Library getting ready for folks to have a Dickens of a time

As people around the area prepare to read the 1838 classic Charles Dickens tale Oliver Twist in celebration of the 2012 One Book One Community Big Read Program, the staff at the Greenwell Springs Regional branch, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, are seeking items from the 1800s to display during the months of March and April in the library’s display cases. Call or come by and share your vintage toys, clothing, books, etc. For more details, call [phone]

Book clubs:

The Evening Book Club will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Baker branch, 3501 Groom Road. Members will discuss A New Earth: Awakening to your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle.

The Saturday Book Club will meet 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Baker branch, 3501 Groom Road. Members will discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil by John Berendt.

Livingston Parish Library

Young Writers Club will meet 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs. The club is open to anyone between the ages of 10 and 17. The goal of the club is to write for both publication and performance. Young writers are encouraged to explore their writing interests and develop their voice and style through exciting collaborative activities. The program also offers free workshops in poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction.

For more information about the Young Writers Club, call the library at [phone].

Adult Writers Circle will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs. Are you a writer who is looking for some feedback?

Then come to the Writers Circle. Published and unpublished adult writers of fiction or nonfiction for adults, young adults, or children are welcome. The group provides a forum for sharing writing, a venue for learning more about the writing craft and information about publishing/self-publishing. For more information about the Writers Circle, call the library at [phone].

Book club:

The Albany-Springfield Book Club will meet at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2, at Albany-Springfield branch, 26941 La. 43, Hammond. Members will discuss Christmas Jars by Emma Donoghue.

Lafayette Public Library

For all young poets out there who would like to speak their minds, this night is for you. Join the spoken word group, Project SOUND, for a night filled with reading, writing, and expression through poetry, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at North Regional branch, 5101 N. University Ave. in Carencro. This poetry night is for ages 13–18. For information, call [phone]. Story times in French will be held 11-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at South Regional branch, 6101 Johnston St. in Lafayette.

Signings

Johnette Downing, author of Why the Oyster has the Pearl, appears in concert at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at New Orleans Jazz Park Visitors Center in New Orleans and will sign copies of her book, noon-1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, 910 Decatur St. in New Orleans.

Cornell Landry, author of Goodnight Nola, will sign copies of his book, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Maple Street Book Shop, 7523 Maple St. in New Orleans.

Items for Book Events were provided by East Baton Rouge Parish Library and Lafayette Public Library.