Are you a fan of superheroes such as Batman or Spider-man? If so, some of our recent additions might interest you. We have a collection of graphic novels that include both of these legendary characters, as well as many others. These books are located in the non-fiction section of the library in Dewey number 741.5. You will also find several of the popular Manga series in this section, as well as other types of graphic novels.

Check out these new titles.

Batman Incorporated: Volume 1: Demon Star. Eisner Award-winning fan-favorite writer Grant Morrison concludes the Batman epic he began nearly a decade ago in BATMAN & SON, pitting the entirity of Batman Incorporated against the Levianthan organization headed by the Dark Knight's former romantic interest Talia al Ghul. As Leviathan enacts a plan that threatens the world, Batman and his allies must fight against the rising storm--but not everyone will make it out of the encounter alive. (from Amazon.com)

Superior Spider-Man: Team-Up: Friendly Fire. The saga of the Superior Spider-Man continues as Doc Ock takes Peter Parker’s body for a joyride through the Marvel Universe, taking on heavy hitters from both sides of the coin! (from back cover)

These are just two of the many titles just waiting for you to check out and enjoy. If you need help locating this section, please ask any of the helpful library staff.

I've noticed some people have been having a bit of bother printing from Google Chrome. I think part of the problem is that Chrome can get a little confused when trying to print straight from its web interface to our printer. The solution I like to tell people to use is to download a copy of whatever you are printing in PDF form first. Then print the PDF after its been downloaded. This always works and you don't need to try and bend Chrome to your will anymore.

Remember if you have trouble converting to a PDF, or just don't know how, feel free to ask one of our friendly clerks. If they can't help you they will find someone who can. Happy printing Beauregard!

One week to go!

Do you listen when TEDTalks?

Our library happily offers Access Video on Demand, a streaming video service with films covering a vast array of topics from producers like PBS, Frontline, BBC, National Geographic, NBC News and many more.

Below is one example of the TEDTalk films available for viewing. All you need is your library card and a connection! To explore the seemingly unlimited videos anytime, click "AVOD Video on Demand" in the left hand column.

"TEDTalks: Matthieu Ricard Habits of Happiness." Access Video On Demand. Films Media Group, 2007. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

Checked out any digital magazines lately?

With Zinio, patrons can check out the newest magazines to their computers or mobile devices. Back issues are available, too!

The best part is that patrons never have to worry about overdue fines or returning Zinio magazines. They are kept in a personal Zinio account, and they don't expire.

New magazine issues are added regularly. Click the link at left in our digital library to find your next magazine!

Our East Beauregard branch in Wye community will be closed on Saturday, March 1st, so we can finish some cosmetic improvements to the branch. The branch will return to regular hours on Monday, March 3rd.

We invite you to visit the branch when we are done, and don't forget to stop by our special branch story time in East Beauregard on Saturday, March 8th at 10:30 am.

Our upstream ISP will be performing maintenance to their network this week. This maintenance is scheduled to be performed between the hours of 3 A.M. and 6 A.M. Friday morning. We do not think this will have any affect on service however the possibility does exist that library internet services will not be available during this time window. We would like to apologize in advance for any inconvenience this maintenance may cause and appreciate your understanding in the matter.

The library should be operating at 100% capacity as of 6 A.M. Friday morning and all library electronic services will be available on Friday. Thank you.

Love the library but love your Kindle too? Wish the library was online so you could read anytime? Well we have an app for that. It's called Overdrive and it is available for smartphones, e-readers and there is a desktop version too! With Overdrive you can check out a library book from right here and download it straight to your device. Of course since it comes from your favorite library it is absolutley free!

Another great thing about Overdrive is that you do not have to worry about returning the book because it does it automatically! You can also renew them just like a physical library book. So if you want the library with you wherever you go we have you covered. Just ask one of our friendly clerks how to download the overdrive app to your device today!

New hours starting in Merryville next month!

This Week...

Ms. Sandi will be reading all about snowmen on February 26th. Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right! Ss!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am], we will be reading

• Snow Family by Daniel Kirk
• Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
• Friendly Snowman by Sharon Gordon

For our end of story time craft, we will put together a snowman!

If you want a TumbleBooks readalong at home, try Martin MacGregor's Snowman, written by Lisa Broadie Cook and illustrated by Adam McCauley.

Celebrate with the Krewe du Petit Livre!

The DeRidder branch will be hosting its second annual Krewe du Petit Livre parade

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, craft supplies will be available in the media room. Patrons young and old are invited to bring a shoebox to craft their floats.

At 12 noon, the Krewe du Petit Livre will parade through the library handing out beads and candy (provided by the library) to the patrons.

If you have questions or would like to donate beads or shoe boxes, please call Celise at 337-463-6217 ext. 22

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

My name is Sue. I work at the Beauregard Parish Library in DeRidder, LA. on South Washington Street. I have been working for the Library for 29 years.

I have cleaned, delivered, repaired, shelved and sorted books. I also work on schedulling. Every day will be different from the day before. It's my responsibility to make sure all of our branches and phones are covered so that we can serve the people

I enjoy reading; one of my favorite authors is Beverly Lewis. Her book "The Secret" is truly enjoyable.

Starting a business? Universal Class can help!

Beauregard Parish Library is proud to bring its patrons Universal Class, over 500 free online continuing education courses in a variety of subjects. To access, click the link at left and crease or log in to your account. The classes are available 24/7, and certificates of completion are issued for pass rates of 70% or higher.

Entrepreneurs, these are just some classes that might interest you:

• Small Business Guide
• How to Start and Run an Online Business
• Home Business
• Accounts Receivable Management
• Accounts Payable Management
• Business Analysis
• Office 2010: Word, Excel, PowerPOint and Outlook
• Accounting & Bookkeeping
• Payroll Management

If you are interested in topics other than starting a small business, Universal Class has just the right courses for you.

Celebrate with the Krewe du Petit Livre!

The DeRidder branch will be hosting its second annual Krewe du Petit Livre parade

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, craft supplies will be available in the media room. Patrons young and old are invited to bring a shoebox to craft their floats.

At 12 noon, the Krewe du Petit Livre will parade through the library handing out beads and candy (provided by the library) to the patrons.

If you have questions or would like to donate beads or shoe boxes, please call Celise at 337-463-6217 ext. 22

If you are looking for ways to improve your mind and learn new things, check out the library’s Non-Fiction collection. We have books on all sorts of informational topics, so whether you want to learn the latest gardening strategies, or build a birdhouse, or learn about physics or philosophy, or thousands of other subjects we can help!

This week we received several new Non-Fiction books that might interest you.

The Science of Happily Ever After. This book is written by Ty Tashiro, Ph.D, a relationship expert for the Discovery Network’s Fit & Health Channel. In it Dr. Tashiro explains the science behind choosing a mate for a long and happy relationship. It contains entertaining stories based on real-life situations to illustrate its scientific findings.

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything Fast by Josh Kaufman. Some research shows that it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. However, in this book, the author shows that by completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice it is possible to learn a new skill reasonably well. He used his techniques to rapidly learn several different skills and will show you how to accomplish this method. So, whether you want to learn yoga, paint a picture, or write web-based computer programs, check out this book and see if it helps you to learn a new skill quickly.

1001 Ideas that Changed the way we Think. This book starts with ancient times and goes right up to the present and explains the ideas that changed the way people see their world. It is arranged chronologically, but contains an index by category so that you can easily find ideas that interest you. It contains ideas from all cultures throughout history.

The library’s Non-Fiction collection is arranged by Dewey numbers that are assigned to the books based on their subject. Any of the helpful library staff will be happy to assist you in locating books on any topic that interests you.

