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Porch & Parish

Kick Off the New Year with Fun at EBRPL

Jan 13, 2025 11:19AM ● By Press Release

Lincoln at the Library
You have three opportunities to meet President Abraham Lincoln at the Library in January! Honest Abe will discuss our nation's history, share anecdotes from his own life, plus answer questions and take photos with attendees. See dates/times and locations below:

• "Lincoln on Literature and the Theatre"
Monday, January 13 at 6 p.m. – Main Library at Goodwood

Genealogy Brown Bag Lunch
Join a community of genealogy researchers for discussions on genealogy, research, and history at the Main Library at Goodwood on Friday, January 17 at Noon. Bring your questions! Bring your knowledge! And bring your lunch! No registration required.

Get Organized!
Certified Professional Organizer, Alyssa Trosclair, returns to the Library to help you Get Organized in 2025!

• Sunday, January 26 at 2 p.m.: Organizing Your Photos
Learn how to use the five-step EMEND organizing method to organize your printed and digital photos.

Louisiana Music: North, South, East, West

Special Collections welcomes Barbara Sims, former publicity and sales promotion manager for Sun Records and author of The Next Elvis: Searching for Stardom at Sun Records, to the Main Library at Goodwood on Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m. Sims worked closely with Sun Records founder Sam Phillips (the man who discovered Elvis) in launching the careers of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Charlie Rich. She will discuss the various types of music and musicians in Louisiana, including regional artists Leadbelly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmie Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Wynton Marsalis, as well as Cajun and Zydeco musicians.

Books and Music with Kids' Orchestra
Kids' Orchestra presents high-quality music education centered around books from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library children's collection. Created to spark children's joy, imagination, and love of music, Books & Music offers hour-long programs where children sing, dance, play an instrument, experience a library book, and meet a professional musician. Parents, guardians, and friends are invited to join in all of the activities. Laughter is guaranteed.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's, Jr.'s birthday this month, Books & Music will investigate the story of a young boy who drew attention to a water crisis in Rwanda by playing his drum. Using music like Rukundo in the book The Drummer Boy by SooHyeon Min, children will consider how they might use their voices to draw attention to problems in their community. Come and sing the civil rights movement's classic song "We Shall Overcome," learn a traditional Rwandan dance, and take part in a drum circle.

• Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m. – Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library
• Saturday, January 18 at 1 p.m. – Fairwood Branch Library
• Saturday, January 25 at 11 a.m. – Jones Creek Regional Branch Library

Let's Talk TOPS & FAFSA
Teens and their families are invited to the Main Library at Goodwood on Saturday, January 25 at 2:30 p.m. for a one hour informational seminar on Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), led by Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Introduction to Finding Grants
Find grants to fund your nonprofit! Join us at the River Center Branch Library on Monday, January 20 at 2 p.m. to view a training video by Candid, the organization that runs the Foundation Center. You will learn how to use the database to discover the best possible grant match for your nonprofit.

STEM and Stories
The LSU College of Science and Office of Academic Innovation and Engagement invites children in kindergarten through third grade to explore the worlds of math and science through an exciting science story time adventure led by some of the university's top scientists and mathematicians. The program will take place on Saturday, January 25, 10:30-11:45 a.m., at three Library locations. Each location will feature a different STEM topic and will include a story time followed by a fun, hands-on activity that allows the young scientists to feed their curiosity and take an even deeper dive into math and science.

Geaux Science Explorations: STEM & Stories is free and open to the public; however, space is limited, so registration is required. For more information, please visit ebrpl.co/stemandstories. To register, go online to ebrpl.co/regstemandstories. Please see below for Library locations, topics, and presenters:

• Main Library at Goodwood
Reader: Dr. Ivan Agullo and special guest Dr. Gaby González
Book: How to Hear the Universe: Gaby González and the Search for Einstein's Ripples in Space-Time by Patricia Valdez
Activities: Physics-themed

• Eden Park Branch Library
Reader: Dr. Rabi Musah
Book: TBA
Activities: Chemistry-themed

• Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch Library
Reader: Dr. David Shea Vela-Vick
Book: I'm Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton
Activities: Math-themed

St. Alban's Ukelele Concert
What better way to celebrate "World Play Your Ukulele Day" than with the St. Alban's Ukulele Orchestra! Save the date for a unique ukulele performance at the Main Library at Goodwood on Sunday, February 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the ukulele? As part of our "Library of Things," patrons will soon be able to use their library card to check out a ukulele at participating Library locations!

Virtual Author Talk Series
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 libraryc.org/ebrpl 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 ebrpl.co/virtual.

• Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m. - Come have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune as he chats about his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on his newest in the series, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.

• Thursday, January 23 at 1 p.m. – Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Amanda Montell about her newest book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.
Tuesday, January 28 at Noon – You're writing a book (or thinking about it), but what happens next? Join us for an inside look into working with an agent and the beginning stages of the publishing process with Seth Fishman, Vice President and Literary Agent at The Gernert Company.

Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., (225) 231-3750


Leaving a Legacy – Writing Your Life Story
Take the next step with your genealogy by writing a book! Learn how to preserve your life story for future generations through self-publishing. Join us at the Main Library at Goodwood on Wednesday, January 15 at 3 p.m. Registration is required. To register, please call 231-3751 or visit ebrpl.co/genclass.

Calligraphy Expo
Join us for an afternoon of calligraphy at the Main Library at Goodwood on Sunday, January 19 at 2 p.m. Shawn Man will lead a workshop entitled "Dragon Leaps from the Brush: Calligraphy Art Exhibition and Live Dragon Character Writing." Feel free to stay afterward for Tai Chi Class with Jie Gu.

Jones Creek Regional Branch Library, 6222 Jones Creek Rd., (225) 756-1140

Photography Workshop
Improve your photography skills with the guidance of local, professional photographer, Bernard Gillette, at the Jones Creek Regional Branch Library on Saturday, January 18 at 10 a.m. He will discuss camera operation, composition, lighting, and much more. After the presentation, stay for hands-on portrait instruction. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. Registration is encouraged. To register, please visit ebrpl.co/events.
Pride-Chaneyville Branch Library, 13600 Pride-Port Hudson Rd., (225) 658-1540


For more information or to see a complete listing of events, call (225) 231-3750 or visit us online at www.ebrpl.com.