February will be an exciting time at St. John the Baptist Parish Library.

The Central Library will a host a Family Craft Night at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Families will create a Unity Quilt to celebrate Black History Month. There will also be a Black History Program, honoring great men of this community Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Storyteller Rosa Metoyer will visit each library branch to tell stories that teach, heal, inspire and entertain all under the heading of the Butterbean Tales, which include African and African-American folktales, Bible stories, fairy tales, Anansi tales and stories from around the world.

Rosa has entertained children and adults throughout the South at festivals, schools, libraries, churches, meetings, parks and parties. Regular performances have included New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Prime Time Family Reading Program, La. Book Festival and Summer Reading programs across the state.

Her goal is to promote healthy self-esteem, empowerment and spiritual healing with stories. Her performances are energetic, interactive and fun for all ages. The performances are as follows: Central Library, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.; Garyville Branch, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m.; and Reserve Branch, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

The month of February also brings the Mardi Gras spirit to the library. The Central Library will be hosting a Mardi Gras Bead Art program for tweens and teens Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. The Reserve Branch will host a Mardi Gras Family Craft Night Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. for patrons of all ages, creating Shoebox Mardi Gras floats.

A Mardi Gras inspired Make Shoppe will be held Feb. 13 and 20 at 6 p.m. Patrons will be decorating purses inspired by the Krewe of Nyx. The Reserve Branch will also host a Mardi Gras inspired Morning Makers Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Patrons will be creating a hanging Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis using beads and flowers.

The Garyville Branch will have a Mardi Gras Handmade Wind Chime craft for tweens and teens on Feb. 17 at 4:30 p.m. They will also host a Mardi Gras Handprint Mask craft for children ages 5 and up, on Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m.

The Central Library will be hosting Computer Classes for adult patrons of all ages on every Wednesday in February at 10 a.m.

Tweens and teens will enjoy painting bookends at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 and making Blackout Poetry at 4 p.m. Feb. 14. They are also invited to come out to the “How Many Kisses” program. A jar filled with Hershey kisses will be set up for the week before Valentine’s Day (Feb. 7-14). Tweens and teens will be able to guess how many kisses are in the jar. Whoever guesses closest to the correct number without going over, wins the jar filled with kisses.

Children programs will consist of Storytime every Friday at 10:30 a.m., Books & Beyond at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 and Kreative Kidz at 10 a.m. Feb. 18.

At the Reserve Library, patrons of all ages can enjoy a Morning Movie at 10 a.m. Feb. 23. Children programs will include the Wee Readers’ Book Club, which will be held on every Wednesday in February.  On Feb. 1 and 22, it will begin at 11 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 and 15.

The Garyville Library will host Tablet/E-Reader Tutoring at 2 p.m. Feb. 10 for all adults who would like to learn more about their sometime difficult e-readers.

Tweens and teens will be able to demonstrate their skills by making Handmade Valentine Cards Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. and participating in a President’s Day Word Search Feb. 20 at 4:30 p.m. Children’s programs will include PJ Storytime, which will be held at 5 p.m. every Thursday in February.

The Edgard Branch is closed for renovations. Patrons can visit the other library branches to check out materials, use the computers and enjoy adult, tween, teen and children programming.

For a full list of all programs, refer to our online calendar on our website, Facebook (St. John the Baptist Parish Library) or pick up a newsletter at any of our branches. I hope you all can attend some of the spectacular programs offered at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries.

Also, all libraries will be closed for the Mardi Gras holiday on Feb. 27 and 28.

Kearston Poche’ is the administrative services coordinator for St. John the Baptist Parish Library. She can be reached at 985-652-6587.