NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

September 15, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH LIBRARY DEBUTS PARISH-WIDE BEYOND BOOKS: EXPERIENCE PASSES AND THE NORTH KENNER LIBRARY BRANCH OF BEYOND BOOKS: LIBRARY OF THINGS

JEFFERSON, LA – On Saturday, September 30, 2023, the Jefferson Parish Library will debut its newest Beyond Books initiative, Experience Passes, in conjunction with the launch of the next library branch to take part in Library of Things. A public kickoff event is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Kenner Library (630 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner, LA 70065).

"Our Jefferson Parish Library continues to take its offerings to the next level and extend its services in new ways that help our community," said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. "Beyond Books is a creative extension of what our Jefferson Parish Library has to offer. We are excited to introduce Experience Passes and add Library of Things to more library branches throughout Jefferson Parish.”

Beyond Books: Experience Passes will allow library patrons to reserve passes to local and regional institutions, giving the community the opportunity for enriching educational, recreational and cultural experiences. Current partners include the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, National World War II Museum, Pontchartrain Conservancy and the Historical New Orleans Collection. Starting on Saturday, September 30, 2023, library cardholders will be able to reserve passes online at www.jplibrary.net/experiencepasses or by calling/visiting any library in Jefferson Parish. Patrons should note each partner's specific instructions for using the Experience Pass when making a reservation.

Beyond Books: Library of Things is an initiative that launched in May 2023, which allows Jefferson Parish Library cardholders access to temporary loans of practical and recreational objects, ranging from telescopes, microscopes and photo scanners to cookie cutters and pizza-making kits. Visit www.jplibrary.net/nkllot for full list of items that will be available at this location starting on September 30, 2023. Patrons are allowed to check out these objects for a two-week time span. The North Kenner Library is the newest library to offer this, joining the Terrytown Library, Bell Terre Library and Grand Isle Library. All available objects will be displayed in catalogs at the hosting libraries and online at jplibrary.net. Objects must be returned to the same location as checkout. Items will not travel between branch locations. The ultimate goal is to include a collection at all 16 branches of the Jefferson Parish Library system in the future. Patron feedback will help determine the variety of new objects that will be continually added to the collection.

“Libraries are hubs for community connections, linking people to resources whether those are books, databases, public programs or people,” said Jessica Styons, director of the Jefferson Parish Library. “Library of Things and Experience Passes provide even more ways for the Jefferson Parish Library to connect our residents to the resources they need and want, bringing our services to the next level.”

The launch event on September 30, 2023 is free and open to the public. Attendees will be able to learn more about Experience Passes and be the first to reserve passes onsite at the North Kenner Library. The event will also show off items in the newest Library of Things collection, featuring various demonstrations, along with a Spanish storytime and craft. Other activities include a photo booth for patrons to commemorate the day and musical instruments for entertainment.

The Jefferson Parish Library system consists of 16 locations that stretch from the Lakeshore Branch on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain to the Grand Isle Branch just steps away from the Gulf of Mexico. The library system consists of two large regional libraries and seven branches on each side of the Mississippi River. The East Bank Regional Library (4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie) serves as library headquarters. For more information, contact the library at (504) 838-1100 or visit the Jefferson Parish Library website. For more information about Beyond Books: Library of Things and Beyond Books: Experience Passes, contact Jefferson Parish Library Director of Marketing and Engagement David Johnson at 504-849-8826 or djohnson@jplibrary.net or Librarian Skye Cornelia at scornelia@jefferson.lib.la.us.

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on social media (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO