Whatever the year….. may we “Never Forget” the September 11th attacks, commonly known as 9/11, when four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the militant Islamic extremist network al-Qaeda against the United States occurred.

The Library Board of Control will meet on Thursday, September 15th at noon. The public is invited to attend. 

Facebook is the place to visit for all the current happenings at the main library and all branches. There are so many different programs going on at all of our branches with different dates and times, we encourage our patrons to visit the Facebook page of their favorite library to learn about the unique programs being offered!

Early Notice: The main library will host the annual Lawyers in Libraries again! This is a program that partners libraries and attorneys to bring free legal services and resources to the people of Louisiana. In conjunction with National Celebrate Pro Bono Week, the two attorneys who are scheduled for our library for one-on one 15 minute sessions to answer civil legal questions and provide further resources are Allison Vidrine on October 27^5h from 11 am to 1 pm and  Alex Chapman on October 26^th from 11 am to 1 pm. There are sign-up sheets available now at the main library to book your free consult. The annual Louisiana Book Festival returns Saturday, October 29^th! This is the 18^th annual festival and will again be FREE and held in downtown Baton Rouge, at the Louisiana State Capitol, State Library of Louisiana, Capitol Park Museum, Capitol Park Event Center, and surrounding area. The Friday before the festival, October 28^th, will also see the return of WordShops, a writing workshop with major authors as instructors. For more information visitwww.LouisianaBookFestival.org.

Here are some Library Fest updates. We are happy to report that some authors and vendors are already booking their spots by returning their participant forms for our annual Library Fest slated for Saturday, November 19^th! New participants this week: Author Dixie Poche.  This is a FREE outdoor event for our patrons to meet new authors and vendors, sample new Food Truck dishes, and to buy Friends of the Library books! Please get the word out that participant forms can be picked up at any library in the parish and by emailing Suzy Lemoine: [email protected] or Keisha Ford [email protected]. It’s still early, but we are already promoting our participants.  Looking for Food Trucks to sign up too!

You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or email [email protected] for more information. Never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine, Outreach Coordinator.

The main library and all branches will be closed Monday, September 5th, to celebrate Labor Day! We wish all a fun and safe holiday.

The new monthly program at the main library, “Family Bingo”, was a HUGE hit with lots of prizes won! This is a free, family fun event. The next one is scheduled for September 26^th @ 4 pm.   

There are so many different programs going on at all of our branches with different dates and times, we encourage our patrons to visit the Facebook page of their favorite library to learn about the unique programs being offered!

We’d like the folks who use Overdrive to know that the App is being discontinued and being replaced by “Libby”. Readers are encouraged to switch to “Libby “now. If you have questions, please give us a call.

Early Notice: The main library will host the annual Lawyers in Libraries again! This is a program that partners libraries and attorneys to bring free legal services and resources to the people of Louisiana. In conjunction with National Celebrate Pro Bono Week, the two attorneys who are scheduled for our library for one-on one 15 minute sessions to answer civil legal questions and provide further resources are Alex Chapman on October 26^th from 11 am to 1 pm and Allison Vidrine on October 27^th from 11 am to 1 pm. There will be a sign-up sheet available early in October.

Here are some Library Fest updates. We are happy to report that some authors and vendors are already booking their spots by returning their participant forms for our annual Library Fest slated for Saturday, November 19^th! New participants this week: Author, Linda Fontenot and Blood Donation Services, Vitalant. This is a FREE outdoor event for our patrons to meet new authors and vendors, sample new Food Truck dishes, and to buy Friends of the Library books! Please get the word out that participant forms can be picked up at any library in the parish and by emailing Suzy Lemoine: [email protected] or Keishia Ford @ [email protected]. It’s still early, but we’ll begin promoting our participants now. Looking for Food Trucks to sign up too!

You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or email [email protected] for more information.  Visit our main library and branch library Facebook pages or www.evangelinelibrary.org for all of the weekly, monthly and upcoming events and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine, Outreach Coordinator.

The Mystery Book Club meeting will on Wednesday, August 31^st, at 10:30 am to discuss their book, “The Investigator”,by John Sanford. New members are always welcomed.

A new program at the main library: Monthly “Family Bingo” on the last Wednesday of each month @ 4 pm. The first will begin this Wednesday, August 31^st. This is a free, family fun event with prizes!

One of the featured weekly events at the main library and a few branches is our French conversation with coffee programs.  At the main library in Ville Platte it occurs on Tuesdays as a program called, “Allons Parler En François” and it is growing! If you miss it in person, you can listen to it on our Facebook page! Check it out sometimes! If you live in the area of the Pine Prairie branch library, you can join them on Friday mornings at 9:30 am. Or, if you live in the Mamou area, you can treat yourself to the same at 9 am every Monday morning at the Mamou branch library! Coffee is always provided too! The branch that can brag of having the longest running and most attended French conversation programs every other week is the Basile branch. Check them out next on Tuesday, September 6^th @ 9 am.

