Hulan Bivens, director of the Mississippi Library Commission, told the Appropriations committee the commission requests $392,397 above the LBO recommendation to sustain operations, statewide resources and federal match-eligible programs.

Bivens said the commission’s supplemental need stems from a $723,453 funding difference identified during budget review; after adjustments the net additional request stood at $392,397. The request would preserve Magnolia (the statewide database collection), personnel incentive grants for local public libraries, statewide e-book collections and an insurance program that supports librarians across Mississippi, he said.

"We are very proud in Mississippi of the fact that we have professional librarians," Bivens said, describing the personal incentive grant (PIG) program as a way to help libraries hire or retain degreed librarians who can in turn train other library staff. He also described Magnolia as a resource available to learners of all ages and said the commission’s federal matching relationship with the Institute of Museum and Library Services makes maintaining state budget levels important for continued federal eligibility.

Bivens described services the commission provides statewide: an ebook collection used heavily by regional systems (he singled out First Regional/DeSoto County as a major user), literacy and test-preparation resources such as Britannica and LearningExpress, and programs that support both recreational and educational uses of library resources.

Bivens said when the commission’s budget changes materially, it affects the federal match (a 1-for-1 federal match was described). He asked the committee to retain funding so the commission can continue grants and the insurance program for librarians, stressing the statewide reach of those services.

The commission announced an upcoming "MLC Day at the Capitol" and encouraged committee members to contact commission staff or their local librarians for details. No formal committee vote or action was recorded during the presentation.