University Librarians Honored at Mississippi Library Association Conference

News item published on: 2015-11-03 16:26:50

Three University Librarians were honored at the Mississippi Library Association (MLA) annual conference held in Natchez. Sarah Mangrum, Jennifer Brannock and Elena Azadbakht all received awards for their dedication and service in a Mississippi Library. Awards were given at the MLA Awards Luncheon on October 23.

Sarah Mangrum, Access Services Librarian at Cook Library, received the Peggy May Award, which was created to memorialize Peggy May for her professional accomplishments and to recognize individuals who exemplify her outstanding achievement in library development and/or recruitment of personnel to the library field. May, a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, was known for her diligence, intellect, leadership abilities, and interpersonal skills, and her positive attitude and excitement about libraries inspired and influenced others across the profession.

University Libraries also received awards for successful efforts to publicize library services. The award for Best Effort by an Individual Library to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Event went to Jennifer Brannock and Elena Azadbakht for the Edible Book Festival and to Jennifer Brannock for her work with the Mississippi Community Cookbook Project. Brannock, with Sean Farrell from the Public Library of Hattiesburg, was awarded the Best Coordinated Effort of Several Libraries to Publicize Library Services Around a Single Theme or Event. Brannock is the Curator of Historical Manuscripts and Archives and Azadbakht is the reference librarian for Health and Nursing. Dawn Smith, the Assistant to the Dean for Publicity and Outreach coordinated publicity for the events.

The mission of MLA is to provide professional leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. Library professionals in academic and public libraries across the state convene once a year at the MLA Conference to network with fellow colleagues and intend informative sessions and workshops.