At 3 p.m. on a sunny Wednesday in Cleveland, like clockwork, parents streamed into the children’s room of the Robinson Carpenter Memorial Library with their kids in tow. The year has just started for schools in the area, and everyone is in search of a book. 

A lot of things in a library change over time. The books on the shelves are crammed with copies of whatever’s in demand and new copies of old favorites. The technology is updated, and the kids grow up. But one thing that has been a constant in Cleveland’s public library is Youth Services Librarian Bobbie Matheney. 

Matheney, a native of nearby Merigold, has worked in the Bolivar-County Library System since 2006. After working part time at the Merigold branch to help her elderly parents, Matheney landed a job at the Cleveland branch where she has worked for 17 years. Known for her fun outfits and bright personality, she is affectionately known by community members and patrons of the library as Mrs. Bobbie. 

Though she never imagined being a librarian, she quickly realized her passion for the job. 

“I’ve always been a people person. I got into being a librarian as a part timer, and started to enjoy it. My director told me that I finally had found my calling after working different jobs as a receptionist throughout the years,” she said. “I think it was my calling, also. I love what I do.”

Her desk is in the children’s room of the library, flanked by walls of colorful books. Next to her desk is a pair of rocking chairs, where she does story hour and show and tell with preschool and homeschooled kids on Friday morning. For young children, she says, reading is important to helping with their learning abilities. 

“Reading to babies helps because they’re listening. Believe me, kids are listening to you,” she said. “You might not realize it, but reading to them while they’re young, it helps their vocabulary. It, you know, it keeps them alert. It’s just the beginning of the learning process for children.” 

Families entering the library break up this conversation. As one child uses his library card for the first time, Matheney explains to him all the things he can do with it, and the money he’s saving by checking out books instead of buying them. 

Kids leaving with books is Matheney’s favorite thing about her job — but it’s not always easy. 

“There are those non-readers and helping them to find something on their level is challenging, because we can go through books and books and books, and it’s like, nope, nope, nope, nope,” she said. “So, it’s challenging trying to get the reluctant readers books that they might enjoy, but when they finally say yes, I celebrate.”

The Bolivar County Public Library System, at one point, operated eight libraries across the county. Three are still open — Rosedale, Merigold, and the main branch in Cleveland where Matheney works. While the role of the library has changed over time, it’s still an important community pillar in Cleveland, often going beyond just providing books for the city’s roughly 10,500 residents. 

“The library has changed in order to provide more information to the community. You would be surprised by the information that we provide for people that come in,” Matheney said. 

People come to the library for tax forms, voter registration forms and sometimes even to find phone numbers. Community elders often visit the library for help with electronics and electronic services. Some services, though, like the databases offered through the library, are underused. The library, Matheney said, is a learning and resource center. 

While most of Matheney’s work in youth services is with younger children, she also has a passion for working with teenagers. One of her fondest memories working at the library is when she operated the Teen Advisory Group, or TAG. 

“This was a group of teenagers that would come in and volunteer and plan different programs for the library,” she said. “The library is considered a safe place. I like to give teenagers something positive to do — they might not want to read a book or use the computer, but it was a safe place.”

TAG began with one teenager and at its height grew to a regular group of about 17. The goal was for the program to be something positive kids could participate in. TAG dissolved due to COVID, but it’s something Matheney wants to get started again. The library hosts teen game day every Wednesday at 3:30. And while it can be hard to get teens into the library, Matheney says you have to start somewhere. 

“A lot of people focus on a lot of people participating in a program,” she said. “If you can touch one person — that means a lot.” 

Cindy Williamson, her predecessor as youth services librarian, has worked with Matheney on and off nine years. She says Matheney is good with both kids and adults. 

“She’s just a very personable person. She’s a firecracker and just always has a smile on her face,” she said. 

Matheney couldn’t guess how many kids she had seen pass through the library during her time there. One of the highlights of her job, she said, is having the chance to watch people grow up. 

“It’s good to see some of the patrons who started out as kids coming in here,” she said. “It’s good to see them grow into adults, and it’s good for them to stop by and say, ‘Mrs. Bobbie, I just stopped by to see if you were still working here.’ Sometimes, I have to take a second look at them like — ‘who is this child? Who is this?’ You know, because they’ve grown up.”

A long-time pillar in one of the community’s most important institutions, Mrs. Bobbie is well known and well loved in Cleveland. In turn, she wants to be thought of as someone who loves everyone, too. 

“Bobbie loves everybody. That’s how I want to be thought of,” she said. “Mrs. Bobbie loves everybody.”

READ ALSO: Libraries see disconnect between use and popularity

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

People’s opinion of public libraries is as high as ever, but that isn’t translating into library visits and usage.

Annual reports from the Mississippi Library Commission show that library circulation per capita — that is, the number of library materials being circulated per person in a library’s given patron population — declined over five years. 

State libraries saw about a 43% decline in materials being checked out from the library between 2018 and 2022, the latest year for which figures are available, with a slight rebound from the 2020 pandemic period.

Mississippi’s numbers mirror a national trend. Physical library visits have been decreasing for years, dropping sharply because of the pandemic. Today, more people are visiting than during the pandemic, but still not as many as before 2020.

