Facility has been open in western Bolivar County for nearly a century
The Rosedale Branch of the Bolivar County Library System has been an integral part of Western Bolivar County for many years. In the early 20th century, it was located in the home of of Alma Morris before moving to the Rosedale Courthouse in 1935. It remained there it until 1979 after the current facility was constructed.
“Our library is architecturally unique, it stands out and the colors are gorgeous.” said Katherine Crump, President of the Bolivar County Library System and lifelong Rosedale resident. She added “It makes me feel at home.” The facility has won design awards in the past. Plans were composed by Kaplan and Oakland Architects and construction was completed by Roy Collins Construction of Cleveland. Extensive renovations were done in 2017 thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Rosedale organization.
Crump said, “We are so fortunate to have had the assistance of the Friends of Rosedale through the years and I am particularly thankful for the Rosedale mayor and city council who recently increased the library’s yearly allocation along with adding to the building fund so money is available for repairs and future renovations. Help from the community speaks volumes, underscoring the community’s realization of the vital role the library plays in the area.” Several corporations and other private entities have been generous with their support over the years.
The library has kept up with the changing times in terms of media sources along with adding to the literary collection. Crump is also particularly pleased to see an ever-increasing use of the facility by children and young adults, noting increased literacy and reading emphasis has caused Mississippi schools’ reading comprehension scores to skyrocket from 49th to 9th in the nation, known as “The Mississippi Miracle.”
The Rosedale library serves all ages and offers computers, DVD’s, WiFi service and meeting space for community groups. Martha Lawson is the local librarian and Emily Bell is the director of the Bolivar County Library System. Crump stressed a big reason the Rosedale library is successful is because of the tireless work and devotion of many individuals, such as Bell and Lawson. Crump noted “They constantly reassess the community’s needs and make appropriate changes.”
Crump encouraged members of the Rosedale community and surrounding areas to offer feedback and suggestions on how they can continue to improve the library.
Location, hours and contact information are:
Rosedale Public Library
702 Front Street
Rosedale, Mississippi 38769
Phone: 662-759-6332
Email: mlawson@boliva.lib.ms.us
Hours: Mon and Wed: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tues and Thurs:
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Fri: 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.