Access to SQL conversion

I'm trying to convert an Access Query to SQL. I am using a "Mid Statement" to select a portion of a value:

Mid([ITEM_NUMBER],2,7)

When I try to parse this statement in SQL I always get an error "Does not recognize Mid as a valid procedure."

Is there an SQL statement I could use to accomplish this?the sql server equivalent is the SUBSTRING function

instead of
Mid([ITEM_NUMBER],2,7)

use
substring([ITEM_NUMBER],2,7)