State Library of Louisiana

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Louisiana Center for the Book announces the seventh annual Just Listen to Yourself: The Louisiana Poet Laureate Presents Louisiana Poets program. Peter Cooley, Louisiana Poet Laureate, will host the event on Thursday, April 27, 2017, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Seminar Center of the State Library, 701 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, La.

Cooley has invited poets across the state to participate in readings of their work. Those participating include Jack Bedell, Gina Ferrara, John Gery, Clare Martin, Biljana Obradovic, Andrea Panzeca, Mona Lisa Saloy, and John Warner Smith, as well as previous Louisiana poet laureates DarreII Bourque and Julie Kane.

“This program has become an event that we look forward to each year, giving us an opportunity to work with the state’s poet laureate to showcase the varied voices, both established poets and those newly joining the chorus, convening from various areas of the state to celebrate the power of poetry,”  says Rebecca Hamilton, State Librarian.  “The program has become a highly anticipated tradition.”

Attendees are not required to register for this free event but are invited to bring brown bag lunches if they wish.The Louisiana Center for the Book was established in the State Library of Louisiana in 1994 for the purpose of stimulating public interest in reading, books and libraries.For more information, visit www.state.lib.la.us.

– www.LouisianaTravel.com–

The State Library of Louisiana announces the winners of the 2017 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards and Louisiana Teen Readers’ Choice Award.  Winners were selected by 22,000 Louisiana students who read over 64,000 books.

The winners of the 2017 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards are Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, for third through fifth graders and The Crossover by Kwame Alexanderfor middle school students. The Louisiana Teen Reader’s Choice Award Winner is To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han chosen by students in grades 9 through 12. Voting day is an exciting time in many schools and libraries throughout Louisiana as some students cast their votes using voting machines supplied by the Secretary of State’s Voter Outreach Division.

The Louisiana Readers’ Choice Program is an important element of one of the core missions of the State Library of Louisiana—to foster a love of reading in Louisianans.

“Children who read tend to achieve more in school and learn the value of literacy as a result,” State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton said. “The Louisiana Readers’ Choice Program encourages reading by motivating students to participate in the recognition of outstanding books, and often the young readers are able to meet winning authors at the recognition ceremony held at the Louisiana Book Festival.”

“I encourage our students to pick up a good book and read!” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “Reading year round, even when not in school, keeps young minds primed and ready for the next grade and helps build lifelong readers and learners, and it is an exciting way to discover the world, all within the pages of a book. Plus, the lesson in democracy with the voting and the use of voting machines is great lagniappe.”

An awards ceremony for winners and honored book authors will be held at the Louisiana Book Festival on October 28, 2017.  For information about the program including how to participate in next year’s awards, visit www.state.lib.la.us.

– www.LouisianaTravel.com –

Black History Month Program at State Library of Louisiana to Focus on the History of Scotlandville

BATON ROUGE – Celebrating Black History Month, the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana welcomes Dr. Rachel L. Emanuel, coauthor of Images of America: Scotlandville, on Tuesday, February 21, at noon, for a discussion of the book in the State Library’s Seminar Center, 701 North 4^th Street, Baton Rouge.

A rural village that was once the entry point for the slave trade and home to a cotton plantation, Scotlandville became the largest majority African-American town in Louisiana. Located in the northern part of East Baton Rouge Parish, Scotlandville's history is intricately tied to the historically black Southern University and A&M College, relocated on the Mississippi River bluff in 1914.

Through excerpts from the pictorial history book, Emanuel will discuss the once-vibrant community presented through the theme of firsts in businesses, churches, schools, residential developments, politics, and more. The tale of triumph and struggle against racism, inequality, and oppression should be of special interest during the current push for revitalization of the area.

This event is free and open to the public; registration is not required. Attendees are invited to bring brown bag lunches and come and go as their schedules allow.Books will be available for purchase from the author.

The Louisiana Center for the Book was established in the State Library of Louisiana in 1994 for the purpose of stimulating public interest in reading, books and libraries.For more information, visit www.state.lib.la.us.

– LouisianaTravel.com –

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Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
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Buddy Boe/Jessica Ragusa
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
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Lt. Governor Nungesser and State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton unveiled the artwork for the 2016 Book Festival and spoke about several of the event highlights at a press conference held this morning at the State Library of Louisiana.

“I am excited about the book festival this year, and I look forward to welcoming all the great authors who have been inspired by our beautiful state as well as those coming out to enjoy the festival,” said Lieutenant Governor Nungesser.

The Louisiana Book Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. located in the area near the State Capitol, State Library, and Capitol Park Museum. There are more than 220 authors, panelists, and other participants and more than 150 programs scheduled for this year. The event is free and open to the public, and it is the largest book festival in the state of Louisiana.

Each year the Louisiana Book Festival commissions a Louisiana artist for the festival’s artwork. For the first time this year, the featured art is a sculpture created by Kelly Guidry, the chainsaw artist of Breaux Bridge.

Guidry created a book angel, which he named “Libby” for libraries and librarians.  Guidry realized its wings needed some words to fly so he incorporated Darrell Bourque, poet, in his process. Past Louisiana Writer Award recipient and Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque created “Words, A Poem” a poem which is engraved on Libby’s wings.

The festival will also feature the book launch of “Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh” by Johnette Downing and illustrated by Heather Stanley commissioned by the Audubon Nature Institute and the New Orleans Pelicans who are donating two copies to every main or branch library in Louisiana and all proceeds from sales going to wetlands education. First Lady Donna Edwards will be reading the book to the children on festival day.

There will also be a special free book from ULL Press, the George Rodrigue Foundation for the Arts, and the book festival, while supply lasts.

“Every year, we welcome thousands to celebrate not only the written and spoken word but also the culture of our state. The Louisiana artists and authors add so much to our event and guests of all ages will find something to do,” said State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton.

The book festival is also in need of volunteers to help work the event and support the festival; to sign up to volunteer go to www.LouisianaBookFestival.org/volunteer.html.

–  LouisianaTravel.com –

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Contact:
Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
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Buddy Boe/Jessica Ragusa
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
225.342.1013
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The State Library of Louisiana through its Louisiana Center for the Book is pleased to announce that New Orleans native Christina Vella has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Louisiana Writer Award, an honor bestowed annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Louisiana’s literary and intellectual life.

Celebrated both as historian and biographer, Christina Vella is the author of Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba;The Hitler Kiss written with Radomir Luza;Indecent Secrets: The Infamous Murri Murder Affair; George Washington Carver: A Life;and Ataturk and the Unveiling of Turkey,in publication.

Vella is currently at work on a novel with an imaginary protagonist but two actual historical figures as featured characters– Enrico Caruso and Constanin Brancusi – rendered with biographical accuracy, aside from their bogus relationship with the heroine.

Susan Larson, host of WWNO’s “The Reading Life,” says “Intimate Enemies is one of those books that will be around forever as part of the Louisiana and New Orleans canon, and her Carver biography is fantastic.  Christina is a writer who is generous and smart, and she is a great example a scholar with an independent writing career.”

Vella’s presentation on her Carver biography at the 2015 Louisiana Book Festival was one of those selected for national broadcast by C-SPAN’s Book TV.

In addition to her full-length works, Vella has written a number of book chapters, including“The Country for Men with Nerve” in Degas and New Orleans; “New Orleans at the Time of the Battle,” in The Battle of New Orleans Reconsidered; “Dorothy Dix” and “The Baroness Pontalba,” in Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times; and“El Corazon de España,” in Permanencia Cultural de España en Nueva Orleans.   She has also contributed several articles to the online encyclopediaLouisiana History.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesserand State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton will present Vella with the 17^th Louisiana Writer Award on Saturday, Oct. 29, in an opening ceremony of the 2016 Louisiana Book Festival. Vella will also discuss her work and career with fellow historian and professor Curtis Manning, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Louisiana Institute for Higher Education, at the festival.

