NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

April 27, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY DEBUTS BEYOND BOOKS: LIBRARY OF THINGS
Launch event to take place Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Terrytown Library

JEFFERSON, LA – On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Jefferson Parish Library will launch Beyond Books: Library of Things. A public kickoff event is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Terrytown Library (608 Heritage Ave., Terrytown). 

Beyond Books: Library of Things is an initiative that allows library cardholders access to temporary loans of practical and recreational objects, ranging from cookware, such as baking pans, cookie cutters, an Instant Pot and air fryer, to an Instax camera, sewing machine, tape measure and telescope. Similar to checking out a book, patrons will be allowed to check out these objects for a two-week time span.

"Our Jefferson Parish Library continues to take its offerings to the next level and extend its services in new ways that help our community," said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. "The Library of Things is a creative extension of what our Jefferson Parish Library has to offer, allowing those with a library card to access items they can use at home or try before they buy."

The launch event will show off items in the Library of Things collection, featuring live music with new ukuleles and acoustic guitars, along with cornhole and pickleball games. There will also be various demonstrations going on inside the library to showcase items. Staff will show families how to use an old-fashioned ice cream maker for a cool summer treat and an air fryer for snacks. Other activities include a story time with crafts, a photo booth for patrons to commemorate the day and food trucks for lunch.

“Libraries are hubs for community connections, linking people to resources whether those are books, databases, public programs or people,” said Jessica Styons, director of the Jefferson Parish Library. “The Library of Things movement is a growing trend in public, academic and special libraries in many countries. This is another way the Jefferson Parish Library will connect our residents to the resources they need and want, bringing our services to the next level.”

Beyond Books: Library of Things will expand to include collections at additional branches in the near future, including the North Kenner Library (630 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner), Belle Terre Library (5550 Belle Terre Road in Marrero), and Grand Isle Library (3101 LA Highway 1, Grand Isle). The ultimate goal is to include a collection at all 17 branches of the Jefferson Parish Library system. Patron feedback will determine the variety of new objects that will be continually added to the collection. Programs that promote Beyond Books: Library of Things will also be underway at branch locations as items are added to the collection.  

All available objects will be displayed in catalogs at the hosting libraries and online at jplibrary.net. Objects must be returned to the same location as checkout. Items will not travel between branch locations. For more information, contact Jefferson Parish Library Director of Marketing and Engagement David Johnson at 504-849-8826 or djohnson@jplibrary.net.  

The Jefferson Parish Library system consists of 16 locations that stretch from the Lakeshore Branch on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain to the Grand Isle Branch just steps away from the Gulf of Mexico. The library system consists of two large regional libraries and seven branches on each side of the Mississippi River. The East Bank Regional Library (4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie) serves as library headquarters. For more information, contact the library at (504) 838-1100 or www.jefferson.lib.la.us.  

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO