Senate Concurrent Resolution 628

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SHARMAN BRIDGES SMITH, MISSISSIPPI LIBRARY COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HER LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE STATE'S LIBRARIES.

WHEREAS, Sharman Bridges Smith, respected Executive Director for the Mississippi Library Commission, has announced her retirement, leaving a wonderful legacy of services statewide to libraries that provide many services to their communities; and

WHEREAS, Sharman Smith is Executive Director of the Mississippi Library Commission, a state library agency serving the state's library community, state government, the blind and physically handicapped community, and other residents of the State of Mississippi. In her current position, Smith has led the agency through economically depressed years, worked closely with libraries affected by Hurricane Katrina, and oversaw the development of an accreditation program for Mississippi public library systems. In addition, Smith was directly involved in the design of the agency's new facility occupied in January 2006; and

WHEREAS, prior to her current position, Smith served as State Librarian of Iowa for nine years. During her Iowa tenure, she secured a $2.5 Million grant to create an internationally recognized library information network, directed the $20 Million restoration of the 100-year-old State Library Building, and, working closely with the Iowa Legislature and library community, secured the state's first direct state aid program for public libraries; and

WHEREAS, Smith has consulted internationally on statewide library consortia and library advocacy. She has also served as director of a multicounty public library system and a municipal library in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, a Mississippi native, Smith holds a Masters of Library Science degree from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, today, the Mississippi Library Commission offers a wide variety of direct and indirect services to libraries, government agencies and the citizens of Mississippi. The Mississippi Library Commission receives approximately $12 Million in state aid, 81% of which the MLC passes on to local libraries. Of that money, $5 Million goes toward supplementing the salaries of library employees, while $3.5 Million covers library employee health insurance, and $1 Million helps pay for MAGNOLIA, a statewide system of electronic databases. Director Smith has highlighted the role of libraries in early childhood education and literacy, and noted their importance during an economic recovery. In Mississippi, 37% of the 2.7 million people who use the library every year are looking for jobs or filling out online applications, and, increasingly, companies only accept online job applications. For some people, libraries are the only point of access for the Internet and the only place to access a printer. At the end of the day, there is a considerable value to our libraries; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend Sharman Smith's record of achievement and legacy of leadership and dedication to the importance of Mississippi's library system:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Sharman Bridges Smith, Mississippi Library Commission Executive Director, on the occasion of her retirement and commend her legacy of public service to the state's library system, extending our best wishes to her for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sharman Smith, forwarded to the Mississippi Library Commission, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.