Dr. Vella has for many years taught at Tulane University, most recently in the Master of Liberal Arts program.  

Join us at the Louisiana Book Festival as we recognize our 2016 Louisiana Writer Award recipient, Christina Vella, and celebrate Louisiana’s rich literary heritage and its renowned and emerging authors. For more information about the festival and Vella, visit LouisianaBookFestival.org.

–  LouisianaTravel.com–

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Contact:
Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
225.342.4923
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Buddy Boe/Jessica Ragusa
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
225.342.1013
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The State Library of Louisiana is proud to announce Louisiana’s winners of the 2016 Teen Video Challenge hosted by the Collaborative Summer Library Program. Kieran Pate, Collin Serigne, Mason Dufrene, and Joey Gaudet, representing the Lafourche Public Library, created Get in the Game, Read!—a short video about the impact that libraries and books can have on learning new skills, including sports.

“I want to congratulate our winners from Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Nungesser. “I want to commend them for their hard work, and I truly admire their dedication to libraries and the necessary services they provide to the residents of Louisiana.”

The annual national competition aims to encourage teens to read and participate in their public libraries' summer reading programs. A winning video was selected from each of the 25 participating states, and all winning groups receive $150 from CSLP. The winning videos are used to promote summer reading programs in public libraries nationwide.

“By participating, teens are sending a clear message that public libraries are important to them,” says State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton.

To view this year’s winning videos, visit www.cslpreads.org. For more information about Louisiana summer reading programs and the State Library, visit www.state.lib.la.us.

– LouisianaTravel.com–

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Contact:
Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
225.342.4923
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Jessica Ragusa
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
225.342.1013
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In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Louisiana Center for the Book is announcing the sixth annual Just Listen to Yourself: The Louisiana Poet Laureate Presents Louisiana Poets program. Peter Cooley, Louisiana Poet Laureate, will host the event on Thursday, April 14, 2016, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Seminar Center at the State Library of Louisiana, 701 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, La.

Cooley has invited poets from throughout the state to participate in readings of their work. Those included are Jack Bedell, Darrell Bourque, Mary Katherine Brake, Gina Ferrara, Lara Glenum, Kelly Harris, Julie Kane, Donney Rose and John Warner Smith.

Registration is not required for this free event, and attendees are invited to bring brown bag lunches. The Louisiana Center for the Book was established in the State Library of Louisiana in 1994 for the purpose of stimulating public interest in reading, books and libraries.For more information, visit www.state.lib.la.us.

– www.LouisianaTravel.com–

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Contact:
Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
225.342.4923
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Kriss Fortunato
Director of Communications
225.342.7009
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The State Library of Louisiana will again participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Teen Video Challenge, a national video competition encouraging teens to get involved with reading and their public libraries’ summer reading programs. Teenagers may enter the competition by creating a public service announcement that inspires others to read and visit libraries during the summer.

“The competition is a great opportunity for teens to exercise their creativity” says State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton, and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser adds, “This year’s theme, Get in the Game – Read, appeals to teens by combining recreation and literacy. We encourage all young people to get involved with their library, read a book, and inspire others to do the same.”

The winning video from each participating state will be announced in spring 2016 and used by public libraries nationally to promote summer reading. The creators of the winning state video will be awarded $150, and their associated public library will receive prizes worth $50 from the CSLP and Upstart. The deadline for video submission is April 1, 2016.

The CSLP is a grassroots consortium of public libraries and state library agencies throughout the U.S., its territories, and the Cayman Islands that works together to provide high-quality summer reading materials for libraries to use in their summer programs with children, teens, and adults.

Rules and details for the challenge can be found on the State Library’s website, www.state.lib.la.us. For additional information, visit www.cslpreads.org/. Click Literacy and Reading, then Summer Reading Program, and scroll to Teen Video Challenge. The winning videos may be used by teens and public libraries to promote summer reading nationwide.

– www.LouisianaTravel.com –

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Rebecca Hamilton
State Library of Louisiana
225.342.4923
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Kriss Fortunato
Director of Communications
225.342.7009
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it