One Book, One Community 2020

2020’s One Book, One Community read is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!

From the author’s website: Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.

Join us this Saturday at 6PM to celebrate our 2020 read. You’ll enjoy a live musical performance by I Am I, delicious snacks, lots of local organizations, and more!

LSU Tigers Through History

Today’s the day – our own LSU Tigers will take the field against Clemson for the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship! From their first season way back in 1893, the Tigers have been a huge part of the culture of Baton Rouge. If the modern era isn’t providing you with the Tigers lore you crave, take a look at some of the digital history archives you can use to find even more.

This ticket to the 1959 Sugar Bowl, in which the Tigers beat Clemson 7-0 to win their first-ever national championship, has been carefully preserved by the Baton Rouge Room. You’ll find it in the Baton Rouge Digital Archive.

This hopeful headline by James Edmunds was published in the Gris Gris newspaper in 1973. The Tigers made it to the Southeastern Conference that year, finishing with a 3-3 record. (The article is a hilarious analysis of a chant against rival Ole Miss that you may very much enjoy.)

Here’s an Advocate photo of 1986 LSU running back Sammy Martin (held aloft) with teammates John Hazard, Eric Andolsek, Nacho Albergamo, Keith Melancon and Ralph Norwood. Through the Digital Archive, you can access the Advocate’s entire historical photography archive. You can read their articles through Newsbank.

Don’t take our word for it; in the Digital Library, you can find lots of other historical journalism resources under the “Newspapers & Magazines” subject heading. What will YOU learn?

Become a World Traveler

Have you ever wanted to visit another country, but weren’t sure where to start? The library has a guide just for you all about how to get a passport. Find out where to apply, what to bring, and how long it’ll take with our Infoguide, “How Do I Get a Passport?

When you’re ready to head out, pick a place to go with CultureGrams. You can find all kinds of information on countries all over the world. Choose a destination that’s perfect for you.

Learn how to speak the language with Mango Languages. With over 70 language courses available in a fun, easy framework, you’ll be able to say hello to new friends on every continent.

These resources, and more, are free with your library card! Let us know where you want to go next!

One Book, One Community 2019 Kickoff Party

It’s that time again … time to begin this year’s One Book One Community (OBOC) celebration of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Everyone in the whole family is invited to join us for a fun, FREE street party at the Main Library at Goodwood from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday, February 23. You won’t want to miss this family friendly event that’ll formally kick off the spring reading program with activities including FREE food, games and prizes, crafts, face painting, an old-fashioned Cake Walk to win a delicious confection, live music by the Wael and Anna band, plus a visit from Sherlock Holmes and much more!

In addition, events will be planned throughout the spring through May with book clubs, community groups, discussions on addiction and substance abuse, film screenings and more related to the book and its author. For more information about this year’s OBOC season, the book and a full schedule of events and programs, visit www.ReadOneBook.org.

Baton Rouge’s Top 10 Books and Movies

End of the year Top 10 lists are popping up all over – have you checked out any of the library’s most circulated items? Here are our lists of the most popular books, movies, and music at your East Baton  Rouge Parish Library!

Adults read:

  1. Hidden figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
  2. The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
  3. An American marriage by Tayari Jones
  4. The president is missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
  5. Robicheaux : a novel by James Lee Burke
  6. The great alone by Kathleen Hannah
  7. Origin by Dan Brown
  8. The fallen by David Baldacci
  9. Fifty fifty by James Patterson
  10. The 17th suspect by James Patterson

Teens read:

  1. The Getaway by Jeff Kinney
  2. Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney
  3. Old School by Jeff Kinney
  4. Tales from a not-so-popular party girl by Rachel Renee Russell
  5. Tales from a not-so-dorky drama queen by Rachel Renee Russell
  6. Tales from a not-so-glam TV star by Rachel Renee Russell
  7. Tales from a not-so-perfect pet sitter by Rachel Renee Russell
  8. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
  9. Double down by Jeff Kinney
  10. Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Children read:

  1. Green eggs and ham by Doctor Seuss
  2. Dog Man unleashed by Dav Pilkey
  3. Dog Man : a tale of two kitties by Dav Pilkey
  4. Dork diaries by Rachel Renee Russell
  5. Go, dog, go by P.D. Eastman
  6. Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems
  7. The Pigeon finds a hot dog! by Mo Willems
  8. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
  9. Dog man and Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
  10. The adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Everybody watched:

