MEADVILLE — Diane Willard, Franklin Junior High School’s librarian and chair of the school section of the Mississippi Library Association, attended the MLA Conference in Vicksburg recently at the Vicksburg Community Center.

More than 500 librarians across the state were introduced to grant writing 201, given free resources for teaching information literacy, as well as tips and techniques on maintaining computers.

Sponsored by the school section as the featured speaker was Eddie Spencer, the author of two books: “Inmate 46857” and “Put out the Fire.”

Mr. Spencer was raised in poverty; he overcame difficult obstacles to better himself and encourages students to beat the odds. The Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Students and the Junior High Library will have Mr. Spencer speak to junior high school and high school students sometime after the first of the year.

At the awards luncheon, Susan Mingee, school librarian at Frazier Primary School in Natchez, was presented the Carron Golden Apple Award by the school section of the MLA.

At Frazier, Mingee serves on the technology committee, the SACS committee, and she plans interesting lessons for more than 700 students weekly. She was the first librarian in the Natchez-Adams School District to become National Board Certified and was awarded Frazier’s Teacher of the Year title in 2006-2007.

Also, the Franklin Junior High School Library has been awarded the BookFirst Book Award and will be receiving 1,092 books. Each student at Franklin Junior High will be receiving three books.

These books will be taken home by students and enjoyed.