This weeks tech tip will be about the internet. More specifically dial-up internet. Did you know the library offers free dial-up internet access? This is especially handy for our patrons who may live in a remote community and don't have access to AT&T or cable internet and don't want to pay for satellite. There is absolutely no charge for our dial-up internet service. The only thing you need to supply is your own modem and computer, we give you the rest. We also have handy instructions on how to set up the service available in the library or online.

So if you know someone who may need internet access and does not want to pay an arm and a leg to get it, then let them know about the dial-up internet access provided by the library. Did we mention it was FREE?!

Want a green thumb? Universal Class can help!

Beauregard Parish Library is proud to bring its patrons Universal Class, over 500 free online continuing education courses in a variety of subjects. To access, click the link at left and crease or log in to your account. The classes are available 24/7, and certificates of completion are issued for pass rates of 70% or higher.

Gardeners, these are some classes that just might interest you:

• Introduction to Gardening
• Vegetable Gardening
• Tropical Gardening
• Landscaping
• All About Herbs
• Floral Arrangement
• Flower Essences

If you are interested in topics other than gardening, Universal Class has just the right courses for you.

This Week...

Ms. Sandi will be reading all about rabbits on February 19th. Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right! Rr!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am], we will be reading

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
• Rabbit's Gift by George Shannon
• Gray Rabbit's Odd One Out by Alan Baker

At the end of story time, we will be creating our very own rabbit ears head band!

If you want a TumbleBooks readalong at home, try Duck! Rabbit!, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hello. My name is Stephanie Gibbs. I am currently serving the residents of our parish as the South Beauregard Branch clerk and as the Fields Branch clerk.

This is my eighth year of service to the residents of our parish and I reside in Longville.

My longtime zeal has been one of conservative self-reliance, sustainable living, and enjoy reading about the lives of those who succeed in such lifestyles while under the most challenging of circumstances.

My interests include any and all forms of needlework and the music arts.

Black History Month was founded by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The history of the event goes back to 1926 when Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week. That week expanded to the month-long observation we know today.

Each year a different theme is featured, and this year’s theme is Civil Rights in America. We have some physical and digital resources that will be of use for those researching this topic for school or personal interest.

• African American Almanac: Available in the library
• Civil Rights Movement: nonfiction items, including books and DVDs
• Access Video on Demand Civil Rights Movement: digital resource, includes citations
• Biography Collection Complete: Database with citations
• Black Inventor Online Museum

If you would like to know more, our friendly and capable staff are available for your research needs.

Want to learn a new language? Need to fix your car? Or maybe you just want to take a class in your free time. Well, look no farther than our very own collection of databases. To the left under the heading "DIGITAL LIBRARY," you can find a database that helps with all of the things I have mentioned and so much more!

From reading magazines online to downloading this year's tax form, the Beauregard Parish Library has you covered. So hover that mouse over to our list of databases and get clicking today!

Beauregard Parish Library is pleased to bring its patrons two new digital product to use both in the library and on the go.

ChiltonLibrary.com represents the most authoritative automotive repair information available to car owners. There are thousands of year, make and model combinations covering the most popular vehicles of the past 30 years, plus additional coverage of specialty models. ChiltonLibrary.com gives you the confidence to service or repair virtually any system on your vehicle.

Louisiana Legal Forms (from Gale) provides a wide selection of state-specific (and multi-state) legal forms across the most popular legal areas. Includes real estate contracts, wills, pre-marital agreements, bankruptcy, divorce, landlord tenant and many others. Also included is a comprehensive attorney state directory and a dictionary of legal definitions explained in laymen's language.

Both of these resources are available by clicking the links at left. When accessing them outside of the library, patrons may be asked to provide the library card number.

Mobile app lovers:

Access library resources — even when you're not at the library.

