Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—High school students and librarians from around the state were among recent visitors at Mississippi State for the third annual “MSU, The Library Experience,” which included an in-depth tour of the university’s Mitchell Memorial Library.

Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl, along with Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Dunne and Executive Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Ryan, welcomed students from Holly Springs, Houston, Northeast Lauderdale, Oxford, Shannon and Water Valley high schools.

Organizing Committee Chair LaDonne Delgado said “The day-long event was designed for high school librarians and students to increase awareness of what university libraries have to offer, entice students to consider attending MSU, introduce them to the library profession, and connect and collaborate with supporters of libraries and information science.”

Students toured Mitchell Memorial’s Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum, John Grisham Room, Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, as well as the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana.

During a session in the MaxxSouth Digital Media Center, students were introduced to the library’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Mixed Reality Studio, a makerspace and multimedia lab with 3D and screen-printing capabilities, Cricut and Silhouette die-cutting machines, and audio, recording and television broadcast studios.

Participating schools included:

Holly Springs High School

Pictured left to right: Holly Springs High School Librarian Barbara Humphrey; HSHS students Amari Jefferson, Brandon Lester and Martavious Mays; MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; and Executive Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Ryan. 

Houston High School

Pictured left to right: Houston High School Librarian Miriam Garner; HHS students Ivette Gonzalez, Kaylee Miller and Greta Tate; MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; and Executive Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Ryan. 

Northeast Lauderdale High School

Pictured left to right: MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; Northeast Lauderdale High School Librarian Casey Clarke; NEHS students Emma Crocker, Talabria Lockhart and Elizabeth Robbins; and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Dunne.

Oxford High School

Pictured left to right: MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; Oxford High School Librarian Amanda Osborne; OHS students Nick Gordon and Tahana McNeil; and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Dunne.

Shannon High School

Pictured left to right: MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; Shannon High School Librarian Jennifer King; SHS students Becca Ausbon, Daniel Carnathan and Canton Forster; and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Dunne. 

Water Valley High School

Pictured left to right: Water Valley High School Librarian Jennifer Rotkiewicz; WVHS students Addison Sossaman and Madalyn Stevens; MSU Professor and Dean of Libraries Lis Pankl; and Executive Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Ryan. 

Learn more about MSU Libraries at www.lib.msstate.edu. For more information on “MSU, The Library Experience” program, visit www.library.msstate.edu/libraryexperience.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.