Louisiana
Webster Parish Library hosts workshop for Louisiana librarians |
Tuesday afternoon, the Webster Parish Library branch in Minden served as a host to librarians throughout northwest Louisiana to meet, share valuable insights, and best practices for librarians to make their summer programs more engaging and accessible.
To help other librarians enhance the impact of summer programs in libraries, Megan Thomas, Youth Consultant for the Louisiana State Library, emphasized the importance of adopting new and innovative ideas to better serve communities.
Thomas began by highlighting the primary objective of the session, stating, “So what we’re here to do today is to teach librarians best practices, ideas, and other general information on how they can make any kind of summer program at their library the best way to serve their community with new and innovative ideas.”
One of the key points Thomas emphasized was the need for librarians to step outside their branches and take their programs directly to the community. She stressed the importance of collaboration with other community agencies to expand the library’s reach to its local community. “One of the big things I push is getting outside of your branch. I really am encouraging children and teen librarians to take the show on the road. To go to where the citizens are, partner with other community agencies, to bring a whole realistic experience to our communities,” said Thomas.
She urged librarians to explore ways to make their programs more efficient and achievable for community members with limited time. “We talked about how to make programs more efficient, how to make it more achievable for other community members, people who maybe don’t have the time to come into the library and spend lots of time coming to programs,” explained Thomas.
Furthermore, Thomas encouraged residents to explore the diverse summer programs offered by libraries across different parishes. She highlighted the variety of initiatives libraries are taking in their youth programs to incentivize them to read more. “Any parish or any area you’re in, check out what your library is doing during the summer. Webster Parish is doing a discovery camp, other parishes are doing summer reading programs, summer reading bingo, summer reading adventures. There’s a lot of cool things going on that are accessible to people in the community and outside the community for people to attend,” Thomas added.
Thomas’s insights serve as a valuable guide for librarians looking to revamp their summer programs, ensuring they are not only engaging but also accessible to a wider audience within and beyond the community. The collaborative approach and emphasis on realistic experiences promise to make libraries vibrant hubs for learning and exploration during the summer months.
Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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