Need a suggestion for something to read or watch from the library this weekend? Maybe you'd like to check out an ebook or audiobook? Try some of our Staff Picks, to find what some of the other people in our parish are enjoying.

We know that not every staff pick will appeal to every patron, but not to worry! If you need help selecting something, we have online tools like Book Browse and our Online Catalog, or you can ask one of our friendly staff members to help search for you.

The Magnificent Scenery of Ireland [DVD]

The DVD, The Magnificent Scenery of Ireland, truly lives up to its name. The landscapes were absolutely breath-taking. The videographer included captions with the names of the regions of Ireland that were being shown; but not specific tourist sites. Although it was a very relaxing to watch, sixty minutes was a long time without any commentary. A commentary would have been beneficial for those planning a trip to Ireland. Most people will visit places of interest rather than see the entire country. This is something that you may wish to research before visiting.

If The Magnificent Scenery of Ireland interests you, feel free to request or check it out. We'll be back next Thursday with a different Staff Pick.

Merryville Branch is closing early today due to a power outage. If power is restored before 6:00pm today, the branch will re-open for the remainder of its regular schedule.

If you need library services in the meantime, our DeRidder branch is open until 5:30 today. You can contact us in person or by telephone. Currently, all other branches are maintaining their normal hours of operation.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Need a suggestion for something to read or watch from the library this weekend? Maybe you'd like to check out an ebook or audiobook? Try some of our Staff Picks, to find what some of the other people in our parish are enjoying.

We know that not every staff pick will appeal to every patron, but not to worry! If you need help selecting something, we have online tools like Book Browse and our Online Catalog, or you can ask one of our friendly staff members to help search for you.

Sting! by Sandra Brown

Is this a crime/detective story with police corruption? Or is it an exhilarating and stimulating romantic story? Is the lead character a hitman/kidnapper or a detective and future love interest for Jordan Bennett?

It's a story about criminal financial schemes involving the beloved brother of a beautiful business woman and her 'would be' killer on the bayous and backstreet bars in small towns of Louisiana.

The intense events and twists kept me surprised and interested as to what happens next.

If you enjoy reading suspense stories set in our state of Louisiana as I do, you will like this book also.

If Sting! interests you, feel free to request or check it out. We'll be back next Thursday with a different Staff Pick.

This week we received a new book that should appeal to readers who enjoy the stories of real people doing interesting and unique things. Walking to Listen: 4000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time is a fascinating story of a young man’s incredible journey.

Twenty three year old Andrew Forsthoefel had just graduated from college and had no idea what he wanted to do next. He decided to start walking. He left his home in Pennsylvania with a backpack, an audio recorder, and a sign that read “Walking to Listen.” His goal was to walk all the way across the country, talking to people all along the way. He wanted to get to know them, learn how they answered many of the questions he had about life, and see how they lived. He met all sorts of people from all walks of life, and they shared their life stories with him. He tells about the hardships he faced – bad weather, fatigue, fear and loneliness. But he also shares his experiences with incredible kindness from strangers and learning about the deep connections between all people despite their obvious differences.

His journey took nearly a year, but he did make it to the Pacific Ocean. He may not have completely figured out the meaning of life or gotten answers to all of the questions he had, but he did learn a great deal about himself and his place in the world.

If this book sounds like one you would enjoy, come check it out. It can be found in the adult non-fiction section of the library in Dewey number 796. As always, any of our helpful staff will be happy to assist you in locating it.

Summer Reading Program 2017 has started! If you haven't already signed up, the links are at the top of the webpage, but you can also click here for Children's Login, Teens' Login and Adults' Login. The library has all kinds of books available to read, but you don't have to come in to the library to find things to read.

As a matter of fact, anything you read from Tumblebooks is eligible for your score in the Summer Reading Program! And if you're on the go, you can even get an App for it from the Apple AppStore or Google Play.

In fact, any of the books you can get to through our Electronic Library Page are eligible! Enjoy your summer and enjoy your reading!

Need a suggestion for something to read or watch from the library this weekend? Maybe you'd like to check out an ebook or audiobook? Try some of our Staff Picks, to find what some of the other people in our parish are enjoying.

We know that not every staff pick will appeal to every patron, but not to worry! If you need help selecting something, we have online tools like Book Browse and our Online Catalog, or you can ask one of our friendly staff members to help search for you.

