Louisiana's East Baton Rouge Parish Library has come a long way since its founding in 1939 with a collection of second-hand donated books. Today the card catalogs are long gone, and the library’s collection now includes more than two million items serving more than 325,000 registered borrowers. Join correspondent Tom Wilmer for a visit with Mary Stein, assistant library director.
The East Baton Rouge Parish library has evolved with the times, becoming a community-serving trendsetter. One of the library’s primary missions is engaging everyone—from preschoolers to grandparents. Beyond the shelves of books, interactive services include “programs for life” with a dedicated career center, resume help, job search coaching and job-fair prep.
Small business research assistance includes business plan consulting and workshops. Teen services include after-school tutoring and SAT/ACT prep. Tai chi, movies, live concerts under the stars, robotics, virtual reality experiences, STEM/Arduino electronic kits and a “tech-petting zoo” for seniors are just a sampling of ongoing library offerings and activities. In addition, a comprehensive digital library includes e-books, videos, music CDs and feature film DVDs. You can even check out fine art paintings or a telescope.
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