By Jeanni Ritchie
In March, the Westside Regional Library hosted an exhibit displaying the Louisiana Library’s Centennial Celebration.
For 100 years, the Louisiana Library has supported libraries and citizens across our great state—including our own Rapides Parish Library.
The RPL has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Saturday mornings were spent scouring the shelves for the ten books I’d bring home that week. Beverly Cleary, Carolyn Haywood, Judy Blume, Arnold Lobel, and Shel Silverstein were frequent checkouts.
This special traveling exhibit has pop-up display banners and companion booklets, allowing visitors to explore the fascinating journey of the State Library and the growth of public libraries throughout the state.
What caught my attention the most was the panel about the Louisiana Book Festival, held each year in downtown Baton Rouge at the State Library of Louisiana, the Capitol Park Museum, and the surrounding area.
The event draws approximately 20,000 attendees from across Louisiana and the nation, and is free and open to the public. Festival highlights include more than 200 authors and poets, engaging book talks and signings, insightful panel discussions, and a wide array of activities for children and teens.
The festival was launched in 2002 to promote literacy and celebrate Louisiana’s vibrant literary culture, but I’d never been. I was still at the library when I made hotel arrangements at the downtown Hilton—within walking distance to the festival—and marked the October 31st date down on my calendar.
Some stories you read—and some you step into. This year, I plan to do both.
