School of Library and Information Science at Southern Miss

They offer online services as well!

INFORMATION ABOUT SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE ERATE
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Contact: Samyukta Dinesh
Marketing & Communications Manager
[email protected]

E-Rate Funding for Schools and Libraries Faces Termination as Public Comment Clock Starts

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 14, 2026) – The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and its partners today urged the communities that depend on E-Rate to act now. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposal to potentially terminate the E-Rate program was published in the Federal Register today, formally starting the clock on the public's chance to respond.

Publication opens a 60-day public comment period and an additional 30-day reply comment period. Comments are due on or before Oct. 13, 2026, and reply comments are due on or before Nov. 12, 2026. Comments filed in this docket become part of the official record the Commission must consider before it can act.

The proposal asks whether E-Rate, which has provided affordable broadband to schools and libraries for nearly 30 years, should be terminated or limited to rural areas only. The SHLB Coalition maintains that the program's success is the reason to sustain it, not dismantle it, and that this comment window is the most important chance the community will have to be heard.

"The threat is real: the FCC has formally proposed terminating E-Rate funding, and the time is now for schools, libraries and the communities they serve to tell the Commission what losing E-Rate would cost them," said Joey Wender, Executive Director of the SHLB Coalition. "If E-Rate ends, the cost of internet access doesn't disappear. Those bills land squarely on the schools and libraries that can least afford them. That means choosing between keeping the internet or keeping a teacher, a counselor, or a program. No school or library should be forced to make that choice, and the FCC should not be the reason they are."

SHLB and its partners have launched an action center at SaveOurERate.com, a central hub for everyone who depends on the program. The site houses the resources the community needs to get involved, including tools to file comments with the FCC, guidance on how to write to members of Congress and other ways to take action. Advocates new to the issue can start with the webinar recording available on the site, which walks through what's at stake and how to make an effective comment.

With the comment clock now running, the coalition urges the community to:

File a comment with the FCC by Oct. 13, 2026. The tools at SaveOurERate.com make it straightforward to share your story about how E-Rate supports connectivity in your school, library or community.

Contact your members of Congress. The action center includes tools and talking points for writing to and meeting with your representatives and senators.

Spread the word. Share SaveOurERate.com with colleagues, board members and others in your community who depend on E-Rate.

The coalition intends to make every day of the comment window count to fill the record with the voices of the schools, libraries, and communities that depend on E-Rate.

SHLB will also feature E-Rate at AnchorNets 2026, the coalition's annual conference, held October 7-9 in Arlington, Virginia. The conference falls within the comment window, a few days before the Oct. 13 deadline, and will include programming on the FCC's proposal and what it would mean for schools and libraries. Registration and agenda details are available at: AnchorNets.org

Media Availability

Joey Wender is available for interviews. For more information, visit www.shlb.org or follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X.

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About SHLB: The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C. and has a diverse membership of commercial and non-commercial organizations from across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.

SHLB Coalition The SHLB Coalition advocates for policies and programs that enable anchor institutions to obtain and promote open, secure, high-quality broadband services to support connectivity and opportunity for all.

Always an amazing time at the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum & the StoryWalk!

Calling all graduate students! We're looking for our 2027 Ambassadors!

Ambassadors help the festival by moderating panels, helping organize attendees, and obtaining data, but they also get a behind-the-scenes look at the festival. Ambassadors get to attend all events at the festival, receive free lodging and meals during their stay, and get the experience of a lifetime!

If you're interested in applying, visit the link below for more information or email [email protected]

https://www.usm.edu/childrens-book-festival/ambassadors-program.php

📚🐻 It’s “Friday Junior”, and Saturday is shaping up to be a bear-y good morning in the Pocket Alley.

StoryWalk® is THIS Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Pocket Alley, with our friends from Southern Miss Library Science featuring “Where’s My Teddy?” by Jez Alborough along the StoryWalk route.

And over near The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, we’re adding a little bear story of our own.
At 11:00 a.m. sharp, we’ll read “Bear Sees Colors” by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. And if your little one has a favorite teddy bear, bring them along too. We think the bears would enjoy story time just as much as the kids. 🧸📖

Afterward, we’ll have some fun little gifts for the children, while supplies last!

At 11:00, we’ll also place this sweet original bear watercolor by Brian Rifkin in the Pocket Art Gallery exchange. If you’d like to take it home, just bring a small piece of art to leave in its place. 🎨

Mark your calendar, grab the kids, grab the teddy bears, and come spend a bear-filled morning with us in the Pocket Alley!

📅 Saturday, August 15
⏰ Storywalk 10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
📖 “Bear Sees Colors” reading at 11:00 a.m. sharp

My favorite time of year! The mailing of 629 early literacy tools to the students: flannel board kit, music kit, letters, water toys, scarves, finger puppet, hand puppets, books, stacking cups, cotton balls, and poofs. It is going to be a fun course!

We're excited to announce our new Undergraduate Certificate in Museums and Archival Studies! 15 hours with three required courses and two electives. For more information, email [email protected]!

Congratulations to SLIS alumni, Josh Cromwell!

We are looking to build up our list of virtual (online) unpaid practicum opportunities. If you have work that can be done remotely at your institution, please consider filling out this form:

usmforms.formstack.com

Information Services Director
Mississippi Library Commission
Jackson, MS

About the Position
The Mississippi Library Commission is seeking an Information Services Director to lead the Library Services Department by overseeing daily operations, staff supervision, public service delivery, and statewide library support. The Director provides leadership for reference services, resource sharing, large print services, collection development, reporting, workflow improvement, and support for Mississippi’s public libraries. This position is responsible for coordinating departmental operations, supervising staff, developing policies and procedures, monitoring service delivery, reporting statistics, and collaborating with public libraries, vendors, community partners, and agency leadership to ensure efficient, innovative, and sustainable library services. Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel is required to visit libraries, provide training, attend meetings and conferences, and support agency initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications
Typically requires a Master’s Degree and 3 years of experience. Agency preferred qualifications: A master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA accredited institution and a minimum of three years of professional librarian experience are required. Preference will be given to candidates with supervisory experience in a library or public service setting and demonstrated success leading professional staff. A successful applicant will have experience in library administration, public services, staff supervision, program coordination, and workflow improvement. Experience with staff management, reference services, resource sharing, collection development, library systems, public library training, statewide library support, and developing innovative library services is preferred.

To apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mississippi/jobs/5424792/library-services-director

****PLEASE NOTE: The title listed on the MSPB posting is Library Services Director which is incorrect. The position will be filled with the in-house title of Information Services Director.