LAUREL — Friends and supporters of the Laurel-Jones County Library came out Tuesday afternoon to recognize National Library Card Sign Up Month.

Those attending Tuesday’s reception at the Laurel branch of the library included Rep. Gary Staples of the Mississippi House of Representatives; Win Ellington, field representative for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran; Andy Dial, president of the Jones County Board of Supervisors; Wanda Benson with the City of Laurel representing Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack; Ellisville Mayor Tim Waldrup; Ellisville Alderman James Holifield; Jones County Schools Superintendent Steve Thrash; Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge and numerous other supporters and patrons of the library.

As a part of the event, Dial, on behalf of the Jones County Board of Supervisors; Mack on behalf of the City of Laurel; Waldrup on behalf of the Town of Ellisville proclaimed September Library Card Sign-up Month in Jones County and encouraged residents to sign up for “the smartest card” at the local library.

According to the proclamations, “the smartest card is a library card.”

“In times of economic hardship, Americans turn to and depend on their libraries and librarians,” the proclamations read. “Libraries, nationwide, design and offer programs tailored to meet their local community’s economic needs.

“Public library staff help students learn how to perform age-appropriate Internet searches, online tutoring and web-based resources for homework help using free public-access computers,” it continued. “Children who have library cards and use the library perform better in school.”

Mary Louise Breland, director of the Laurel-Jones County Library, said the local library system plays a major role in the community.

“Reading is crucial to a person being a functioning adult,” Breland said. “The library promotes literacy and promotes community support.”

Breland said the library offers many services ranging from books, videos and special story times to free computer usage and family nights.

Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge said it’s important that people read.

“Libraries are an asset to our community,” Hodge said. “The foundation of education is reading and the library promotes reading.”

Others agreed.

Win Ellington, field representative for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, said libraries are vital.

“Libraries are an important resource for knowledge,” Ellington said. “Libraries are accessible and a staple to every community.”

State Rep. Gary Staples concurred.

“I love to read and hope that every child gets to come to the library at least once a week,” Staples said. “The library is a fine place. ... I support libraries because I believe in libraries and the services they provide.”

Dial agreed.

“By motivating children to read, librarians create lifelong readers, and that makes for better citizens, which makes for a healthier democracy,” he said. “The most important school supply of all is a library card.”

Breland said patrons are encouraged to renew their library cards annually. She said a driver’s license or photo ID along with a piece of current mail should be brought in to the library when renewing the card.

“The library is like  a community center, where some people just come here to meet,” Breland said. “We are trying to give all the services we can.”

Breland said the Laurel-Jones County Library, like many other agencies, have been working to maintain the funding needed to operate sufficiently.

“We are offering a variety of services now, but we are dealing with funding,” she said Tuesday. “We are working to keep our funding.”

During the current budget, the City of Laurel funded the library $100,000, which is $40,000 less than it did the previous year. The library has asked for $140,000 in the upcoming budget.

Breland said she is also anticipating a minor cut in the library’s appropriation from the Jones County Board of Supervisors’ budget.

Breland said the lack of funding could result in the library losing it’s Maintenance of Effort funding from the state. If that happens, she said, it would affect library employees.

The library has reduced its hours due to funding. The library in Laurel is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The library in Ellisville is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

“There is a library open in Jones County six days a week,” Breland said. “A library card from either branch can be used at any of the Jones County public libraries.