A brand-new Harry Potter exhibition featuring more than 100 items is on display at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
The exhibit includes a dozen dolls and figurines, a skull, numerous signs, wands, more than two dozen bottles, and at least 20 books featuring titles such as "Flesh Eating Trees of the World," "Magick Moste Evile" and "Advanced Potion Making."
The display is located in three adjacent cabinets in the hallway leading from the Main Hall into the nonfiction area. The items were donated by an anonymous patron. The staff and young people from the Teen Center prepared the exhibit.
GENEALOGY: Gwen Kelley, a librarian who specializes in genealogy and local history, will lead a series of 13 seminars at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Each session begins at 1:30 p.m.
- Jan. 31 — United States Census
- Feb. 7 — Vital records
- Feb. 14 — Newspapers and obituaries
- Feb. 21 — Cemetery records
- Feb. 28 — Military records
- March 6 — Immigration records
- March 13 — Ancestry. Com
- March 20 — FamilySearch. Org
- March 27 — Facebook for genealogy
- April 4 — Tracing records on women
- April 11 — Prison records
- April 18 — Genetic genealogy
- April 25 — Genealogical proof standard
FRENCH LITERATURE: Next year’s books have been selected for The French Lit Discussion Group, a monthly book club that focuses on both contemporary and classic French literature.
The group meets at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Though most in the group have a basic knowledge of French, all works of fiction are read in English.
All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 and Feb. 19 — "Dangerous Liaisons" by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
March 11 and April 15 — "The Age of Reason" by Jean Paul Sartre
May 13 and June 17 — "Scaramouche" by Rafael Sabatini
For the rest of the year's schedule, contact Chris Smith, manager of Adult Programming for the library, at (504) 889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.
GREAT BOOKS: Folks in the Great Books Discussion Group have chosen the reading material for the first half of 2024. The group, led by librarian Gwen Kelley, meets at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
All meetings are at 7 p.m.
- Jan. 16 — "The Code of the Woosters" by PG Wodehouse
- Feb. 20 — "A Passage to India" by EM Forster
- March 19 — "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams
- April 16 — "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas
- May 21 — "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
- June 18 — "The Confessions of Nat Turner" by William Styron
MAHJONG: Diane Schleifstein, the immediate past president of the Friends of the Jefferson Public Library, will lead a series of Mahjong classes at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
The sessions will occur in the Jefferson Room two more times, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 2 and Jan. 9
GETTING A LIBRARY CARD: A Jefferson Parish Library card can be picked up at any branch location, and are free to parish residents or property owners.
To receive a card, patrons must fill out an application at a branch or via the online form and present current identification with proof of address indicating residence or property ownership. With proper identification, a card will be issued and be valid the same day.
A parent or legal guardian must sign the application for a child 18 years or younger.
Those who live outside of Jefferson Parish can get a library card for $25. To receive a card, you must fill out an application and present current identification with proof of address. With proper identification, a card will be issued and be valid the same day.
The card is valid for six months from date it was issued.
The library extends reciprocal privileges (with some restrictions) to people who have valid New Orleans Public Library cards. To receive a card, you must fill out an application, and present your ID.
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.