Jesus Among Secular Gods by Ravi Zacharias

Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias addresses the uniqueness of Jesus Christ among the world religions. Its subtitle: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message. Zacharias gives the reader a complete picture of what his goal is in the introduction, namely, the testing of the truth claims of Christianity over and against world religions: “The reality is that if religion is to be treated with intellectual respect, then it must stand the test of truth, regardless of the mood of the day. This book is a defense of the uniqueness of the Christian message.”

If Jesus Among Secular Gods interests you, feel free to request or check it out. We'll be back next Thursday with a different Staff Pick.

Are you ready to "Build a Better World?" Stop by your local branch of the Beauregard Parish Library for great events, special performers, and the chance to earn some great prizes!

Registration starts tomorrow, and you can get registered (and start earning prizes) from the comfort of your home by clicking the links above.

Take a look at our special events or use our online calendar on the left side of the page to stay informed about all your library has to offer.

So, get out your hard hat and get ready to build a better world, starting at your Beauregard Parish Library!

Jazz clarinetist and renouned bandleader Benny Goodman was born May 30, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. "Dubbed the 'King of Swing,' Goodman was also a complex personality whose relentless pursuit of perfection was reflected in his approach to music." If you would like to know more, you can read a biography of Goodman at Brittanica Biographies in the Biography Reference Center.

If you want to hear Goodman's music, he has several albums and singles available on Freegal. You can stream as much as three (3) hours of uninterrupted music without commercials per day. If you find something you really like, you can download as many as five (5) mp3s a week.

If you'd prefer to watch some historic performances, don't forget our Access Video on Demand collection. Here's a video from Ken Burns' Jazz

We wish you and yours a heartfelt Memorial Day. In observance of the holiday, all branches of the Beauregard Parish Library are closed.

For patron convenience, no items are due when the library is closed, and overdue items do not collect fines. All branches of the Beauregard Parish Library return to regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.

On Memorial Day we remember those we have lost who have fought and sacrificed their lives so that we are free. We take this day to remember them in poetry, in song, and in our hearts.

Freegal has Memorial Day music for you and other patriotic music as well.

Freegal is a free music website that gives you 5 free weekly downloads that are yours to keep forever and 3 free hours daily of commercial-free music streaming. This is paid for by the Beauregard Parish Library. To find Freegal, just click on the Electronic Library icon on our webite. Or click here.

If you are over fifty years old and realizing that you have slowed down and have more aches and pains than you used to, we received a new book that may help you.

Dynamic Aging is a new book by biomechanist and movement teacher Katy Bowman. In it she shows how our pain and lack of mobility may not be due to our age, but rather our habits. Changing how we move can change how we feel. She gives instructions for exercises and habit modifications that can drastically improve our lives. She shares the experiences of four women over age seventy-five who have used her principles for years. They are now able to move better and feel better than they did a decade ago.

While the book contains detailed instructions and illustrations for many helpful exercises, the author also includes many ways to incorporate more movement into our regular activities. She shows how simply correcting our posture can make a huge difference in how we feel. There are diagrams that demonstrate how sitting, standing, and walking correctly can eliminate many of our aches and pains. Each section of the book contains comments and advice from the women who have successfully used the methods.

The author says that the exercises and modifications described in the book can be used for people of all ages and mobility levels. She does stress, however, that safety precautions should be taken, and that everyone should check with a medical professional before starting any exercise program.

Please note that all branches of Beauregard Parish Library will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2017 in honor of Memorial Day.

While the library is closed, no items will be due and no late fees will accrue.

Fields Branch will close early today at 1:30. If you need library services, our DeRidder branch is open until 5:30 today. You can contact us in person or by telephone.

Our DeRidder, Merryville, Ragley and Singer branches will have normal Saturday hours from 9:00-1:00, and all branches of the Beauregard Parish Library have outside book drops to return items when the library is closed.

We have a 3-Day Weekend coming up, and the library is going to be closed. But that does not mean you can't visit the library online and find things to read, listen to, or watch!

Visit Overdrive for books and audiobooks, visit Access Video for classic movies and educational videos, Freegal for free music to listen to, or Zinio for magazines!

So, sit back and find a book that reminds you of why soldiers go to war, a movie that shows the horrors of war, music that stirs the soul, or some light reading to take you to a place where wars are fought by showing off who can make the fanciest rainbow!

Need a suggestion for something to read or watch from the library this weekend? Maybe you'd like to check out an ebook or audiobook? Try some of our Staff Picks, to find what some of the other people in our parish are enjoying.

