Library Updates

Effective at noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, St. Martin Parish Library will close to the public. This closure is by order of Parish President Chester Cedars in response to recommendations by the CDC and local health officials. The Library will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Our digital library and online resources will remain available for patrons. Staff will be working Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will be available to answer questions by phone. Overdue fines will not be enforced during this time. Library materials may be returned by using the drop box at any of our library locations. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to reopening to the public once it is declared appropriate to do so.

Effective immediately, St. Martin Parish Library will cancel all community outreach, programs, and public use of meeting spaces (on a case-by-case basis). Branch locations will remain open and fully operational for the time being. Surfaces and materials will continue to be sanitized frequently in accordance to CDC guidelines.

Libraries are an important part of our communities and we will strive to serve our community during this pandemic. Please refer to recommendations by the CDC and local health officials. We ask that patrons who are ill remain home and use our digital library and online resources. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to serving our community throughout this time.

St. Martin Parish Library recently welcomed two members from the State Library of Louisiana, Rebecca Hamilton (State Librarian) and Charlene Bonnette (Head, Louisiana Dept.) to view a local history collection. They accepted a donation of local history slides that will be added to the Louisiana Digital Library Collection and preserved for future use. This collaboration was made possible by the efforts of St. Martin Parish Library Director Charlar Brew and Genealogist Patricia GuteKunst. TV station News15 was on hand to record the donation and interview Ms. Brew and Ms. Hamilton.

The donation consists of 1,741 slides produced in the 1970s. These photographic slides reflect the industry, landscape, culture, and people of St. Martin Parish half a century ago. The large number and variety of slides capture local farms, sugar production, Martin Mills, bayous, canals, locks, boats, churches, tombs, private homes, business, Mardi Gras balls and parades, bygone libraries, and people from all walks of life.

St. Martin Parish Library has housed these slides for many years but does not have the technology to digitize the images and preserve them for future generations. Donation of the slides to the State Library of Louisiana will not only allow more people to access these images, but will preserve St. Martin Parish history for the future.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9.06.19

Contact: Susan Naquin
St. Martin Parish Library
337-394-2207 ext. 222
snaquin@stmartinparishlibrary.org

St. Martin Parish Library Partners with La. State Bar Association and La. Library Association to Host Legal Advice Program on Oct. 23, 2019.

The St. Martin Parish Library, in partnership with the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) and the Louisiana Library Association (LLA), is presenting its fifth annual “Lawyers in Libraries” statewide program on Oct. 23, 2019. Attorney Neal C. Angelle will provide free individual consultations on legal issues beginning at 4 p.m. at the Breaux Bridge branch located at 205 N. Main Street. The program is free and open to the public. Appointments are required. To register, please call 337-332-2733.

The annual statewide “Lawyers in Libraries” program celebrates its 6th year of service to the public during the week of October 21st -26th. The Supreme Court of Louisiana and the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) support this annual volunteer attorney project held during National Pro Bono Celebration and thank the Louisiana Library Association (LLA) for its ongoing involvement

During this week, Louisiana attorneys will provide free, limited legal services to the public in libraries across the state. Louisiana has the third highest poverty rate in the nation. Every year, tens of thousands of people in our state who live below the federal poverty line go without assistance for their basic legal issues. Public libraries are natural starting points for people in search of information and services. Library staff can provide direction to available resources, but not legal advice. The “Lawyers in Libraries” program is a great benefit to patrons, especially in areas without a legal aid office.

St. Martin Parish Library is interested in researching and documenting the history of citizens of St. Martin Parish. We feel that it is our responsibility to meet and record interviews with older members of the community who have interesting and historical facts to share.

We are locating anyone interested in being interviewed or anyone interested in working on this project to contact Patricia GuteKunst at St. Martin Parish Library at 337-394-2207 Ext. 217 or pgutekunst@stmartinparishlibrary.org.

St. Martin Parish Library visited KADN News 15 for the morning and noon broadcasts to promote A Universe of Stories. Head of Programming, Susan Naquin, discussed the importance of the reading program for the community, how library summer events appeal to all ages, and previewed some of the fun events the library will offer all summer. Please visit the links below to watch each news segment.

https://kadn.com/summer-reading-program-a-universe-of-stories/

https://kadn.com/summer-reading-program-a-universe-of-stories-2/