It's as simple as using the AccessMyLibrary Public Edition mobile app from Gale, a world-leading publisher of reference information. AccessMyLibrary uses GPS to find libraries within a 10-mile radius of your location, then gives you free, unlimited access to their reputable, authoritative Gale online resources — without the need to log in.

For more information on the mobile app, click Access my Public Library.

This Week...

The DeRidder and South Beauregard branches will be filled with quacks this week! Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right!Qq!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am] and Saturday Story Time, we will be reading

• Cock-a-Doodle Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel and Sophie Jubb
• The Uglified Ducky by Willy Clafin
• Daisy Says Coo! by Jane Simmons

At the end of story time, we will be creating our very own ducks out of paper plates.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hi, I go by Mechie. I have been working at the library for half of my life; thats a long time.

I like to go out and have a nice time.

I am currently single with no kids, and I love going to the casino.

Last but not least, I like to read a good exotic book.

Many of us love to read but find the small print in regular books too difficult to see. If you are experiencing this difficulty, check out the library’s collection of large print books. We are constantly adding new large print titles, so you should be able to find plenty to enjoy.

Here are some new titles added this week:

Western fans can check out bestselling author, Max Brand’s classic The Brass Man. Lew Weldon has a reputation as a gambler and a gunfighter. He is hired to protect a beautiful woman from thieves who want to steal the fortune hidden by her late father. He discovers that, not only is he up against enormous odds, nobody cant be trusted. This is just one of the many great Western books that are now available in easy-to-see large print.

If suspenseful detective stories are more to your liking, try Lisa Gardner’s Fear Nothing. The latest in her best-selling Detective D.D. Warren series finds the detective badly injured and unable to remember the events at the murder scene where she received those injuries. When the murderer strikes again, she realizes that she is the only person who may have seen the killer, and she must do whatever it takes to catch him before he comes after her.

Maybe you enjoy a good romance story. Then you might like Big Sky Secrets by Linda Lael Miller. When Landry Sutton headed to Hangman’s Bend Ranch, all he intended to do was sell his land to his brother and get back to the city. But he didn’t count on falling for the beautiful Montana country – or his next door neighbor, Ria Manning.

Large print fiction books are separated from the regular print books for easier browsing. We also have non-fiction large print books available, however they are interfiled with the others so that all books on the same subject can be easily located together. All of our large print books have a green dot on the spine to make them easier for you to spot.

This weeks tech tip will be a short how-to on connecting your laptop to our free wifi. Now if you have a laptop (or tablet, smartphone, etc.) your device should automagically see our access point called "BPL DeRidder" (or "BPL Name Of Branch"). When you open a web browser there is one more thing you need to do. You will need to navigate to our homepage (which you are reading this on!) and look for "wifi login" in the top righthand corner.

Upon clicking on this link you will be taken to a login screen asking for your username and password. If you are logging in as a guest you will need to select guest login. Then just input your username and password. If they match you will see the message "MCP Access Granted" and you can browse to your hearts content!

Happy browsing faithful readers!

This Week...

The DeRidder and East Beau branches will be filled with quacks this week! Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right!Qq!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am], we will be reading

• Cock-a-Doodle Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel and Sophie Jubb
• The Uglified Ducky by Willy Clafin
• Daisy Says Coo! by Jane Simmons

At the end of story time, we will be creating our very own ducks out of paper plates.

Board Meeting

The Library's Board of Control will meet in regular session at our DeRidder branch (205 S. Washington Ave.) on February 5, 2014 at 4:30pm. All regular session meetings of this board are open to the public.

An agenda for this meeting will be posted on the front door of the DeRidder branch no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

Freegal Music is back for your convenience.

Remember: Every patron with a valid library card and electronic services password is allowed as many as three (3) mp3 downloads every week. Unlike some cellphone minutes, however, the free downloads don't roll over from week to week. So get your music and videos while they're hot! Next week you can do it all over again.

Freegal music is temporarily unavailable. We are aware of the problem, and our content provider is working hard to bring it back in working order. When it is available, we will let you know.

Freegal is a music and media service provider for our patrons. Each week, patrons with cards in good standing and electronic services passwords can log into the site using the link on our website and download three (3) free mp3s to keep.

Beauregard Parish Library has been providing Freegal for its patrons since November of 2012. Our current subscription goes until the end of 2014. If you have any questions about this or other digital products, call or email help@beau.org.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hello, my name is Kathryn. I am a clerk at the Beauregard Parish Library. I have been working here a few months.

I've loved reading ever since I was a little girl. My all-time favorite book is "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Now, I read fantasy books-you know-fairies, vampires, werewolves, and other fun things. I guess I liked pretend when I was little as well. Reality should be taken in small doses.

Library Opening Hours

All branches of the Beauregard Parish Library are now back on their regular schedules. This means that DeRidder, East Beauregard, and South Beauregard branches are currently open and will close at their regular times this evening.

If road conditions are still unsafe in your area, please do not attempt to travel. If you have library items due and cannot safely return them, please call us after 1:00 pm for a check-out extension.

Be warm and stay safe!

Whee! Another Snow Day!

Too bad we don't have a good photo from last Friday, lots more snow then. This time it is mostly ice, which doesn't photograph as well.

Library Closure

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning which includes our area. Due to expected unsafe driving conditions, all Library branches will be closed Tuesday, January 28th and we will delay opening times on Wednesday, January 29th until conditions permit safe travel. Please call the library's automated system at 337-463-6217 for news of library closures and openings. The automated message will be updated as branches re-open on Wednesday.

No items will be due while we are closed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this closure but trust you understand that we have your safety at heart.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hi, my name is Corinna. I have been working a Beauregard Parish Library for almost 4 years now.

I’m obsessed with mystery novels, solving crimes and Tyler Perry movies.

In my free time, I rescue abandoned dogs and cats, and I enjoy spending time at church.

The Beauregard Parish Library has a digital subscription to the Lake Charles American Press. This is free for patrons to use at our library branches, either on library computers or via library WiFi, but it does not work outside of the branches.

To access the American Press from inside BPL branches:

• Direct your browser to http://www.americanpress.com. This link can also be found in our online catalog.
• Under the American Press banner, there is a link to the ePaper. Select ePaper Archives to access all back issues.
• The next page will be a login page. You don't have to worry about user name and password if you are in the library branch. Just click "login" and you will be directed to the newspapers.

If you need any other assistance with this resource, our staff is here to help you.

Library Closure

All branches of the library are closed today due to the driving conditions created by the winter weather activity. We expect to return to normal hours of operation tomorrow, Saturday, January 25th. Please call the library's automated system at 337-463-6217 for news of library closures and openings.

No items will be due while we are closed. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Zinio app for iOS is unavailable

The Zinio.com iOS App for iPhone and iPad is temporarily unavailable in the Apple App Store. A recent iTunes enhancement made the current Zinio App incompatible for NEW Zinio.com users to download from the App Store. Zinio.com development is working with Apple to have the Zinio.com app restored soon.

This does not affect CURRENT iOS App users.

We will update when we hear from Zinio.

Update: 2014/01/27
Zinio reports all is well again.

Are you one of the millions of people who made New Year’s resolutions? Many of us begin the year with wonderful intentions, but find it difficult to keep these promises to ourselves. Never fear! The Library has recently added some new books that can help you whatever your goal for 2014.

Did you vow to lose some weight this year? Check out New York Times bestselling author Rocco DiSpirito’s new book, The Pound a Day Diet. This celebrity chef will show you how to boost your metabolism and shed fat fast with his groundbreaking low calorie, six-meal-per-day formula. (Please remember that no book is a substitute for professional medical advice and readers should consult their health care professional before beginning any weight loss program.)