We know that not every staff pick will appeal to every patron, but not to worry! If you need help selecting something, we have online tools like Book Browse and our Online Catalog, or you can ask one of our friendly staff members to help search for you.

Beasts of the Southern Wild [DVD]

The low-budget drama film Beasts Of The Southern Wild directed by Benh Zeitlin, stars the actress Quvenzhané Wallis as the character Hushpuppy and the actor Dwight Henry as the character Wink.

A big storm is approaching a small Louisiana bayou community called The Bathtub where a girl named Hushpuppy lives with her father Wink. Hushpuppy and her father Wink and several members of the community do not evacuate before the storm arrives, and the film explores the relationship between Hushpuppy and Wink and some other members of their community with a few occasional fantasy elements thrown in.

I like it because even though the low-budget limited this film's potential, it was still well-acted to the point that it sometimes felt real or like a documentary. Some of the other things I liked are the funny and emotional moments, the fantasy elements, the father and daughter relationship, and the portrayal of survivors of a storm and their sense of community.

I think that other people would like it because it is a good and unique low-budget dramatic film that involves family and community before, during, and after a major storm. I think that Beasts Of The Southern Wild is worth watching. It was probably one of the best films that I saw last year, and it was a film that surprised me and that almost made me cry. I am glad that I watched it even though I had no idea what it was about before I watched it.

If Beasts of the Southern Wild interests you, feel free to request or check it out. We'll be back next Thursday with a different Staff Pick.

On this day in 1844, the first telegraph line in the US between Baltimore, MC and Washington, DC opened. Samuel FB Morse, creator of the Morse Code, sent the first officially telegraphed message: "What hath God wrought?"

If you're curious about Morse Code or telegraphs, here are a few resources we have for you:

Items in our catalog about the telegraph, including its use in the Civil War.

A video from our Access Video collection (patrons may need to supply their library card numbers to view at home:

Today is the 100th birth anniversary of mathemetician and meteorologist Edward Norton Lorenz. According to Chase's Calendar of Events Lorenz was:

"..father of chaos theory who formulated the idea of the "butterfly effect" -- that a small, seemingly insignificant act or disturbance can actually have huge consequences. His famous 1972 talk, 'Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?' helped poularize the notion."

If you want to know more about the Butterfly Effect, here is a video from our Access Video collection that explains it:

If your familiarity with the Butterfly Effect is through the 2004 Ashton Kutcher movie of the same name, don't worry. We have that, too. [Click for item in online catalog]

What is a Moog (pronounced Mogue) you ask? It’s an early synthesizer from the mid 1960’s named after it’s creator Robert Moog (with the help of Herb Deutsch). At the time, it was very innovative because it gave musicians and composers new and exciting sounds to perform and create. They could make electronic sounds, real instrument sounds, or something in-between. But you must program it. By connecting a series of jacks and patch chords you could change and create sounds by manipulating sound waves. And it was small enough to be portable so musicians could take it to concerts and into the studios. The Moog could be heard in movies and on television shows such as The Partridge Family.

The Moog has a bit of a cult following with a Moogfest held annually in May. There is also the Bog Moog Foundation which strives to inspire creativity through Dr. Bob’s Sound School where children are taught about electronics and sound physics.

The Music Minute would like to honor Robert (Bob) Moog’s May birthday by highlighting the many albums featuring the Moog synthesizer. You can use your 5 free weekly downloads and/or 3 free daily hours of streaming music listening, all from Freegal, the free and legal website.

This week the library added an interesting new book to the collection that shows how information gathered by studying internet use can tell a great deal about how people really feel.

Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are is written by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a Harvard-trained economist, former Google data scientist, and New York Times writer. He argues that much of what we think about people is wrong because almost everyone will lie on things like surveys. He says that what they do on the internet is much more valuable in determining what they really think. Every time we do an internet search or click on an ad or link, it tells researchers something about us. And because we think that we are doing this in private, we are more likely to divulge our true feelings and thoughts. Scientists and researchers are able to use this information to analyze people’s views on all sorts of topics from religion and politics to what types of things they really enjoy.

The author says that studying data like this is a whole new way of studying the human mind. He uses personal anecdotes and stories, along with the results of actual studies that have yielded surprising results. He says that there is almost no limit to what can be learned about human nature from this data and it will change the way we view the world.

Need a suggestion for something to read or watch from the library this weekend? Maybe you'd like to check out an ebook or audiobook? Try some of our Staff Picks, to find what some of the other people in our parish are enjoying.