At the same time, public opinion of libraries remains high. A 2024 survey from YouGov  found that 85% of respondents had a favorable opinion of public libraries, 47% said they should get more funding, and 53% said public libraries were very important to the community. A 2023 report from the American Library Association found that 54% of Gen Z and Millennials had visited a library in the past year.

“It’s wide open for libraries to be a true community hub,” said Kristina Kelly, public relations coordinator for the Mississippi Library Commission.

Kelly believes one reason some people don’t visit libraries is because they don’t know what services are offered. 

Libraries offer a wide variety of services and resources. “We do address problems that patrons have that go beyond reference, beyond literacy,” said David Muse, branch manager of the G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library.

And Mississippi’s literacy rate ranks among the lowest in the nation.

Much of the recent media attention on libraries is on book bans. The American Library Association found that censorship in public libraries increased by 92% in 2023. State law in Mississippi prohibits public and school libraries from working with digital content vendors that offer “sexually oriented materials.”

Mississippi’s libraries have other issues that keep people away. For example, several libraries in the Jackson/Hinds system are in disrepair due to lack of funding and years of neglect. Three libraries are closed, and one of them, the main Eudora Welty Library, is set to be demolished and turned into a greenspace. 

“The state should evaluate creative ways to support library infrastructure so that the physical spaces remain open, whether that is putting more authority into the hands of the library systems themselves, increasing state-level funding, or even creative solutions like establishing revolving loan funds for library facilities or opening other similar government programs to library systems,” said Peyton Smith, board chairman of the Jackson/Hinds library system 

Libraries allow patrons to access a variety of materials from DVDs to plant seeds. For many people it’s the only way they can access the internet. BroadbandNow ranks Mississippi 45th in internet coverage, speed, and availability. 

People can use apps like OverDrive, Hoopla, and more to browse ebooks, videos, and music through their local library. Libraries also offer programming for all ages. 

Verna Myers, a 77-year-old retired teacher, has been going to the library for over 70 years. She reads to the children every Wednesday. “You can get everything here – DVDs, CDs, movies, books. You can get a lot of material that we could not get.”

Angel Walton, 22, says library programs expanded her horizons. “The library introduced me to so many different activities that I didn’t know people from Mississippi could have the opportunity [to do],” she said.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Deep South Today is a nonprofit network of local newsrooms that includes Mississippi Today and Verite News.

Founded in 2016, Mississippi Today is now one of the largest newsrooms in the state, and in 2023 it won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. Verite News launched in 2022 in New Orleans, where it covers inequities facing communities of color. With its regional scale and scope, Deep South Today is rebuilding and re-energizing local journalism in communities where it had previously eroded, and ensuring its long-term growth and sustainability.

The Director of Public Programs is a leadership role responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for in-person and virtual events and programs that align with the organization’s mission and goals. This role will oversee the planning and execution of events for all Deep South Today newsrooms.

In this position, you will be a thought partner in developing event concepts, and you will create the marketing strategies and execution plans to ensure they are successful and well attended. This will include coordinating venues, staffing, catering, transportation, accommodations and equipment for in-person events, as well as protocols for virtual events. The Director of Public Programs will be responsible for managing the event budgets and negotiating pricing with vendors while working closely with newsroom leadership to determine details such as the goal of the event, number of guests and expected outcomes. Organization skills, an eye for detail, and the ability to multitask, prioritize, and delegate duties are imperative. Excellent communication skills are required to create productive relationships with vendors, sponsors, and internal clients which is key to a successful career. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer while supporting all Deep South Today locations. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction, planning, oversight, and leadership for newsroom events and event staff including full-time staff and contractors.
• Develop and implement effective marketing plans for generating revenue.
• Communicate event strategies, budgetary needs and any issues with all levels of the organization leadership team.
• Oversee all aspects of event operations, including the run-of-show plans, setup, execution, and procurement of equipment and personnel needs. 
• Manage project budgets and expenses to ensure events are fiscally viable.
• Conduct post-event wrap up meetings with newsroom leadership to document wins and opportunities from each event. 
• Create and implement systems for reviewing event profitability, while monitoring expenses and maximizing revenue.
• Track progress, metrics, and deliverables to demonstrate impact, and/or areas of growth resulting from events.
• Ensure compliance with all venue restrictions and insurance requirements. 

Required Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate and present ideas effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decision-making.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to inspire and motivate peers and newsroom leadership.
• Extensive background in brand strategy, marketing, and consumer engagement.
• Proven experience in a leadership role overseeing in-person and virtual event programming.
• Extensive background in event planning, program development, and content curation.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and develop innovative brand experiences.

Education and Experience: 

Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of progressively responsible management experience in a supervisory role in an event planning function in lieu of college degree. 

Requires a minimum of 5 years of experience managing special events, conferences, and similar large-scale, revenue-generating events

Working conditions:

Work schedule may include weekends, evenings, and/or holidays based on business needs.

Salary Range: $105,000 to $125,000

What you’ll get:

• Highly competitive salary with medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.
• 29 days paid time off.
• Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.
• Simple IRA with 3 percent company matching. Group-term life insurance provided to employees ($15,000 policy).
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences.

How to Apply:

We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this position, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people who are differently abled.

Please click this link to apply.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.