Finding Grounding

The Library has partnered with the LSU College of Art + Design to bring you Finding Grounding, rotating exhibitions and artist-led workshops that offer connection to our shared environment, ecology, and histories through nature experiences. Using Renee Royale and Heather Bird Harris’ creative practices as an opening, this project invites connection with place and self through grounded creative and reflective practices.

Harris’ exhibit will be on display at the Fairwood Branch on October 2-22 and at the Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch on October 24 – November 9. You’re invited to a workshop on Saturday, October 14, 9:30 a.m. – Noon, with Harris and Lilia Kapsali-Grant entitled Earth Pigment and Nature Connection at Flannery Road Park.

You can view Royale’s exhibit at the Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch on October 2-22 and at the Fairwood Branch on October 24-November 9. Join Royale and Kapsali-Grant at the Frenchtown Conservation Area on Saturday, October 21, 9:30 a.m.-Noon, for a workshop on Photographic Matter and Nature Connection. For more information about this project, please visit here.

Horror Films & Fitness

Let health and horror haunt your calendar this October! If you watch horror films and say “I could make my way out of that!” then this is your month at the Library. Adults can join us at the Main Library at Goodwood to get your blood-pumping with 15-minute warm-ups using exercises from Hiveclass, followed by hair-raising horror film screenings. No time for hours of terror and tension? Join us for a 30-minute, film-free exercise sessions as well, open to all skill levels. You’ll be fit to fight the fright in no time!

Self-Publishing Workshop: How to Pitch Your Novel

Do you struggle to pitch your book to potential readers? Join us at the Bluebonnet Regional Branch on Monday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m. to hear from local professional authors Lindsey Duga and David Armand as they walk through their methods of creating a sales pitch. There will be time to write and receive feedback on a pitch of your own, followed by the opportunity to speed pitch to fellow writers. Registration is required. Register here.

Write Time! with Boo Milton

Join us on Tuesday, October 3 at 6 p.m. at the River Center Branch for Write Time! a FREE poetry and general creative writing session for adults ages 18-33. Beginners and seasoned writers will enjoy creating poems and spoken word pieces while connecting with other creatives. This event is hosted by media personality Boo Milton with a live DJ and refreshments. Register for any or all of these monthly sessions here or by emailing programs@ebrpl.com.

Spanish Reading Club

Do you speak or read Spanish? Perhaps you’re looking for a fun way to speak Spanish with others? if you also love reading and discussing books with others, then we have just the group for you! Join us for a club centered around reading books in Spanish! Adults can come to the Bluebonnets Regional Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27 as we discuss Las Peliculas de Mi Vida (The Movies of my Life: A Novel) by Alberto Fuguet. Copies are available on Libby, the library reading app. For more information, call 763-2250.

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.