We know that not every staff pick will appeal to every patron, but not to worry! If you need help selecting something, we have online tools like Book Browse and our Online Catalog, or you can ask one of our friendly staff members to help search for you.

Skinny Suppers by Brooke Griffin

A great cookbook for healthier meals is Skinny Suppers by Brooke Griffin, the creator of skinnymom.com. I like this book because it is attractive with its inviting colored paper and colored fonts. I also like the colored pictures of the recipes that make everything look so good you can’t wait to try a recipe. Foods like Coconut Fish Sticks, Grilled Chicken and Fruit Salad Wraps, Vegetarian Chipotle Black Bean Burgers, Cilantro Lime Rice, Santa Fe Quinoa Sizzling Skillet, Sour Cream Enchiladas, Parmesan Chicken Nuggets, Un-Sloppy Janes, Cheesy Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Rolls are all made just a little better for you with a few healthier substitutions.

She also has little inspirational quotes and sayings peppered throughout the book which I find really sweet such as “when you are about to give up remember why you started in the first place”. Anyone who likes simple recipes that are also appealing to the eye will like this cookbook (and it never hurts to be a bit healthier).

If Skinny Suppers interests you, feel free to request or check it out. We'll be back next Thursday with a different Staff Pick.

Active library patrons will know that Beauregard Parish Library gives you free tools to manage your money. One of the greatest tools we share for Finance and Investing is ValueLine.

If finance is one of your topics of interest, too, you may find it interesting that the New York Stock Exchange was founded on this day in 1792. According to Chase's Calendar of Events, the stock exchange would meet under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street in good weather or go inside to a coffeehouse in bad weather.

Embedded below is a video from our Access Video collection about the founding of the New York Stock Exchange.

Children's book lovers of all ages will know the name Margaret Rey as the author half of the team that brought you Curious George. The Curious George series was first published in 1941 with only 7 books, but now it has over 133 titles translated into 26 different languages.

If you're a fan of Curious George or you want to introduce the mischievous monkey and the Man in the Yellow Hat to your children, take a look in our online catalog here.

The 1970’s: Pet rocks (mine’s name was Albert), Weebles that wobble (but they don’t fall down), and the Happy Face. Nostalgic for the 70’s or would you simply like to explore some music from a decade you have never seen or heard? Well, Freegal has plenty of free music from the 70’s from light pop to some music that will mellow you out.

☺“Playground in My Mind” by Clint Holmes from Radio Hits of the ‘70s

☻“Time” by The Alan Parsons Project from The Essential Alan Parsons Project

☺“Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band from Starland Vocal Band

☻“Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando from The Definitive Collection

☺“All By Myself” by Eric Carmen from Eric Carmen

☻“Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright from The Motion of Hidden Fire

☺“Without You” by Harry Nilsson from Nilsson Schmilsson

☻“I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” by the Hillside Singers from I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing

☺“Wildfire” by Michael Murphy from Blue Sky-Night Thunder

☻“I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash from The Best Of Johnny Nash

Use your 5 free weekly downloads or your 3 free daily hours of commercial-free streaming music to listen to music of the 70’s or explore your own music.

☻Have A Nice Day!! (I kind of had to say it.)

Are you interested in the great mysteries of the universe but don’t have the time or the patience to slog through the enormous scientific books on astrophysics? Then one of our new books might be just the thing for you.

Check out Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. You may be familiar with Dr. Tyson from his hit radio and television program “StarTalk” or his other award winning books. (He has even appeared on the popular sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”!) Dr. Tyson is known for his ability to relate complex scientific information to regular people. This book is a shining example of that. He uses witty anecdotes and clear language to explain topics such as quantum mechanics, the search for life in the universe, and black holes, all in short, easy to read chapters. Even people who normally stay away from anything “scientific” will find this book entertaining and enlightening.

This book is certainly not intended to make anyone an expert in astrophysics, but its twelve essays are designed to give readers enough of an understanding of the key concepts that they will be able to better understand what is going on in our world. It is located in adult non-fiction in Dewey number 523.01. This section is where all of the astrophysics books are found, so if you read this one and want to get more detailed information about one or more of the subjects discussed, you should be able to find it here.

Looking to find one of our rural branches? Check the bottom of the library's home page! All of our branches are listed, and a link is provided to a map of the location, as close as Google will get.

The Beauregard Parish Library strives to make its resources available to all of the residents of Beauregard Parish. If something is not available at your local branch, put in a request and it'll be transferred from one of our other branches if we have it for your convenience!