Mar 6, 2025- In 1947, the Citizen’s Library Movement of DeSoto County was formed to advocate for public libraries in Northwest Mississippi. These early visionaries saw the advantages of having a regional library system to share resources and materials. The Movement’s efforts led to the Supervisors of DeSoto, Lafayette, Panola, and Tate Counties to form First Regional Library in 1950, the first multi-county library system in Mississippi. In 1968, Tunica County joined the library system.
Photo credit: First Regional Library
These counties have shown much growth in the past 75 years, and First Regional Library has grown with the communities it serves.. When the First Regional Library first formed, there were only four branch libraries (Batesville, Hernando, Oxford, Sardis), but that number quickly grew. Today, First Regional Library has fourteen branches across five counties. In FRL’s first year, the operating budget for the system was $34,140 and there were fewer than ten employees. Currently, FRL has an annual budget of $6.3 million and employs 102 individuals.
At the time of FRL’s establishment, the system had 8,000 books across the four counties and even fewer cardholders. Today, FRL has 430,000 items in the collection and 214,00 registered library users. When the system was formed in 1950, the four original counties had a combined population of 96,958. Today, First Regional Library serves 321,878 people across five counties.
To celebrate 75 years of library service, there will be an Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, April 8 from 3-6 p.m. at the First Regional Library Headquarters in Hernando. This event is open to the public. From 4-5 p.m., there will be a special Anniversary Presentation.
Refreshments will be served, and there will be musical entertainment.
