Library Closing and Hurricane Link Fest

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library is closing at 4pm on Saturday, August 30 and will remain closed on Sunday, August 31. The library is closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 1 and will remain closed on Tuesday, September 2 UNLESS Hurricane Gustav changes course and leaves the Baton Rouge area untouched. Stay tuned to local news outlets for more information about library closures.

It seems like a good time to remind everybody about the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Hurricane Hotline, which is chock-full of hurricane information. And while we’re still open, don’t forget the Library Information Service at (225) 231-3750. We’ve been answering questions about the hurricanes and emergency preparedness all week.

The State Library of Louisiana has also set up hurricane and emergency assistance website at http://prepare.lib.la.us/ . Furthermore, a blog has been set up to keep track of the status of Louisiana Libraries, whether they are closed or open, or if any branches are damaged. It is the Louisiana Library Status Blog.

p4A Antiques Database and James Dean’s T-shirt

p4A Antiques Reference database is not just for collectors — it’s a collection in itself! It’s an image database with tons of great images of weirdly wonderful things.

Hidden in the depths of p4A you’ll find:

• James Dean’s t-shirt from Rebel Without a Cause
• Sitting Bull’s revolver
• Gen. George A. Custer’s folding camp chair
• a Tyrannosaurus rex claw
• the Red Baron’s goggles

…and many more odd, yet historical, items of interest!

Why wait for Antiques Roadshow or Cash in the Attic? Be your own treasure hunter and explore p4A Antiques Reference database. And tell us about your Fabulous Finds!

To access p4A Antiques Database, go to the EBRPL Database Page and enter your library card number (if you are inside of the library, you can skip this step). Go to p4A Antiques Database from the left hand column under My Library’s Databases.

New Main Library in the Park Concept Plans

After numerous meetings and workshops over the past few months, three site concept plans have been developed for the new Main Library in the Park. The library invites you to view each plan and to make comments and observations about them.

Click on the link to find the site concept plans and other items relating to the new Main Library in the Park.

Main Library in the Park Concept Plans

Finding Louisiana Authors

If you are looking for Louisiana authors, there are two separate databases that list Louisiana authors. The State Library of Louisiana’s Center for the Book maintains the Writer’s Directory, which is a bibliographic database of living Louisiana writers. The database is searchable by a variety of fields, inlcuding city and parish. When applicable, contact information for the authors is included as well as their speaking fees and about which topics they speak.

The second database is called the Louisiana Authors Index and it is maintained by Louisiana State University (LSU) Libraries. It tries to keep a list of deceased authors and their works. Listings include basic bibliographic information, and some include brief biographies.

Used together, these databases offer a comprehensive search for Louisiana authors and works.

African American Businesspeople

August is Black Business Month time to celebrate achievements of African-American businesspeople. Here is a brief list of titles in the library’s collection on the subject of African American entrepreneurs. Looking for biographies of local African American businesspeople, check out the people section of Our African American Legacy.

African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary by John N. Ingham and Lynne B. Feldman, c1994.

An Introduction To Business For African-American Youth by Abner McWhorter, c1995.

Black Titan: A.G. Gaston And The Making Of A Black American Millionaire by Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines, c2004.

Cookie Never Crumbles by Wally Amos, c2001.

Market Women: Black Women Entrepreneurs–Past, Present, And Future by Cheryl A. Smith, c2005

On Her Own Ground: The Life And Times Of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Perry Bundles, c2001.

Titles listed above are linked to the Library’s online catalog so you can see title locations and status. Once you’re in the catalog, click on the picture of the book cover for a synopsis and other information.