April News and Events

THANK YOU ST. TAMMANY!

We are immensely grateful to our patrons, community partners and all of the voters of St. Tammany Parish for their support with the passing of our millage continuation.

Thanks to the voters, the library will continue to provide resources, programs and services that the community relies on and continue to offer future improvements, including the expansion and renovation of the Slidell Branch on Robert Blvd. and a new replacement branch for the Lacombe area.

We look forward to the next 15 years of embracing the traditions and values of St. Tammany Parish while enhancing tomorrow.

The St. Tammany Parish Library is celebrating National Library Week starting Sunday, April 6th, through Saturday, April 12th! Though it's just a week, the Library will be holding Food For Fines from April 6 through the end of April.

Food For Fines has become a tradition at the Library where for one nonperishable food item donated, patrons will pay off $1 worth of late fees, fines, or lost item fees, and the donations collected will go to local food banks.

Nonperishable Pet food will also be accepted for the Department of Animal Services' Pet Food Pantry. Donations to this pantry have allowed struggling pet owners to keep their pets through hard times.

During Food for Fines, replacement card fees will also be waived.

Dozens of designs were submitted for the Library’s limited edition, 75th Anniversary Library Card last month. At the end of March, ten finalists were chosen and voted on by patrons on paper ballots and online. On March 28, the winner was announced, Elizabeth Marcks.

Elizabeth has been a patron for over two decades at the Mandeville branch. When asked, Marcks said her card design inspiration “was focused on showcasing Louisiana culture and library services with a fun and kid-like look while also promoting the Library’s birthday celebration.”

Patrons will be able to receive the new limited-edition card starting this summer, while supplies last.

View all the Finalists Designs

The Covington Branch now has a sensory calming room for public use. The calming room is intended to provide a safe and quiet environment for individuals to de-stress, regulate emotions, or take a break from overwhelming situations.

The room is designed for individuals of any age with sensory disorders, autism, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or anyone who would find the room supportive. The room provides a safe space for individuals to take a break and explore sensory activities.

The sensory room features soft seating, weighted objects, tactile manipulatives, and soft lights.

The calming room is available on a first come, first served basis and is open during normal branch hours. Use of the room is intended for short periods of time. The room is not available for meetings, tutoring, or studying.

For more information, please call the Covington Branch or email at covington@stpl.us.

All St. Tammany Parish Library offices and branches will be closed on Friday, April 18th, and Saturday, April 19th, in observance of the Easter Holiday.

Offices and branches will reopen at normal business hours on Monday, April 21st.

List of Holiday Closures

The St. Tammany Parish Library kicked off a new project at the Slidell Branch Library on Saturday, April 5, the beautification of the Reading Garden at the edge of the new parking lot.

The Reading Garden is a collaborative project, designed by Landscape Architects Christy Kervin of Colline Design and Professor Emeritus Buck Abbey of LSU’s School of Landscape Architecture, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Slidell Library.

The event started with the planting of a magnolia tree that was donated by Keep Slidell Beautiful. In attendance were representatives from the Friends of the Slidell Library, Keep Slidell Beautiful, Keep Louisiana Beautiful and Slidell's Mayor, Bill Borchert.

In addition, the Slidell Branch and the South Slidell Branch libraries were both selected to receive trash receptacles as part of the 2024-25 Keep Louisiana Beautiful Trash Receptacle Grant Program, made possible with funding from the State of Louisiana and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The trash receptacles will be installed later in the spring.

This event also kicked off Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s week-long “Love the Boot” celebration in Slidell.

Learn More

St. Tammany Library Foundation Distinguished Speaker Series

St. Tammany Library Foundation held its Distinguished Speakers Series, the Foundation's biggest annual fundraiser, on Sunday, April 6th.

This year's speaker was Eric Cook, Executive Chef and Owner of award-winning New Orleans restaurants Gris-Gris and Saint John. A combat veteran who served six years in the United States Marine Corps, Cook entered the culinary world and worked in many of the city's most well-renowned kitchens before building a culinary empire of his own. Cook has appeared on many local and national television shows, including Top Chef New Orleans, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, Off the Menu and After Hours with Daniel Boulud.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the St. Tammany Library Foundation, donating or attending their next event? Visit their site to learn more!

St. Tammany Library Foundation

Visit the Foundation's Website

SAVE THE DATE!
The Summer Reading Challenge 2025 Kickoff Parties will be held:

Thursday, May 22nd at the Slidell Branch
and
Friday, May 23rd at the Madisonville Branch.

Both events are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Summer Reading Challenge

Children

Teens

Adults

The Friends of the Library of West St. Tammany will hold their monthly Used Book Sale on April 11th and April 12th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their building located at 1301 N. Florida St. in Covington, near the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds.

Some items start as low as 25 cents. Find books, DVDs, music and audio CDs, and puzzles, with a large selection of homeschool items and children's books. All proceeds support St. Tammany Parish Libraries.

View the Friends of the Library of West St. Tammany Website

The Friends of the Slidell Library (FSL) held their Used Book Sale on April 4th & 5th. This sale was held at the Slidell Library located at 555 Robert Blvd.

The Friends will hold their SSSSale (Second Saturday Special Sale) on April 12th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Slidell Library. This month's theme will be items related to the U.S. Civil War.

To view all of the Friends of the Slidell Library's upcoming sales and auction categories, click here.

The Friends’ used book sales, silent auctions, and other special sale events help raise funds to purchase items and fund events for the Slidell, Lacombe, Pearl River, and South Slidell Branch Libraries. For more information about FSL, activities, and membership, send an email to fsl70458@yahoo.com.

View the Friends of the Slidell Library's Webpage

Download this Month's Event Calendars

Looking for what's new in our collection?

Browse our newest arrivals

We are very grateful for our support organizations. Learn more about them at the links below.
St. Tammany Library Foundation
Friends of the Slidell Library — Friends of the Library of West St. Tammany

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St. Tammany Parish Library
1112 W 21st Ave. Covington LA 70433
www.sttammanylibrary.org