Contact: Maridith Geuder
A public library system headquartered in West Point is the first to join a consortium organized by two state universities.
The Tombigbee Regional Library System, which serves nine communities in five Northeastern Mississippi counties, is becoming part of the Golden Triangle Library Consortium. Begun in 1993 by Mississippi State and Mississippi University for Women, the consortium also includes Starkville High School and Starkville's Armstrong Middle School.
"The collaboration provides an effective way to share resources and technical expertise," said Stephen H. Cunetto, system administrator of MSU's Mitchell Memorial Library.
Participating libraries now are linked to MSU's Data Research Associates automated system, which offers the latest in library-based technology. Through it, easy access is provided to materials held by the two schools and the Amory Municipal Library, Bryan Public Library in West Point, Choctaw County Library in Ackerman, Evans Memorial Library in Aberdeen, Hamilton Public Library, Mathiston Public Library, Nettleton Public Library, Webster County Library in Eupora, Weir Public Library, and Wren Public Library.
"Our patrons have access to materials at MSU and MUW, as well as those at a secondary and elementary school," said TRLS director Mary Helen Waggoner of West Point. "In turn, those libraries have access to our collections, which is very different from an academic collection and offers another dimension."
Mississippi State's collection includes more than 1.5 million volumes and more than 15,000 journals, while MUW has more than 250,000 books and journals.
For more information, contact Cunetto at (662) 325-8542 or Waggoner at 494-4872.