Black History will be celebrated throughout the entire month of February at St. John the Baptist Parish Libraries.

The Reserve Branch will showcase a “Who Am I Interactive Display” that will share historically important facts about several African Americans. The display invites users to read the information and guess to whom the facts are referring to.

It will be held all February and all ages are welcome to participate.

The Central Library will host a Black History Program at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7, showcasing the works of famous leaders, poets, musicians, authors, etc. Patrons of all ages are welcome. The Edgard Library will host a similar program at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8.

Please join us for two nights filled with history and awareness of the importance of black history.

Mrs. Ingrid Green-Adams, local author and motivational speaker, will host programs at the Reserve Branch at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 and the Garyville Branch at 5 p.m. Feb. 8. Adams will conduct poetry sessions with the audience and talk about the importance of Black History Month.

The Reserve Branch will host a “Night of New Orleans Jazz Music” for families at 6 p.m.  Feb. 15. Crafts and activities associated with jazz music will also be done.

“Who Am I Jam Session” will be held at 5 p.m. Feb. 15 for tweens and teens at the Reserve Library.

Tweens and teens are invited to the Central Library at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 to watch Marshall,” which tells the story of Thurgood Marshall, an NAACP lawyer who travels the country defending people of color who were wrongly accused of crimes because of racial prejudice. Join Carly to watch and learn from this extraordinary leader.

At 6 p.m. Feb. 26, “Hidden Figures” will be shown for patrons of all ages. The importance and significance of the contributions made by the three women will then be discussed by everyone in attendance. Please join us for any one of our awesome programs.

The month of February also brings the Mardi Gras spirit. The Edgard Branch will be making “Mardi Gras Masks” for adult patrons at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 6.

The Central Library will be hosting a Mardi Gras program for children ages 5 and up at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10. Children, along with their parents, will make shoebox floats and watch “Princess and the Frog.”

The Garyville Branch invites children 6 and up to make “Handprint Mardi Gras Masks” at 11 a.m. Feb. 12.

Valentine’s Day will also be celebrated at the libraries, with the Central Library holding a “How Many Kisses” contest throughout February.

The Reserve Branch will be hosting a Valentine’s Day inspired “Morning Makers” at 10 a.m. Feb. 6.

Adult patrons are invited to make a “Floral Heart” to display in their homes. Tweens and teens are invited to the Edgard Branch at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8 to make “Paper Airplane Valentines” for a special friend or family member.

Children, ages 6 and up, are also invited to the Edgard Branch to make “Origami Heart Bookmarks” at 3:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.

The Garyville Branch will also have a craft on Valentine’s Day, as tweens and teens are invited to make “Valentine’s Cards” for their loved ones.

There will be a multitude of programs at each library branch in February. For a full list, refer to our online calendar at 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 now has a Twitter and Instagram account. Please follow and like us!

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