{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} [[File:Jackson December 2018 65 (Eudora Welty Library).jpg|thumb|Eudora Welty Library, the main library (2018)]] '''Jackson/Hinds Library System''' ('''JHLS''') is the public library system of Jackson and Hinds County in Mississippi.
==Branches== ; Jackson * Margaret Walker Alexander Library * R G Bolden/Anna Bell Moore Library * Medgar Evers Library * Fannie Lou Hamer Library * Willie Morris Library * Richard Wright Library - Closed in March of 2020 for repairs for plumbing repairs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jhlibrary.org/2020/03/library-update-richard-wright-library-closed-for-plumbing-repairs/|title=LIBRARY UPDATE: Richard Wright Library Closed Until Further Notice|publisher=Jackson/Hinds Library System|accessdate=2025-02-02}}</ref> and all materials were removed in July of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlbt.com/2023/10/05/library-officials-moving-books-out-richard-wright-branch-after-vandals-again-wreak-havoc/|title=Library officials moving books out of Richard Wright branch after vandals again wreak havoc|publisher=WLBT|accessdate=2025-07-07}}</ref> It is adjacent to Key Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jhlibrary.org/wright/|title=Wright Library|publisher=Jackson/Hinds Library System|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref>
; Not in Jackson * Ella Bess Austin Library (Terry) * Beverly J. Brown Library (Byram) ** It is behind the Byram City Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jhlibrary.org/byram/|title=Byram|publisher=Jackson/Hinds Library System|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> * Lois A. Flagg Library (Edwards) * Annie Thompson Jeffers Library (Bolton) * Evelyn Taylor Majure Library (Utica) * Quisenberry Library (Clinton) ** In 2018 the Clinton city government, citing problems with the sanitary condition, closed the library. It stated that it would reopen if the library system revised the terms of the library lease.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vicory|first=Justin|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/07/13/clinton-library-closed-over-lease-unsanitary-conditions/783215002/|title=Clinton mayor shuts down library for sanitation issues, won't reopen until new lease agreement in place|newspaper=The Clarion Ledger|date=2018-07-13|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> The two entities came to an agreement and it reopened that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/07/27/clintons-quisenberry-library-set-reopen-monday/846756002/|title=Clinton's Quisenberry Library to reopen Monday following agreement with board|newspaper=The Clarion Ledger|date=2018-07-27|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> * Raymond Public Library (Raymond) ** It is located at the Hinds Courthouse Annex.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20181229123409/http://www.jhlibrary.com/calendar-for-location/Raymond-Public-Library/201812 Raymond Public Library]." Jackson Hinds Library System. Retrieved on December 29, 2018.</ref>
=== Former === * Eudora Welty Library - The former main library was located in what was once a Sears building, built circa 1938<!--Source article says "The nearly 80-year-old building" and it is from 2018-->. In 2018 the second story has a study area and over 50,000 books. By 2018 the building had multiple maintenance and mold problems, with stairwells that, according to ''The Clarion Ledger'', "are too dangerous to navigate", as well as non-functional elevators, meaning that the second floor was not accessible for safety reasons. Additionally there were sewage and water leaks.<ref name=Vicoryexistential>{{cite web|last=Vicory|first=Justin|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/11/29/jackson-libraries-face-existential-crisis-when-city-help-black-mold/1647145002/|title=Jackson libraries face an existential crisis that includes black mold. When will the city help?|newspaper=The Clarion Ledger|date=2018-11-29|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> By 2024, the federal government of the United States gave a grant to aid in moving the library, worth $3,750,000<ref>{{cite web|last=Drape|first=Charlie|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2024/03/18/jackson-ms-flagship-library-receives-federal-grant-see-how-much/73015042007/|title=JHLS to receive federal grant to help the Eudora Welty Library. See what the plans are|newspaper=Clarion Ledger|date=2024-03-18|access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> As part of redevelopment plans, the original building was to be razed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sanders|first=Caleb|url=https://www.supertalk.fm/eudora-welty-library-building-in-jackson-to-be-demolished/|title=Eudora Welty Library building in Jackson to be demolished|publisher=Supertalk Mississippi|date=2024-04-19|access-date=2024-08-22}}</ref> * Charles Tisdale Library (Jackson) - It opened in 1976.<ref name=reloc>{{cite web|url=https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/charles-tisdale-library-to-be-relocated/1933391326/|title=Charles Tisdale Library to be relocated|publisher=WJTV|date=2019-04-17|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> Its namesake was Charles Tisdale, who published a newspaper. Prior to its closure it was the third busiest library system in terms of book checkouts; in 2016 patrons checked out over 16,700 books. In 2017 it had experienced flooding and black mold and was closed by the library system.<ref name=WLBTAgainflooded>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlbt.com/2021/02/24/tisdale-library-again-flooded-used-refuge-homeless/|title=Tisdale Library again flooded, used as refuge for homeless|publisher=WLBT|date=2021-02-24|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> By 2018 over 34,000 books had been destroyed in the library because loss of power and additional flooding caused the mold to intensify.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northsidesun.com/opinion-editorials/library-disaster|title=Library disaster|newspaper=Northside Sun|date=2018-10-25|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> In 2019 the library system decided to move to a new site, with a tentative plan for one next to McWillie Elementary School.<ref name=reloc/> The Jackson city government acquired the former building from the library system in late 2019.<ref name=WLBTAgainflooded/> By October 2020 unauthorized persons broke into the library and additional flooding had occurred, so the Jackson city government took measures to board up the building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlbt.com/2020/10/29/city-crews-cleaning-security-tisdale-building/|title=City crews cleaning and securing Tisdale building|publisher=WLBT|date=2020-10-29|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> However, in 2021 break-ins and flooding occurred again.<ref name=WLBTAgainflooded/> That year the library system made plans for a new site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wapt.com/article/city-moving-forward-with-selecting-new-site-for-charles-tisdale-library/36523611|title=City moving forward with selecting new site for Charles Tisdale Library|publisher=WAPT|date=2021-05-24|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref> Ashby Foote, council member of Ward 1 of Jackson, criticized the condition of the current Tisdale library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wjtv.com:443/news/councilman-upset-about-condition-of-charles-tisdale-library/|title=Councilman upset about condition of Charles Tisdale Library |publisher=WJTV|date=2021-06-09|accessdate=2021-06-10}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://jhlibrary.org/ Jackson/Hinds Library System] {{Jackson, Mississippi}} {{Education in Hinds County, Mississippi}}
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Category:Education in Jackson, Mississippi Category:Education in Hinds County, Mississippi Category:Public libraries in Mississippi
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