Summer Reading Challenge
Summer Reading Challenge
Summer Reading is officially open for registration for all ages! Last month, we held two kickoff parties, one at the Madisonville Branch and the second at the Slidell Branch.
 
If you missed out on the fun, don’t fret; it was only a preview of what is in store for this summer at the library!
 
Check out our Summer Reading Guide online to see our lineup of events this summer.
2026 Summer Reading Guide
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, “Unearth a Story,” runs from
May 21st to July 31st.
Learn more about Summer Reading!

June
Upcoming Holiday Closure: Juneteenth
All St. Tammany Parish Library branches and offices
will be closed on Friday, June 19th, for Juneteenth.
More Holiday Closures

America 250
America 250 Library Card
This year, we are celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with patriotic and historical programming, a commemorative library card, and more.
 
We have a page dedicated to resources and events in honor of this significant year.
 
In our Summer Reading Guide, events focused on America 250 will have the official America 250 logo near the event.
 
Visit our America 250 page to see how you can participate!
America 250

Second Lady Usha Vance: Summer Reading Challenge
Second Lady Usha Vance: Summer Reading Challenge
Second Lady Usha Vance invites students in grades K-8 to take part in her Summer Reading Challenge and celebrate America through the power of books.
 
Her challenge will run from June 1st through September 4th.
 
All participants will receive a digital certificate, a personalized letter, and an America-250th-themed bookmark, plus a chance to win a trip to the Nation’s Capital and the White House on September 25th, 2026.
 
This is a special opportunity for young readers to explore stories about our history, our heroes, and dream about the future. 
 
 Learn more and participate at WH.gov/read.
 
** Books read in this challenge can also be logged in the library's Summer Reading Challenge (until July 31st).**
Learn More

America 250 Library Card
America 250 Library Card
To celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, the library held a Library Card Design Contest in April. Last month, patrons voted online and in person at branches, and a winner was announced!
 
Elizabeth Lewis of Mandeville won with her intricate and colorful design. She incorporated the library, the love of reading and the celebration of our nation, the United States of America.
 
The cards will be available for patrons to obtain starting in July.
See the Winning Design

Hoopla BingePass
Expanded Hoopla BingePasses
Hoopla is well known for its eBooks, eAudiobooks, and streaming music, shows, and movies. Each month, library patrons receive eight borrows they can use on the platform to check out items. Eight borrows per month can seem limiting, so thankfully, Hoopla created the BingePass.
 
A BingePass can be checked out using one borrow, allowing the patron unlimited access to an entire collection for seven days.
 
Up until recently, the library offered 3 BingePasses: Hallmark+, The Great Courses, and Puzzle Palace. Now, until the end of this year, you can also check out BingePasses for BBC, the Ken Burns Collection, and the Dove Channel.
 
Low on borrows by the end of the month?
Remember to check Hoopla for Bonus Borrows. Available on the last seven days of each month, Bonus Borrows include select TV shows, movies, comics and manga, eBooks, audiobooks and sometimes even BingePasses at no borrow cost.
 
Check Hoopla on June 24th – June 30th to see what bonus borrows will be available this month!
 
Get Started with Hoopla Bingepasses!

Check It Out Podcast
Check It Out Podcast Returns
After a year-and-a-half-long hiatus, the library’s podcast relaunched last month with its first video episode dedicated to our Summer Reading program. The episode also provides insight from our Youth Services and Adult Programming departments.
 
Listen and watch on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. Visit our podcast page to find other ways to listen and to view all past episodes.    
Check Out the Latest Episode

Louisiana Literary Giants
Louisiana Literary Giants
Join along with speaker Dr. Bruce Craft as he hosts an exciting lecture on the Forgotten Giants of Louisiana Literature on Tuesday, June 23, at the Covington Branch!
 
From 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Dr. Craft will explore lesser-known Louisiana writers, introduce several of their nearly forgotten works, and analyze why their work is still critically important.
 
Visit the link below to register!
Register Here
To highlight his program, the library recorded Dr. Craft's first lecture of this series. Click the button below to watch the detailed presentation about Shirley Ann Grau. 
View Craft's Lecture on Shirley Ann Grau

Unearthing Events
Unearthing Events
Throughout June and July, our reference librarians are hosting five different KIDS events covering interesting facts about our beautiful parish, state, and country! Each of the events also includes making a craft, so join in on the fun!
 
Unearthing Louisiana State Parks
 
Unearthing North American Dinosaurs
 
Unearthing Old St. Tammany
 
To see more info on these events, view our Summer Reading guide or visit our event page by clicking the button below.
Unearthing Events

Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day
We would like to wish all of the fathers out there a very
Happy Father's Day this month!
 
Thank you for all the hard work that you do
and the love that you bring each day.

June Events

Friends of the Library News, Sales and Events

The Friends of the Library of West St. Tammany will not be holding a book sale this month while they are moving to their new location.

Their next Used Book Sale will be on Friday & Saturday, July 17th and 18th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their new address, 321 W. 29th Ave., Covington, LA 70433.

Visit their webpage to see how you can help the Friends and view a list of all upcoming sales and current silent auction items.

Visit the Friend's Webpage
Lily Ronquillo

The Friends of the Library of West St. Tammany are happy to announce that Lily Ronquillo is the 2026 Lisabeth Millard Scholarship winner.

Lily is the daughter of Jennifer and Adam Ronquillo. She is a recent graduate of Lakeshore High School in Mandeville. This fall, she plans to attend Louisiana State University and major in Biological Sciences to one day become a dentist.
 
As well as having outstanding academic achievements, Lily has been active in school & community events. She has exceeded 120 hours of community service, many of them in the Lakeshore Library.
Read Lily's Essay

Photo of the Friends of the Slidell Library Used Book Sale
The Friends of the Slidell Library (FSL) will hold their next monthly Used Book Sale on Friday, July 24th and Saturday, July 25th in the Slidell Library meeting room. 
  • July 24th - Members' Preview Sale, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
  • July 25th - Public Sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
The Members' Preview Sale is for FSL members only. But as always, memberships will be available to purchase or renew at the door. Annual memberships cost $5 per person or $8 per family. 
 
The Friends of the Slidell Library (FSL) will hold their SSSSale (Second Saturday Special Sale) on June 13th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Slidell Library, located at 555 Robert Blvd. This month's sale theme is children's and teens' books.
 
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.
FSL Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal honored the Friends of the Slidell Library with a proclamation declaring May 1st and May 2nd as Friends of the Slidell Library 50th Anniversary Celebration Days, coinciding with the Friends’ May Used Book Sale. The presentation was held at the Slidell Branch Library on Robert Blvd.
 
From left to right: City of Slidell Chief Administrative Officer Michael Noto, Director Cathy Wills, Treasurer Ginnie Arabie, Mayor Fandal, President Sherri Kaba, Vice-President Sandy Crosby, Secretary Becky Taylor, Directors Eddy Krzymowski and Lou Major.
View the Friends of the Slidell Library's Webpage

Download this Month's Event Calendars
Download the Adult In-Person Event Calendar
Download the Reference Event Calendar

Library Board of Control Upcoming Regular Meeting:
 
🗓️July 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
📍St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers
21490 Koop Dr. 
Mandeville, LA 70471

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 

Connect with us

facebook social icon
twitter social icon
instagram social icon
youtube social icon
7rXRGEN0Tri social icon
tLfX5p8wOkA social icon

Can't see this email? Click here to view this message in browser window.

Click here to unsubscribe

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