By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

DESTREHAN – The staff at St. Charles Parish’s East Regional Library in Destrehan will pose as “gamemakers” this weekend for a teen lock-in based on the popular young adult novel and recent movie, “The Hunger Games.”

Teens ages 12-18 are invited to attend the event, which begins Saturday at 7 p.m. and ends Sunday at 7 a.m., at the Destrehan library branch, 160 W. Campus Drive. Young adult librarian Amy Boling said this weekend’s lock-in is the second of its kind at the newly expanded Destrehan library.

“We had talked about doing something like a lock-in for a couple of years and finally took the plunge last summer with a Harry Potter-themed event,” Boling said. “With the new library building in Destrehan we suddenly had so much more space than before, and the youth services staff works so well together. We had such a good experience with the lock-in last year we wanted to do it again this summer.”

Boling said the evening’s activities will coincide with events as they happen in the novel, which tells the story of a futuristic society where children from various “districts” compete in a dangerous game that is televised for the well-to-do members of society.

“When the teens arrive they will go through a reaping process to find out what district they are in,” Boling said. “The districts will be competing in several events such as a Cornucopia Challenge, a Hunger Games trivia contest and a Life or Death Relay. Participants will be able to decorate confections in “Mellark’s Bakery,” named after Peeta Mellark, the male protagonist who decorated cakes in his family’s bakery.  We will also have a Tribute Fashion Factory where teens will be able to make tribute costumes to model later on in the event and other activities as the evening goes on.”

Adventure-themed movies will be shown, and computers will be available for use throughout the event. Boling said popcorn, snacks and a light breakfast will be provided, but participants are encouraged to eat before heading to the library. Teens are also encouraged to bring a sleeping bag or blankets, a pillow and comfortable clothes to sleep in. Participants must arrive before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, when the library doors will lock for the night.

Boling said the library is limiting attendance at 100. Teens must have a parent or guardian sign and return a permission slip to any St. Charles Parish Library by Friday at 5 p.m. Permission slips and information packets are available at all branches and online at www.myscpl.

org/teens.

Boling said the library’s teen program is financed in part through sponsorship by Friends of the St. Charles Library. For more information contact Amy Boling at 985-764-2366 or email amy.

boling@stcharles.lib.la.us.