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Service was extended to other areas of Hancock County. The first bookmobile for the county was purchased in April, 1969, allowing the bookmobile loaned from the Mississippi Library Commission to be parked near the Waveland Town Hall and opened as the Waveland branch.
In 1971, the Board of Trustees was informed that Hancock County was second on the list for federal funds to construct a library building. The Hancock County Board of Supervisors became the first in the state to levy one-half mill for construction before funds through MLC would be received.
On June 27, 1976, the new headquarters building was dedicated. It occupied 10,500 square feet of space and housed approximately 60,000 books and media.
Library service continued to grow. The Waveland Library had opened in 1971 in rooms in the Waveland Town Hall. Today it stands next to the Waveland Civic Center, holds 9,000 books and is the headquarters for the Library System’s Literacy Program. This building was doubled in size and renovated in 1982, and, in 1995, was totally redone and named the Waveland Library Literacy Center.
In April, 1977, the Kiln Library was located in a temporary facility until, on October 16, 1977, it was dedicated in its present building. It is located on Highway 603 in the former Farm Bureau building. It holds 4,000 books.
In October, 1990, all three branches of the library system went “online” with the new integrated computer system that automates all library functions.
In early 1990, the Library Board of Trustees adopted a long-range plan for library development. It included specialization of the Waveland Library and construction of a new library north of Interstate 10 near Kiln.
From 1976 to 1996, visits to the library and its branches have increased from a few thousand to more than 183,000.
To meet this increased need for services, the library has over the years implemented the latest in library technology, automation and information resources.
The headquarters building was expanded and renovated in 1995, bringing the total square footage of this building to 17,000.
During 1997, the library applied for a Library Services and Construction Act grant to construct, equip and furnish a new 10,000 square foot facility at Kiln. The grant was approved, and the Hancock County Board of Supervisors have allocated the matching funds and the $1.2 million to construct, equip and furnish the new building, set to be completed in early, 1999.