  1. Black Panther
  2. Hidden figures
  3. Spider-man: Homecoming
  4. Wonder Woman
  5. The dark tower
  6. Thor: Ragnarok
  7. Girls trip
  8. Get out
  9. The hitman’s bodyguard
  10. Atomic Blonde

And finally, last but not least, we listened to:

  1. Wow Gospel: 2018
  2. The Rolling Stones in mono
  3. Moana : soundtrack
  4. Wow gospel: 2017
  5. Black panther: the album
  6. Queen: Greatest hits – platinum collection
  7. 50 nursery rhymes
  8. Now that’s what I call Disney 3
  9. Descendants 2 : original TV movie soundtrack.
  10. Now that’s what I call Disney

Just as a reminder, the library will close tonight at 6PM and will be closed tomorrow for New Year’s Day. While you celebrate for the first of the year, why not use the always-open digital library to check out some of the most popular books of 2018? We’ll see you next year!

Popular Lynda Courses for November

Did you know Lynda offers classes in soft skills, too? This month’s popular classes are almost all about customer service. Get the tools you need to become a better manager FREE with your library card! You can find Lynda in the Digital Library, and access it from anywhere with your library card number. Here are the ten most popular classes:

  • Customer Service Foundations (2014)
  • Communication Foundations (2013)
  • Effective Listening
  • Writing Customer Service Emails
  • JavaScript Essential Training
  • Excel 2016 Essential Training
  • Time Management Fundamentals
  • Phone-Based Customer Service
  • Customer Service: Creating Customer Value
  • Photoshop CC 2018 Essential Training: The Basics

Creativebug

Introducing EBRPL’s latest digital resource, Creativebug!

With Creativebug, you have access to over a thousand video classes on how to do everything from knitting to party planning. There’s even a section just for kids!

Stuck in an artistic rut? Their Daily Practice playlists will send you on new creative journeys into whatever art your soul desires – jump-start your enthusiasm for a style you’re already using, or pick up some new skills! It’s all free with your library card.

You’ll find Creativebug in the Digital Library on our website. Go get creative!

Get Your Tech On

Check out these upcoming tech events at your local library!

Innovation Space A/V and 3D Badging Classes – The Bluebonnet Regional Branch has a GoPro, Sennheiser microphones, a Yamaha mixer, green screens, instrument cables and XLR cables and a 3D printer available for patron use in its Innovation Space – totally FREE! Adults and teens age 12 & up welcome to attend:
• A/V Badging Class – Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m.
• 3D Printing Badging Class – Wednesday, July 25 at 2 p.m.
Once you’ve completed a class, you’ll be able to reserve the room on your own to create a podcast or make a cool video to upload to YouTube.

Open Play Multiplayer Virtual Reality – Adults and teens ages 13 and up can gather at the Main Library at Goodwood at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, to enjoy multiplayer virtual reality games! Come play Rec Room paintball, exterminate zombies in Dead and Buried and play futuristic Frisbee in Echo Arena on the Library’s three Oculus Rift headsets.

Tiny Tech Talks – Louisiana State University (LSU) Division of Computer Sciences and Engineering Professor Dr. Feng Chen joins us for the first in a series of educational talks featuring technology educational professionals at the Main Library at Goodwood at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 11! Adults and teens will hear from educators from across the state who’ll discuss different areas of specialty including computer sciences, engineering and everything in between. You won’t want to miss it!

Sign Up for Summer Reading Today!

Summer reading is half over – have you signed up yet? Stop by your local branch and enter to win all kinds of fantastic prizes! Summer reading is a great way to make sure your child and/or teenager stays ready for school during this long time away, and it can keep your brain sharp, too. Here are the general rules:

  • Children ages 0-11 must reach their reading goals or read five books and turn in their reading logs by August 15th. They’ll win a reading certificate, a free book, lots of other cool prizes, and enter a drawing for a $50 gift certificate!
  • Teens going into grades 6-12 must read six regular books, or 18 graphic novels, by August 15th. They’ll win a great pair of headphones, a drawstring backpack, and six Library Bucks – good for paying off fines wherever in Baton Rouge your books are overdue! Teens can turn in a completed summer reading log more than once, and every entry gets you more chances to win other cool prizes!
  • Adults (everybody else) only have to read three books – just three! – to win a summer reading prize back, and be entered into a prize drawing of their very own!

What are you waiting for? Beat the summer outdoor heat and read! (Audiobooks count!)