Terrebonne Parish Library System presents to you our 9th Annual Jambalaya Writers’ Conference & Book Fair. If you are interested in meeting some of  your favorite authors or want to learn more about becoming an author yourself, this is the place for you! The day-long conference hosts many noted speakers from Louisiana and the nation.

DOWNLOAD registration form here.

Rick Bragg, Pulitzer-Winning Memoirist, will be the keynote presenter at the Jambalaya Writers’ Conference. Rick Bragg is the author of two best-selling memoirs, All Over But the Shoutin’ and Ava’s Man. He credits his writing ability to the oral storytelling of family and friends in his childhood. Bragg has told stories and taught writing at Harvard University, Boston University, and other colleges. He has worked with several newspapers including The New York Times.Other noted speakers and authors attending include: Mary Kay Andrews, Jack Bedell, Darrell Borque, Dianne de Las Casas, Christopher Cenac, Sr., MD, Kate Depalma, John Doucet, Eileen Dreyer, Heather Graham, Debra Holland, Claire Joller, Julie Kane, H.D. Kirkpatrick, Gini Koch, David Middleton, Alison Peligrin, Caroline Starr Rose, Robert San Souci, Barbara Sillery, Cherry Weiner, Robin Wells, Katie Williams, and Adam Wilson. View more about the speakers and authors here!

DOWNLOAD registration form here.     

Conference Hotel
Courtyard Marriott
142 Library Drive
Houma, LA 70360
985-223-8996

The Big Read is here! This year, the Terrebonne Parish community will read and discuss Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. The Big Read’s intention is to restore reading in communities by reading and discussing a single book.  The Terrebonne Parish libraries will include Love Medicine in their book discussions from February to June 2012. Check with your nearest Terrebonne Parish Library to see about getting a copy!

Terrebonne Parish Library System book discussions:

Monday, February 13: Dularge Branch at 1:30 pm

Tuesday, April 3: Main Library at 6:30 pm

Thursday, May 17: North Branch at 6:30 pm

Tuesday, June 26: East Houma Branch at 6:30 pm

The Big Read Kickoff event, coordinated by the Houma Regional Arts Council, will be held Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 3 – 7 pm.  The day will include music, art, books, and keynote speakers. This event will be located in and around the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, 7910 Park Ave. The Terrebonne Parish Mobile Library will be present and will have items available to check out.  The first 25 people to visit the Mobile Library will receive a free copy of Love Medicine.

Made possible by the Houma Regional Arts Council. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.

Main Library

Thursday, 2/9 @ 6 pm
Freedom Riders: Movie Screening
Join us for a community screening of the documentary Freedom Riders, a film by Stanely Nelson released in 2012 and based in part on the book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice by Raymond Arsenault. For more information, including time lines, interactive map, and online screening, see PBS.

Wednesday, 2/22 @ 6:30 pm
Black History in Terrebonne Parish
Public speaker Catherine J. Carter will salute the legacy and impact of local African-American citizens. There will be a Q & A session, encouraging the audience to engage in conversation. Several local African-Americans will also be attending to share their own stories. “Nia Praise” will give a dance presentation and an exhibit of African American artifacts will be provided for viewing. For more information call 850-5313.

View African-American artifacts in the foyer display cases of the Main Library for the month of February.

Chauvin Branch

Black History Month Display
Chauvin Branch will feature the life and works of artist Clementine Hunter for the month of February.

East Houma Branch

Saturday, 2/11 @ 10 am
Black History Story Time

Gibson Branch

Black History Month Display
Gibson Branch will display books on African-American inventors for the month of February.

Tuesdays and Saturdays
February 4-April 17, 2012**
9am to 2pm

Taxes are done FREE if you earned less than $48,000. Volunteers working under Catholic Charities will be at the Terrebonne Main Library to help you file your taxes at the dates and times above on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call Jennifer Gaudet at Catholic Charities, 876-0490, or visit http://bit.ly/vitainfo on the web.

**VITA will not be at the library on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 21st, nor on Saturday, March 31st, during the Jambalaya Writers’ Conference.

Click to download/view. February 2012 Newsletter

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Dates: Thursday 2/16,  Thursdays 3/1 – 20

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Registration: Call 985 876-7072

Prime Time is a unique six week program of reading, discussion, and storytelling with families and their children ages 6 to 10 years old. This free program encourages families to read and discuss books together. Each week award-winning children’s books are told by storyteller Sue Peace with Jackie Jackson leading the discussion about the stories. A light snack and door prizes are given. This program is sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

Tuesday, February 14 at 10 am

Main Library introduces a NEW program called Remember When Café.  Adults are welcome to join together, reminiscing and sharing events from the past in the Terrebonne Parish area and community over a good cup of coffee.  Feel free to bring photos or other materials relating to Terrebonne Parish. Join us for a good time!

Call 985.876.5861 (option 1) for more information.

List of authors/speakers attending:

Keynote: Rick Bragg
Editor: Adam Wilson
Editor: Kate Depalma
Agent: Cherry Weiner
Mary Kay Andrews
Jack Bedell
Darrell Borque
Dianne de Las Casas
Christopher Cenac, Sr.
John Doucet
Eileen Dreyer
Heather Graham     
Debra Holland
Claire Joller
Julie Kane    
H.D. Kirkpatrick
Gini Koch
David Middleton    
Alison Peligrin
Caroline Starr Rose
Robert San Souci
Barbara Sillery
Robin Wells 
Katie Williams

Music: Clay Melvin

Click to download/view our  January 2012 Newsletter

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