Hernando’s Public Library

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Hernando Public Library renamed in honor of James F. Anderson

The former Hernando Public Library on West Commerce Street now bears the name of former library director James F. Anderson, a man who oversaw some of the establishment’s most significant developments over the years.

The newly dubbed James F. Anderson Public Library shares a building with the headquarters of First Regional Library, an organization that oversees libraries across five counties and 14 branches. Under Anderson’s supervision, the First Regional library system grew to 13 distinct branches, with a single one being added after his retirement.

“James Anderson is a very well respected individual around the state and nationally in the library word,” said David Brown, brand and marketing strategist with First Regional Library. “He was responsible for getting us up to date with a new automated circulation system and really putting us on the map. First Regional Library is really considered one of the best public library systems in the state and that reputation is largely due to the work of James Anderson.”

Anderson, who served as the director of the library system for nearly three decades in a position that is now occupied by Meredith Wickham, started working with the library system in 1972 and retired in 2004. He is widely known within FRL circles for changing the library’s record system to an electronic public catalog system, allowing for fully automated circulation in a time when very few libraries across the state were doing so.

Hernando 31 The name change was made official this past May with a renaming ceremony featuring the likes of Mayor Tom Ferguson and several longtime FRL Regional Board of Trustees members.

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James F. Anderson

“We saw several former library employees and trustees from 20, 30, even 40 years ago that showed up at this event for him,” said Brown. “He’s a great guy and a fantastic librarian who not only made our library system what it is, but many libraries across the state of Mississippi.”

Brown credits current director Meredith Wickham for initiating the name rebranding process by seeking permission from the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and Mayor Tom Ferguson.

“This was kind of her brainchild, but we’ve also been in the process of a larger initiative to rebrand all of our library branches with new signage,” said Brown. “We’ve done it in Southaven, Hernando was our second, and we just recently finished doing the same out in Olive Branch. But in this case, we just wanted to do something very positive for both the library and community, and also find a way to honor Mr. Anderson and his many years of service.”

Both entryways to the library now bear large signs with Anderson’s name, and a portrait commissioned at the time of his retirement has been moved to the main area of the library. Now 13 years retired, James Anderson creates pottery and stoneware from his artist’s studio just off Scott Road. To view his work, visit jimandersonpottery.com.

“It was quite an awesome honor for me,” said Anderson. “I really appreciate that action from everyone involved: the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and all of First Regional Libraries.”

In addition to the new name, the future of the James F. Anderson Public Library promises a revamped summer reading program for all ages and a new “rainy day collection” of popular bestsellers that will be perennially in stock at various branches of First Regional Library, with a similar program for DVD films to follow shortly after.

“In 2019, the City of Hernando officially increased funding to library, which means more programs and upgrades to existing the computers used so frequently by the public,” said Brown. “We’re very grateful to the city for increasing our budget in an effort to make the James F. Anderson Library even better than it was before.”