The library Board of Control and staff from around the parish wish all of our patrons a very Merry Christmas celebration! The closure dates are: December 22^nd, 23^rd, 25^th & 26^th then December 29^th & 30^th.

Our December “Artist of the Month”!  Mrs. Pamela Ardoin Funderburk has some of her unique sketches on display through December. Please come by to see her work on display in the Curio Cabinet next to our new book shelf in the main library.

Our December Fine Free Month program is in full swing. Return any item in good condition to the main library or any branch and have all overdue fines waived.  We will also take 50% off of existing fines and charges for lost / damaged items. If the new, reduced fee is paid in full during this period.  This is our way of saying Thank You for your patronage year round.

A new program that we are partnering with is through the Office of Public Health Region 4 (Acadiana), in partnership with Healthy Iberia Coalition and Healthy Vermilion Coalition, is holding a School Hygiene Drive. In this first-of-its-kind program, we are asking Acadiana community members to collect basic hygiene items for distribution to local middle schools. Middle school can be a very difficult time for students and many families are facing economic challenges. Items collected will be delivered to middle schools throughout Acadiana and shared with students when there is a personal hygiene need during the school day. The goal is to reduce anxiety and improve self-esteem and lead to a more effective educational process.

The library is supporting this drive by providing drop off locations in Evangeline Parish at our main library in Ville Platte and branches in Basile, Chataignier, Mamou, Pine Prairie, and Turkey Creek. New and unused items requested are:  Menstrual products (pads & tampons), bars of soap, body wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, facial cleanser, body wash, shampoo /conditioner, lotion, deodorant, hair comb/brush.

Visit the Facebook page of your favorite library branch to see information about programs unique to them. Also, visit our website www.evangelinelibrary.org for updates. You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or send an email to [email protected] for more information and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine.

Happy to share that we’ve found our December “Artist of the Month”!  Mrs. Pamela Ardoin Funderburk will have her unique sketches on display through December. Please come by to see her work which is now on display in the Curio Cabinet next to our new book shelf in the main library.

This Monday, December 18^th, the main library is hosting a “Christmas Family Bingo” at 4pm. Seating is limited so please come early!  On Tuesday, December 19^th at 3 pm, Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care will host an information meeting called Hospice 101. This program is free to the public. Please share this good news. Wednesday, December 20^th, the main library and all branches will be closed for an all-day Staff meeting.

Our December Fine Free Month program is in full swing. Return any item in good condition to the main library or any branch and have all overdue fines waived.  We will also take 50% off of existing fines and charges for lost / damaged items. If the new, reduced fee is paid in full during this period.  This is our way of saying Thank You for your patronage year round.

Christmas Closures around the parish:  Wednesday, December 20^th, we will be closed for an all-day Staff Day training. Christmas holiday closures are: December 22^nd, 23^rd, 25^th & 26^th then December 29^th & 30^th.

Visit the Facebook page of your favorite library branch to see information about programs unique to them. Also, visit our website www.evangelinelibrary.org for updates. You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or send an email to [email protected] for more information and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine.

The Library Board of Control and staff from around the parish offer thanks to all of the folks who came to our Fall Library Fest! So many memories were made, authors shared their books, vendor sold their unique products, community information was shared, some “unclaimed money” was found,  and good food was eaten! We are looking forward to our 2024 Festivals! We’d also like to show gratitude to our November “Artist of the Month”, Kate Lemoine, for allowing us to share her unique photography. We are looking for an artist who would like to display their work through the month of December. Please contact Suzy Lemoine @ [email protected].

Tuesday, December 12^th, the main library will host another Medicare Information seminar from 10 am too 12 noon.  It will be followed at 1 pm by our weekly French Conversations program. This Medicare seminar is free and open to the public. Then, on Wednesday, December 14^th, we will host a “Kid’s Craft” program at 4 pm. It will fill up quickly so come early to get your spot. On Saturday, December 16^th, the main library will host another Medicare Information seminar from 10 am to 11:30 am. Please share the good news.

Our December Fine Free Month program is in full swing. Return any item in good condition to the main library or any branch and have all overdue fines waived.  We will also take 50% off of existing fines and charges for lost / damaged items. If the new, reduced fee is paid in full during this period.  This is our way of saying Thank You for your patronage year round.

