Mississippi Library Commission

About the Institution

The Mississippi Library Commission is both a lending reference library and a service institution supporting libraries statewide. The 60,000-square-foot building houses multiple divisions, including:

• A library for the reading impaired
• The Mississippi author first editions collection
• The state’s reference library
• Patent and trademark records

The design features public gathering spaces such as the entry lobby, gallery, main public meeting room, a northern-lit main reading room, and an outdoor green. The building’s circulation strategy encourages exploration and browsing, while its exterior skin creates an ever-changing surface that responds to its environment. The interior design includes all furnishings, shelving, artwork, and accessories.

The Mississippi Library Commission building has been recognized as one of the 50 best libraries in the country and serves as a sanctuary for patrons and librarians across the state.

Awards & Recognition

• 2006 AIA Mississippi Honor Award
• 2006 AIA Mississippi Sambo Mockbee Award
• 2007 American Architecture Awards
• 2008 AIA Gulf State Region Honor Award
• 2010 AIA Design for Decades: Civic Buildings
• 2024 Mississippi State University S|ARC Alumni Design 50th Anniversary Award

Publications

• Only In Your State, Online Publication – “A Book Lover’s Dream” (2022)
• Manufacturing Architecture: An Architect’s Guide to Custom Processes, Materials, and Applications (2018)
• Archinect News (2018)
• ELLE DECOR online – 50 Best Libraries in the United States (2016)
• Wallpaper* City Guide: New Orleans (2012)
• ARCHITECT Magazine (2010)

Project Team

• Duvall Decker and Burris/Wagnon, JV
• Post & Witty
• Gordin McCool, PE
• Watkins O’Gwynn
• Shen Milsom & Wilke
• Williford Gearhart & Knight, Inc.
• Construction Cost Analysis, Inc.