Library extends hours, welcomes new library director
By Guest Columnist Renee Rayburn, LBPL Youth and Technology Services
Long Beach Library Director Jamie Elston
Hello Long Beach!
The staff would like to welcome a new face to the library, Jamie Elston, who is the new library director. Jamie was born in a small town in upstate New York. After high school, she attended the State University of New York at Binghamton (now called Binghamton University), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English general literature and French language and literature. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi for a Master of Library Science.
Jamie has worked as a librarian in Pennsylvania for one year, Louisiana for eleven years, and now Mississippi for the past twenty-three years. In Mississippi, Jamie has worked for the Hancock County Library System, Jackson-George Regional Library System, University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Library and Harrison County Library System.
Jamie has said “I have wanted to work at the Long Beach Public Library for twenty-three years, and I am looking forward to this next chapter in my career.”
The library has recently extended its business hours. Listed below are the new hours.
• Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Sunday Closed
The library will be closed for the Labor Day holiday from Saturday, September 5, through Monday, September 7. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 8, at 9 a.m.
Our Sit, Stay, and READ! Program, sponsored by the Visiting Pet Teams of South Mississippi, is really starting to thrive, and we could not be more excited! The next program is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and begins at 10 a.m. If your child struggles with reading, these trained therapy dogs are not only the perfect audience but also offer a unique solution for children who need encouragement to improve their literacy skills in a nonjudgemental environment. It’s free, and no registration is required. However, we do ask that an adult accompany the child for this event. For more information, please call the library at 228-863-0711.
The Friends of the Long Beach Public Library will hold their next meeting on Thursday, September 17, at 10 a.m. in the meeting room of the main wing of the library.
Preschool Story Time will continue through September. It is held each Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the children’s wing. This program is geared towards the 4 and under crowd. We read a story, make a craft and dance to favorite children’s songs.
For more information about any of our events or offerings, please give us a call at 228-863-0711. The library is located at 209 Jeff Davis Avenue.
As always, we thank everyone for their continued support and patronage and stay safe!
