We asked the Facebook community last Friday whether they preferred reading paper books or ebooks. By a mile, they voted for paper books as their preference (though plenty of love was given to ebooks and audiobooks). Check our Facebook page each Friday for a new question and the opportunity to chat with other readers.

Numerous story times are available on Facebook and YouTube. All story times are shared on the Library Facebook page and linked on the website Calendar. This week, we introduced The Lorax by Dr. Seuss read by Danny DeVito, Imagination Library Bedtime Stories with Dolly Parton, and Stay at Home Story Time with Oliver Jeffers. Award-winning author Kwame Alexander also celebrated Picture Book Week with different story times each day.

Louisiana celebrated National Poetry Month with the tenth annual “Just Listen to Yourself: Louisiana’s Poet Laureate Presents Louisiana Poets.” This event was hosted by Louisiana Poet Laureate John Warner Smith and featured poets from around the state reading their work. The event was live-streamed on Thursday, April 30 and is available on YouTube HERE.

The Stratford Festival is presenting a free film festival to entertain you during this period of social isolation. Watch 12 of their most successful Shakespeare productions for free. Current and upcoming shows include: King Lear from April 23 to May 14; Cariolanus from April 30 to May 21; Macbeth from May 7 to May 28. Watch performances on the Stratford website HERE.

The National Air and Space Museum presents a virtual concert featuring Sting, Clipping, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Dan Deacon, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Valerie June, Lukas Nelson, Grace Potter, and Vagabon. According to the museum, these artists will be “sharing songs about space and isolation to celebrate how extreme situations can bring out the very best in us all and why there’s no challenge we can’t face together.” Available on YouTube HERE.

The May 2020 recommended titles list voted by librarians is now available. The most popular title of the month is Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner. Other titles may be found on the Library Reads website HERE.