There are so many different programs going on at all of our branches with different dates and times, we encourage our patrons to visit the Facebook page of their favorite library to learn about the unique programs being offered!

Here are some Library Fest updates. We are happy to report that some authors and vendors are already booking their spots by returning their participant forms for our annual Library Fest slated for Saturday, November 19^th! They are: Authors Christopher Fontenot, Edward Gauthier, Debby Lawson; Sweets by the Catholic Daughters; and Information by the Evangeline Genealogical and Historical Society. This is a FREE outdoor event for our patrons to meet new authors and vendors, sample new Food Truck dishes, and to buy Friends of the Library books! Please get the word out that participant forms can be picked up at any library in the parish and by emailing Suzy Lemoine: [email protected] or Keishia Ford @ [email protected]. It’s still early, but we’ll begin promoting our participants now.

Programming continues at the main library in Ville Platte and every library branch in the parish. Because there is such variety with different dates and times, we encourage our patrons to visit the Facebook page of their favorite library to learn about the unique programs being offered!

Early closure notice for Labor Day: The main library will be closed on Saturday, September 3^rd. All branches and the main library will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022.

You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or email [email protected] for more information.  Visit our main library and branch library Facebook pages or www.evangelinelibrary.org for all of the weekly, monthly and upcoming events and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine, Outreach Coordinator.

There’s a buzz about a newly discovered author everywhere that books are loaned out or sold – Colleen Hoover! We recently bought additional copies of many of   her books that are available to libraries because the demand is unusually high and the wait time is quite long! Please visit a website that is valuable beyond discovering the works of Colleen Hoover called Fantastic Fiction (fantasticfiction.com) where you will discoverMrs. Hoover’s genres of romance, mystery and romantic suspense and also that many of her books are available in digital and Eaudio format through Overdrive. And, please note that we have many new titles from a variety of accomplished and notable authors on the New Book shelves at the main library and at all of our branch libraries. Visit your favorite library to choose your new book!

Reminder: August is FINE FREE month at all of the libraries around the parish. Return any item in good condition to the main library or any branch and have all fines on the item (s) waived.   We will also take 50% off existing fines and charges for lost/damaged items if the balance is paid in full in one lump sum payment during this period.

Programming continues at the main library in Ville Platte and every library branch in the parish. Because there is such variety with different dates and times, we encourage our patrons to visit the Facebook page of their favorite library to learn about the unique programs being offered!

Early Notice: October 18-20, 2022, we are bringing a scholar, Dr. Elista Istre, to the libraries to share her research about the namesake of our parish, Evangeline. Her program is titled, “Evangeline: The Myth and the Maiden”. Details will follow. Her website is (www.BelleHeritage.com). This program is funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Also, our annual Library Fest is scheduled for Saturday, November 19^th from 8 – 1 pm. This is a FREE outdoor event for our patrons to meet new authors and vendors; sample new Food Truck dishes; and to buy Friends of the Library books! Authors and Vendors can begin emailing Suzy Lemoine: [email protected] or Keishia Ford @ [email protected] to sign up or to get more information.

You can always call the main library @ 337-363-1369 or email [email protected] for more information or too. Visit our main library and branch library Facebook pages or www.evangelinelibrary.org for all of the weekly, monthly and upcoming events and never forget that libraries do change lives…. even in the cloud! Suzy Lemoine, Outreach Coordinator.

LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

Friday, August 19, 2022

3:00 p.m. at Ville Platte Main Branch

 916 W. Main Street, Ville Platte, Louisiana 70586

I   Opening Business

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

II    New Business

1. Motion to accept resignation from Dr. William D. Holmes. (See attached Exit form)

• Motion to remove Dr. William D. Holmes from Evangeline Parish Public Library Special Fund Checking Account & Passbook Savings account and cancel credit card effective August 19, 2022.

• Proposed plans by staff to continue operating the library system with the following administrative personnel:
  • Wesley Saunders – Assistant Director will sign off payroll & monthly bills
  • Jo Anna Miller – Business Manager Note: Made a request to the Policy Jury and received permission to get assistance from Mindy Lalonde for the 2023 Budget.
  • Emily Fontenot – Circulation Manager / Scheduling LL / Payroll
  • Suzy Lemoine – Outreach/Promotion Coordinator
  • Ted Lavergne – Facilities/Security Manger

With the increase in duties, would the board consider a pay increase of 6.5% for these staff members?  This would cost the library approximately $750 / month for all five employees.

       III   Adjournment