Hutchinson directing Copiah Jefferson Regional Library system which includes Wesson Public Library

Special to Wesson News

Kathleen Hutchison is new Director of the Copiah Jefferson Regional Library (CJRL) system, returning to where she started her career in 1973.

Hutchison brings more than 30 years in the academic, public and archival library environments to the CJRL position with skills in cataloging, collection development and library systems management; commitment to access, literacy and lifelong learning; and passion for strengthening rural communities through responsive public library services, collaborative leadership and programs that meet local needs.

At CJRL, Hutchison is overseeing Wesson Public Library, and the public libraries of Crystal Springs, Georgetown, Hazlehurst and Jefferson County.

Hutchison earned her BA in Library Science at the University of Louisiana at Baton Rouge in 1971 and her MA in Library Science at the Mississippi Universi1985ty for Women at Columbus, Mississippi, in 1972, and started her career as a librarian at CJRL, where she was Library Director from 1973 to 1979.

She served the State of Mississippi in Jackson at Mississippi Library Commission as Reference Librarian (1985-86) and at Mississippi Department  of Archives & History as Project Cataloger for is Mississippi Newspaper Project (1986-88) and Head of its Reference department (1988-90).  She served as the school librarian at Copiah Academy at Gallman from 1990 to 1992 and as Co-Lin Assistant Librarian from 1992 t0 2003.

Most recently, Hutchison worked at Mississippi College as a part-time librarian after serving as Systems Librarian (2003-06) and Library Director (2006-2019).

Hutchison is co-author of Tracing Your Mississippi Ancestors with Anne S. Lipscombe, and recipient of the Mississippi Library Association non-fiction award and Mississippi Historical Society Resolution of Recommendation.