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Black History will be celebrated throughout the entire month of February at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries. Storyteller, Roscoe Reddix Jr. of the Young Audiences of Louisiana will be performing “Telling Tales: Be Your Best” at all four library branches. The underlying message is that people are really all the same. A particular emphasis on geography, the importance of reading, anti-bullying, and African American History are effortlessly incorporated. The performance will include call and response singing, audience participation, and live percussion. It will be held at the Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library (Central) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5; Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library (Reserve) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6; Frazee-Harris Memorial Library (Garyville) at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10; and Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library (Edgard) at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library will also host a black history program at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from a medical perspective. Medical doctors Rachel Clark, Jamaan Kenner and Reginald Ross will be guest speakers at the event.

The month of February also brings the Mardi Gras spirit to the libraries. The Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library will be hosting a “Mardi Gras Make Shoppe” at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10. Adult patrons are invited to make Mardi Gras wine glasses. Sign-up is mandatory for this program. At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, adult patrons are invited to make “Mardi Gras Masks” at the Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library. A “Mardi Gras Simply Paint” will be hosted at the Frazee-Harris Memorial Library at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for tweens and teens. The Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library will be hosting a special “Mardi Gras Story Time” for children ages 1 and up at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Children, along with their parents will also be making a Mardi Gras craft after the program.

Valentine’s Day will also be celebrated at the libraries. The Norris J. Millet, Sr. Library will be making “Floating Teacups” with a Valentine’s Day twist at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Adult patrons are welcome to attend. Sign-up is mandatory for this program. The Leroy D. Williams Memorial Library will be hosting “DIY Marquee Hearts” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 . Tweens and teens are welcome to participate in this event. “Valentine’s Day Hats” will be made at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. Children, ages 5 and up, are invited to attend. Children, ages 6 and up, are invited to the Roland Borne Sr. Memorial Library to make “Origami Heart Bookmarks” at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Tweens and teens are also invited at 2:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day to make “Paper Airplane Valentines” for a special friend or family member. The Frazee-Harris Memorial Library will have a “Valentine’s Day Craft” at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. Children, ages 5 and up are invited to participate.

There will be a multitude of programs at each library branch for the month of February. For a full list, please refer to our online calendar on our website (stjohn.lib.la.us), Facebook (St. John the Baptist Parish Library) or pick up a newsletter at any of our four branches. I hope you all can attend some of the spectacular programs offered at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries.

Also, don’t forget that St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries has a Twitter and Instagram account. Please follow us and like us!

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