The 2022 Children’s Book Writers’ Festival will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Aug. 27, in the meeting room of the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.
The purpose of the free writers’ festival is to encourage and provide information to people who want to write or illustrate books. Patrons can attend all three panels, as well as meet the local authors.
Picture Book Panel: 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The panelists are Karen Konnerth, author of “Calliope Kate” and the “Voice of the River”; Denise Walter-McConduit, “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Read”; and Shannon Kelley Atwater, “Alligators Don’t Like Flowers.”
Middle Grade Panel: 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
The panelists are Marti Dumas, author of “Wildseed Witch”; Laura Roach Dragon, “Ghostly Tales of New Orleans”; and Gary Alipio, “The Craziest Fishing Tale on the Bayou.”
Young Adult Panel: 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
The panelists are M.H. Herlong, author of “Great Wide Sea”; Leah Eskine, “CC’s Road Home”; and Laura Michaud, “The Ghostwriter of New Orleans.”
ESL AT GRETNA: English as a Second Language classes are held every Monday night through the end of the year at 6:30 at the Gretna Library, 102 Willow St., Gretna.
They are offered by the New Neighbor Project, a nonprofit organization that provides support to immigrants through donation-based ESL classes and citizenship classes, as well as citizenship application assistance and scholarship opportunities to help provide a pathway to citizenship.
FREE MOVIES: The Lakeshore Library, 1000 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, has a free movie night every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The Live Oak Library, 125 Acadia Drive, Waggaman, offers a 2 p.m. matinee every Saturday. Patrons should check the library’s website for the names of the movies offered.
MINDFULNESS: A mindfulness session with Rolf van Anders will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 18, at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway. Van Anders is a mindfulness-based health and wellness coach in the field of integrative medicine. He has practiced integrative medicine in New Orleans since 1994.
GENEALOGY: Gwen Kelley, a librarian who specializes in genealogy, begins a series of classes the first week of September and they run until the end of the year.
The first is at 1 p.m. Sept. 7 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Topics include: vital records; census records; military records; as well as how to use other resources such as Google, Facebook, and Ancestry.com.
Information can be found on the library’s website.
ART EXHIBIT: “The Artwork of Raymond Chin,” an exhibition of 14 works from the Metairie landscaper, are on display at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Blvd., Metairie.
COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, or at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.
Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at jplibrary.net/training and click “East Bank Regional Schedule” or “West Bank Regional Schedule.”
Upcoming Metairie classes include:
- One-on-One Slot in Basic Computer Skills: 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Aug. 18.
- One-on-One Slot in Basic Computer Skills:10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 18.
- One-on-One Slot in Basic Computer Skills: 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23.
- One-on-One Slot in Basic Computer Skills: 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23.
- Microsoft PowerPoint 1:10 a.m. to noon Aug. 24.
- Microsoft Word 1: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24.
- Exploring JPL Digital Content: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25.
Upcoming Harvey classes include:
- Microsoft Excel 1: 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 19.
- Microsoft Word 1: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 19.
- Microsoft Excel 2: 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 22.
- Microsoft Word 2: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22.
- Beginner Computer Skills: 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 23.
- Basic Computer Skills:10 a.m. to noon Aug. 26.
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.
