EBRPL Homepage Feature – East Baton Rouge Parish Library InfoBlog

Edible Book Festival

The Edible Book Festival is an international celebration of books, food, and bad puns! In conjunction with the Library’s 2024 One Book One Community selection, Tasting History, the 3rd annual Edible Book Festival will be held during the One Book One Community Kickoff Party on Friday, March 8, 5-7 p.m., at the Main Library at Goodwood. Participants are invited to choose a book and create an edible representation of its title or wordplay on its title. Join us as we gather to view the bookish fare concocted to amuse, amaze, or, yes, even disgust onlookers and fellow participants. Vote for your favorites in categories such as Best in Show, Wittiest Wordplay, Least Appetizing and more! Winners will be announced at 6:45 p.m. and prizes will be awarded! To submit an entry, just bring your punny, edible creation to the Library on Friday, March 8 between 4 and 4:30 p.m. to be displayed! Here are a few previous winners. Can you “beet” them? Come on, “cake” a chance! Give us something to “taco” ‘bout! “Gouda” luck!

2024 One Book One Community Pick: Tasting History by Max Miller

Come explore the past through 4,000 years of recipes! From Babylon, circa 1740 BC, all the way to 20th century U.S.A, immerse yourself in cultures and cuisine! Join us this spring in reading our 2024 One Book One Community selection, Max Miller’s Tasting History! The 18th annual One Book One Community initiative will highlight Miller’s book as well as many other culinary and historical programs for all ages throughout the Library system. It all begins with a FREE Kickoff Party for the whole family on Friday, March 8, 5-7 p.m., at the Main Library at Goodwood, featuring live
music by RJ & Zydeco Smoove, free food, children’s activities, community organizations, and more!
The six-week celebration will culminate in a special presentation by Max Miller at the Main Library at Goodwood in April. For more information, please visit here.

Breaking Barriers: A View from the Bench

As part of the Library’s Special Collections Lecture Series, join Judge Freddie Pitcher, Jr. at the Main Library at Goodwood on Wednesday, February 21 at 6 p.m. as he describes how he made history in Baton Rouge by becoming the first African American to be elected to judgeships at three different levels of the court system. His new book, Breaking Barriers: A View from the Bench, highlights his personal story of humble beginnings— from the bench outside the local grocery he and his
friends frequented as young boys— and how he rose from “the bench to the bar to the bench”—the judicial bench. Judge Pitcher will shed light on the perseverance and determination required to overcome obstacles. He is now with a nationally known law firm and a professor at Southern University Law Center.

Meet the Breeds

Meet the Breeds with the Louisiana Capital City Obedience Club! LCCOC was established in 1963 and is the oldest ongoing American Kennel Club dog club in Baton Rouge. Join us on Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. at the Main Library at Goodwood to learn about a wide variety of dog breeds.
All ages are welcome! Some of the dogs will perform pet tricks, agility exercises, and obedience activities. The members of the club will share about their experiences with their dogs in competitive events, pet therapy, tracking, and just enjoying a well-trained family pet. For more information, visit here.

Super Tax Day 2024

Receive FREE income tax preparation by certified VITA tax professionals at the Main Library at Goodwood on Saturday, February 3, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Please bring the following items with you on the day of the event:

Photo ID (for you and your spouse, if filing jointly)
Social Security Card or ITN for each family member of your household
All W-2 forms (wages) and all 1099 and 1098 forms
Child Care provider name, address, and tax ID number
Checking and Savings account numbers
Last year’s tax return
1095-A Health Insurance Marketplace statement (if applicable)
Other relevant information about income and expenses Super Tax Day is sponsored by the Capital Area United Way, the IRS, and Entergy. For more details about the event, visit VITA’s website here.
For inquiries, call (225) 382-3380 or email at breannap@cauw.org

