treasurer of the Mississippi Library Association and is currently the Convener of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Public Services Discussion Group.  Her research interests include reference assessment, virtual reference, and the use of social media in academia.

Jennifer Todd joined Hinds Community College Libraries July 18, 2016 as the Circulation Librarian at the McLendon Library on the Raymond Campus.  She comes from the Mississippi Library Commission where she previously served as the Digital Services Consultant for over four years.  Aside from the state agency, she has previous experience working in both academic and public libraries as a circulation assistant, reference assistant, and cataloger.  She received her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in May 2012.  She is currently pursuing a Computer Network degree from Hinds.

Jackie Quinn, Administrative Librarian for the Jackson ATC Campus, has been selected to be the director of the Copiah Lincoln Community College Library beginning August 1^st.  Ms. Quinn has worked for Hinds since 1989.  She earned her associate's degree from Hinds in 1989 and began working at one of the Hinds' libraries shortly after.  She began as a library technical assistant and in the late 1990s, went back and earned her BA.  In early 2000, she continued graduate work earning her MLIS from USM in 2003.  Because of her knowledge and quality service, she was immediately assigned an administrative library position at Jackson ATC where she has worked since.  Besides running ATC's library, Ms. Quinn has taught Developmental classes for Hinds many semesters.  She continues her education working on her doctorate in Library Science.  She is well loved by faculty and student alike at ATC where she was heavily involved with her faculty and campus helping with M2M, ASG, campus registrations, and Black History programs.  Ms. Quinn has also been involved in many professional organizations through the years including WHEM, ACRL, ALA and MLA (the state library association) including The Black Caucus and Two Year College Roundtables.  

Jamie Bounds Wilson was recently named College Librarian at the Millsaps-Wilson Library, Millsaps College.  Ms. Wilson had previously worked as the Electronic Resources & Web Services Librarian and as the Acquisitions Librarian at Millsaps College.  Prior to joining the faculty at Millsaps College, Ms. Wilson was employed with the Biloxi Public Libraries, Harrison County Library System as the Local History & Genealogy Librarian and as the Branch Manager of the Margaret S. Sherry Memorial Library.

Mariah West Grant was recently named the Public Services and Instruction Librarian at the Millsaps-Wilson Library, Millsaps College.  Ms. Grant joined the faculty at Millsaps College in 2015 as the Acquisitions and Serials Librarian.  Ms. Grant was previously employed with the Mississippi Valley State University Library as the University Archivist and as the Collection Development and Reference Librarian.

Tom Henderson, College Librarian and Associate Professor at Millsaps College, retired in June 2016.  Mr. Henderson joined the faculty at Millsaps College in 1997, and he has served as the College Librarian since 2000.  He now holds the rank of Emeritus College Librarian at Millsaps College.  He previously worked at the Mississippi Library Commission, Mississippi State University Libraries, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Mr. Henderson earned his MSLS from Florida State University in 1975 and his BA from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1971.

Mr. Henderson served as the Treasurer of Mississippi Library Association in 1993-1994.  At various points, he chaired the following MLA committees and roundtables: Internal Audit Committee, GODORT, Special Collections Roundtable, Library Instruction Roundtable, Conservation Committee, Education Committee, and Northeast Region.  He coordinated the Private Academic Libraries of Mississippi (PALMS) group for ten years.  He was also active in many other professional organizations.

Please join the Millsaps College community in congratulating Mr. Henderson on the occasion of his retirement.  We thank Mr. Henderson for his dedication and contributions to the field of librarianship, and we will always appreciate his leadership and guidance.

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Miss Marsha Case.

Marsha Ann Case, 59, passed away Saturday, August 6, 2016 at her home in Jackson. Visitation will be Thursday, August 11th from 5-8 PM and Friday, August 12th from 12 PM until the 1:00 PM Funeral Service at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence. Burial will follow at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church in Forest, MS. 

Marsha was associated with the HCLS retiring as the Assistant Director. The Department of Technical Services was under her supervision. She served as Secretary of the Mississippi Library Association. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from MSU and her Master’s Degree in Library Science from USM. She was a Grant Writer. She loved animals, books and was a great story teller. She enjoyed playing cards and doing puzzles and was active in her church. 

Ms. Case was preceded in death by her parents, James and Zora Case; and two brothers, James Case Jr and John Albert Case. She is survived by her brothers, Charles Fredrick Case of Alexandria, VA and Michael Anderson of Florida; sisters, Peggy Case Mott of Bossier City, LA and Jeannine Case Schneider of Las Cruces, NM; 5 Nieces, 8 Nephews and their families and many great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mississippi Animal Rescue League. 

Online guestbook may be signed at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com.