|
|
||
|
East Mississippi Regional Library was founded first as a demonstration project by the Mississippi Library Commission. In October 1966, Clarke, Jasper and Wayne counties were joined in a demonstration project funded by the Library Commission through Federal funds to show the benefits of cooperative library service to the people of the 3 counties. Louise S. Evans was appointed Director of the demonstration project. Headquarters was in Heidelberg, in a small building on Hwy 528. After 2 years as a demonstration project, the Supervisors of all 3 counties signed a contract forming the East Mississippi Regional Library with headquarters in the back of the Quitman Public Library. Mrs. Evans was hired to continue as Director of the system. Over the years the fortunes of the EMRL have ebbed and flowed.
At their biggest, there were nine branches in the system – Bay Springs Municipal Library, Enterprise Public Library, Heidelberg Public Library, later renamed Mary Weems Parker Memorial Library, Louin Public Library, Pachuta Public Library, Quitman Public Library, Shubuta Public Library, Stonewall Public Library, and Waynesboro Memorial Library. Mrs. Evans retired after 20 years of service in 1986, and Susan T. Byra, who had been Assistant Director for 8 years was hired as Director. Susan retired in 2008 and Kimberly Corbett is now the current director.
In 1997, Wayne County gave formal notice that they wished to withdraw from the system, and that departure was completed on September 30, 1998. After funding was discontinued by the town in 2004 the Louin Public Library was closed. Funding for the library from the Town of Shubuta was discontinued in December of 2004, although it continued to operate with volunteer help until damage from Hurricane Katrina shut it down in September of 2005. |