Early notice: Wednesday, December 20^th, we will be closed for an  All Staff Day training. Christmas Holiday closures for the main library and the branches around the parish are: December 22^nd, 23^rd, 25^th & 26^th then December 29^th & 30^th.

Visit the Facebook page of your favorite library branch to see information about programs unique to them. Also, visit our website www.evangelinelibrary.org for updates. You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or send an email to [email protected] for more information and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine.

The Fall Library Book Fest is THIS Saturday, December 9^th, from 9 am – 1 pm. We will have a special guest, Michael Wynne, an antique appraiser and author from 9 am to 11 am. Bring any item that you’d like appraised for a small fee of $3.00 and be amazed at what you will learn from Mr. Wynne! Also, new this year we will have a “Show Me the Money” station where folks can see if there is any unclaimed money waiting to be returned to them! We will have a bell set up to chime every time someone finds some unclaimed money!! Our final line up of Authors, Cooks, Vendors and Community partners are: AUTHORS: Rhonda LeJeune, Linda Fontenot, Jessica Deen Norris, Darisa La Belle Griffith Ricks, Julie Beth Davis, Christopher Fontenot, Jasonnaye Wilson. Pamela Funderburk, Debby Lawson, Patricia Williams, Kristal Ben and Lacey Vidrine.  VENDOR/ARTISTS: Sleepy Parrot Charles Fontenot, Belinda Williams, Jalaina Freeman & Adrienne Griffith, Katelyn Beaubouef, Betsy Pitre, Jane & Roland Benefit Yard Sale, Kayra Guillory, Brecky Thomas, Roxanne Thomas, Nesha Arvie, Angel George, Morgan Blanchet, Beck Seaux, and Linda Fontenot.  COOKS: Annette Wilson, Natasha Edwards, Saucin with Tashh, Hope Guidry, Myra Fontenot (Food Truck), and Sarah Butler. COMMUNITY: Save Our Community Kid Adventure Camps, La Dept of Health, Sisters on the Go, Krewe de Evangeline Coalition, St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, an Unclaimed Money station called “Show Me The Money”! and a  HUGE USED BOOK SALE TOO! We have other surprises in store so please get the word out and “try to make a pass”!

We are partnering this year with CASA for their Christmas TOY DRIVE program and offering an incentive to our patrons to participate. From now until December11th, if you drop off a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy at the main library or any branch you will receive up to $10 off your library fines for each toy donated! Please share this opportunity to give the joy of gifts for a child and reduce any fines that you may have on your library account! 

Visit the Facebook page of your favorite library branch to see information about programs unique to them. Also, visit our website www.evangelinelibrary.org for updates. You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or send an email to [email protected] for more information and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine.

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING

LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING AGENDA

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2023

3:00 pm at Ville Platte Main Library

916 West Main Street, Ville Platte, Louisiana 70586

(If you have a disability, please notify us ahead of time for accommodations)

1. Opening Business

1. Call to Order, Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call
3. Approval/Amendment of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
5. Public Comments on Agenda Items

1. Old Business

1. Update from the new Basile Branch library committee meeting held on 11/14/23

1. New Business

1. Board of Control training by State Library Director Meg Placke.
2. Approval of the following policies that have already been revised and reviewed: Collection, Circulation, and new restrictive Library Cards.
3. Setting a construction budget for the new Basile Branch Library Project
4. Approving the payment of $31,500 from the Capital Expense account that was approved for the Turkey Creek Fiber extension project that is now complete. (Note: Savings of $8,500 from the original commitment of $40K) 
5. Set the staff Holiday Calendar for 2024
6. Set the 2024 meeting dates for the Board of Control.
7. Announce the following staff changes: Sandra Veillon (FT) and Kay Cardenas (PT) have left our employ. Mrs. Ruth Stanley (FT) will retire mid-January 2024. These changes resulted in our advertising for a new FT employee. Considering the above changes, we’d like to hire and additional FT employee. 
8. Approve annual step increases for employees
9. Approval of the 2024 Budget
10. Approval of two 2024 Fine Free periods for the months of August and December

1. Reports

1. Financials
2. Facilities Report
3. Outreach Report

       v.          Adjournment                                                      Next meeting: ______________________