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New strategic plan on the way to improve the Jackson Hinds Library System

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Floyd Council, Jackson Hinds Library System Executive Director, made it clear that they are working on a 5-year plan to avoid any more library demolitions.

On February 21, the Jackson Hinds Library System decided it was time to take control and fix the issues that have persisted in their libraries over the last decade.

That’s when they created a new 12-member board of trustees to fix what executive director Floyd Council calls, “A legacy leadership problem... that’s what this is, a legacy leadership problem.”

So far, this board has discovered many issues, with the main ones being building upkeep and hours.

This board is not working alone though, they are now asking you to participate in their planning process survey, which board chairman Peyton Smith believes is most important.

“We want to build our service, and the future of the library service responsive to what the people here in Jackson and Hinds County want, right what they need. And so we can sit around and come up with ideas and daydream. But if we build a library system that isn’t responsive to what’s actually happening here in Jackson on the ground, and here in Hinds County, if we’re not responding to what our patrons care about, we’re wasting time, energy, and money.”

For the plan itself, they expect to launch an updated mission for the library system.

Also, the plan will include 10 action areas that will have subgoals under them to guide the plan.

One thing JHLS needs though to make this possible is funding.

While the Council is not asking for a specific number, he is asking one thing from elected officials.

“Our appeal is always to our elected officials, not for a particular number. I would much rather have them invest in love and a passion for 21st-century libraries, and we figure out what that number may be later than to have this wild number. So, I think pretty much if the state led what led the way with something unexpected or miraculous, it may perk everybody else up to invest in a whole different way.”

You can find the survey on the Jackson Hinds Library System website or on their social media accounts. They are accepting responses until May 24.

Once they finalize the plan, they will attempt to get it approved by the board by early August.
https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/01/new-...ibrary-system/

USM announces $35 million renovation process for Reed Green Coliseum

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WLBT) - Southern Miss Athletics has announced future renovation plans for its basketball arena, Reed Green Coliseum that includes a $35 million makeover.

This comes after the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved a funding request from the University of Southern Mississippi that will allow the school to move into the next phase of the renovation in November for the venue that has stood tall since 1965.

Wednesday, USM Athletic Director Jeremy McClain, with the university’s president Joe Paul, and Hattiesburg mayor, Toby Barker in attendance, announced those plans, revealing that the arena will receive many renovations.



McClain says these upgrades will include a new North entrance - which will also hold a new lobby and ticketing office, a basketball club on the South side of the building, practice facilities, two scoreboards, and more seating. The seating additions include 200 extra premium loge seats at the top of the bowl and 625 more sideline premium seats.

These renovations will “aspire to preserve its reputation as a formidable venue for visiting teams, modernize its infrastructure and technology to optimize event management, and introduce amenities that will enrich the experiences of the student-athletes, fans, and community.”

“This is a big day certainly for our basketball programs, university, and community as well,” McClain said. “When you think about Reed Green Coliseum, you quickly begin to think of all of the important things that have happened in that building, whether its basketball games, graduations, concerts... just kind of a cultural hub for our community.”

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/01/usm-...reen-coliseum/