Katrina Stokes, EBRPL Director

Join us in welcoming new East Baton Rouge Parish Library Director, Katrina Stokes! She comes to Baton Rouge from the Warren County Vicksburg Library in Mississippi, where she served as Library Director for seven years, during which she added new collections and oversaw significant renovations, among other accomplishments. Putting down roots in a new place is nothing new for Stokes, as she grew up in a military family that moved around frequently to different parts of the world. “I enjoy the adventure of exploring an unfamiliar place. There are so many things that make Baton Rouge unique and appealing. I’m really excited about living in a college town again.”
Stokes is eager to be a part of the mission of EBRPL and brings a “can-do” attitude with her. “I am a problem-solver. Whatever issues arise, I like working with others to bring about a solution.” One of her immediate goals is to get to know Library staff and strive to make the Library a truly enjoyable place to work. “Happy employees make good employees.” She also anticipates learning more about EBRPL’s Strategic Plan and how its vision can be carried out to impact the community in the most effective and positive way. “I love a challenge,” proclaims Stokes, “and I’m honored to serve as Director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library.”

Virtual Author Talk Series: Dr. Robert Lustig

The Library continues its Author Talk Series with three new authors in January! Each live, virtual event features a different bestselling author, along with an interactive Q&A session where participants can ask questions directly to the author. See January selections and dates/times below.
Visit here to register for these virtual events, learn about other upcoming conversations with bestselling authors, and view previous author talk recordings. For more information about these and other virtual events, visit here.

Tuesday, January 30 at 1 p.m. – Launch your New Year in a healthy way with Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist who has long been on the cutting edge of medicine and science. He challenges our current healthcare paradigm which has gone off the rails under the influence of
Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government. One of Lustig’s singular gifts as a communicator is his ability to “connect the dots” for the general reader, in order to unpack the scientific data and concepts behind his arguments, as he tells the “real story of food” and “the story of real food.” He insists that if we do not fix our food and change the way we eat, we will continue to court chronic disease, bankrupt healthcare, and threaten the planet. But there is hope. Dr. Lustig offers a doable plan for us to heal and restore our health and well-being with real food.

Virtual Author Talk Series: Rajiv Nagaich

Tuesday, January 23 at 1 p.m. – Start your New Year off right and learn how to avoid the hidden traps in retirement planning advice! Over his 20-plus years of experience in United States
elder law, Rajiv Nagaich has developed a step-by-step guide to retirement planning by connecting the various dots of the retirement planning process. The LifePlanning approach is a system that brings together legal, financial, and housing issues into a coordinated effort that can work to make sure you don’t end up being forced into institutionalized care, going broke, and being a burden on your family. In this enlightening and informative webinar, Rajiv explains why “retirement plan
failure” happens and how you can keep it from happening to you.

The Life and Times of a Governor’s Daughter

Join Victoria Edwards, daughter of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards for a presentation about her new book, The Life and Times of Governor’s Daughter, at the Main Library at Goodwood on Wednesday, January 17 at 6 p.m. Her life has been a little different than the average person’s because her father was in politics for so many years. His high profile, political life influenced her, which resulted in some very unusual experiences, many exciting adventures, a lot of heartache, and much joy. This talk is part of the Library’s Special Collections Lecture Series.

Garden Discoveries: Urban Farming

The Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation will host a FREE Garden Discoveries series event about “Urban Farming” at the Main Library at Goodwood on Saturday, January 13 at 10 a.m. led by Mitchell Provensal, Senior Program Coordinator, Baton Roots Community Farm. Did you know there is a vegetable farm right here in our city? Baton Roots is a community farm and gardening program located at BREC’s Howell Community Park. Our vision is to encourage everyone in our city to get growing and inspire a new generation of farmers/gardeners. Whether introducing children to their first vegetable plant, or reminding elders of the gardens of their youth, Baton Roots reconnects people to where their food originates and how it is grown. Tilled plots and waist-high
raised beds create opportunities for neighbors to grow, harvest, learn, and eat together. Our presenter, Mitchell Provensal, will discuss how the community farm works, activities happening at the farm, and the potential of urban agriculture in our city. Also, he will present tips and tricks for prepping your spring vegetable garden! Weather permitting, a tour will follow of the Baton Rouge Botanic Gardens adjacent to the Library. Registration is available here, or call 231-3750
for registration assistance. Learn more here.