Did you decide that this is the year you will finally quit smoking? Quit Smoking For Life: A Simple Proven 5-Step Plan, by Suzanne Schlosberg and the The Quit For Life Team might be just what you are looking for. This book, endorsed by the American Cancer Society, is based on 25 years of research and will give you the tools you need to quit for good. The plan is simple and straightforward and the tips are realistic and supportive. There are also success stories to provide additional inspiration and motivation.

Maybe this is the year you will take control of your finances. Jim Cramer, Wall Street veteran and host of CNBC’s Mad Money, helps you accomplish your goals in his new book, Jim Cramer’s Get Rich Carefully. Drawing on his knowledge of the stock market and the mistakes and successes he has made on the way to his fortune, he explains in plain English how you can make money in a safe way starting now. This book is a valuable guide to turning your savings into real, lasting wealth.

Beauregard Book of the Week

The Beauregard Book of the Week for January 22, 2014 is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. This first book of The Lunar Chronicles is a retelling of Cinderella like none you’ve seen before. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing in the future when a plague has devastated mankind. She has a mysterious past even she doesn’t remember, and the threat of invasion or worse from the dangerous Lunars and their deadly queen hangs over everyone.

Part of the fun of this story is how the author mixes elements of old fairy tales into a futuristic context. Meyer adds enough of her own plot to make it something recognizable yet new.

If you enjoyed the story, you can continue with Scarlet, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in France. Cress, the third book of the Lunar Chronicles, is a retelling of Rapunzel, but this one takes our heroes to the Moon. There they will delve deeper into the mystery of Cinder’s past and how to defeat the evil Queen Levana.

The Lunar Chronicles is considered a Young Adult series, but like many quality series before, it should appeal to adults as well. If you like fairy tales, cyborgs, and adventure tales, this is a book for you!

Today, let's talk about passwords. Passwords need to be strong, and they need to be something that another person can not easily guess. The survey of the worst passwords of 2013 recently came out. Right at the top of the list was "123456" followed closely by "password." If you are using something like this for your password, PLEASE CHANGE IT. Using predictable phrases or combinations makes passwords incredibly easy to be guessed or stolen. This puts your data at major risk.

This is why we use random passwords for our patrons here at the library. We are committed to giving you the most secure access possible. Our passwords are strong and secure, and I hope this article encourages you to start (or keep) using strong and not easily guessed passwords for all your other login needs. I hope this has been informative; keep those passwords safe!

This Week...

Ms. Sandi will be reading all about octopi on January 22nd. Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right!Oo!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am], we will be reading

• Herman the Helper by Rober Kraus
• Something's Fishy by John Schindel
• Zigby Dives In by Brian Paterson

At the end of story time, we will be creating our very own octopus.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

All branches of the library are open regular Monday hours to serve you.
Our Monday branch hours are:

• DeRidder 9:00-5:30
• Merryville 1:00-5:00
• Ragley 9:00-12:30, 1:00-5:00
• Wye community 1:30-5:30

We hope to see you! We have plenty of new books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines and more for you to check out.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hi, my name is Tommy. I work in the shelving department at the Beauregard Parish Library.

I enjoy reading all types of books but have a fondness for horror stories and inspirational tales.. pretty diverse, I would say.

In my free time, or should I say in the spare time that my cats allow me, I like to cook (and feed the cats), travel (and go to the store for cat food and treats), and watch movies (looking over and under the cat that just HAS to be in my face). Ahh, cats, great stress relief.

On Monday, January 20, the nation will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The library will remain open to the public on the holiday. Today, January 15, is the anniversary of King's birth. If you are curious about King or his history, the following is a collection of resources available to our users.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

The son of the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King became (1954) minister of the Dexter Ave. Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. He led the black boycott (1955–56) of segregated city bus lines and in 1956 gained a major victory and prestige as a civil-rights leader when Montgomery buses began to operate on a desegregated basis.

King organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which gave him a base to pursue further civil-rights activities, first in the South and later nationwide. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance led to his arrest on numerous occasions in the 1950s and 60s. His campaigns had mixed success, but the protest he led in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963 brought him worldwide attention. He spearheaded the Aug., 1963, March on Washington, which brought together more than 200,000 people. The protests he led helped to assure the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The following year King and the SCLC led a campaign for African-American voter registration centered on Selma, Ala. A nonviolent march from Selma to Montgomery was attacked by police who beat and teargassed the protestors, but it ultimately succeeded on the third try when the National Guard and federal troops were mobilized. The events in Selma provoked national outrage, and months later aroused public opinion did much to precipitate passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

King's leadership in the civil-rights movement was challenged in the mid-1960s as others grew more militant. His interests, however, widened from civil rights to include criticism of the Vietnam War and a deeper concern over poverty. His plans for a Poor People's March to Washington were interrupted (1968) for a trip to Memphis, Tenn., in support of striking sanitation workers. On Apr. 4, 1968, he was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel (since 1991 a civil-rights museum).

Source: Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. Sep2013, p1-1. 1p. [Click the link for the full article.]

LIBRARY COLLECTION

For items written by King as an author or about King as a subject, you can search the box above or you can click the link to a Martin Luther King keyword search.

DIGITIAL LIBRARY

Overdrive: The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr [ebook]

Freegal Music: Artist: Martin Luther King, Jr [sound recordings]

Access Video on Demand: Video segments about Martin Luther King

We are back with another tech tip this week, and hopefully this one helps you out in our computer lab. When printing something from Google Chrome sometimes sending it direct to the printer doesn't work out well and can lead to frustration. A super simple solution to this is to print it to a file on your computer first. It should come out as a .pdf and then you send that file over to our printer.

This method hasn't failed me yet (knock on wood) and should lead to everyone getting their printing a little bit easier. Don't be afraid to let us know if you are still having problems and happy printing everyone!

We are proud to bring you Freegal Music for another calendar year!

Freegal is a music and video service from Sony. Patrons with valid library cards and electronic services passwords can download up to 3 DRM-free mp3s every week. Video downloads are also available, but they count as 2 downloads. Every Monday, each patron in good standing has 3 new download credits to use towards songs, videos or a combination of the two. Please note that the download credits do not roll over to next week, so if you don't use them, they are gone.

If you need an electronic services password, stop by any of the 6 conveniently located branches of the Beauregard Parish Library and fill out a simple form. You will need to have your government issued picture ID with you.

If you have any other questions about this or other electronic services, call or stop by the library. We're here to help you!

This Week...

Ms. Sandi will be reading all about nests on January 15th and 18th. Can you guess the letter of the week? That's right!Nn!

For our Wednesday Story Time [Deridder branch @ 11 am] and Saturday Story Time [South Beauregard at 10:30 a.m.], we will be reading

• Bird Nests by Helen Frost
• Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
• The Bird Nest by P.D. Eastman

At the end of story time, we will be creating our very own nests using the letter N.

For our this week's tagalong, try watching Feathering the Nest: The Secret Life of Birds, available through AVOD.

Staff Meet & Greet

“Staff Meet & Greet” is a weekly series where you’ll get to know the people behind the scenes at your Beauregard Parish Library.

Hi, my name is Stormie. I am the Payroll Clerk for the Beauregard Parish Library. I have had the pleasure of working for the Library for 15 years now. When I first started with the Library in 1998 I was a volunteer instructor and taught computer classes in the evening. Back then, computers and the Internet were this new thing that everyone had to learn. Then, along came MEL, (Beauregard Parish's Mobile Electronic Library). I was trained to drive and teach computer lessons on the mobile unit.

Mel was the first mobile computer lab of his kind in the United States. The Mobile Computer Lab played an essential role in the Library's early technology project. MEL was used to provide off-site access to network, information technology and trainingresources. MEL was also shared with other agencies which had a need for information technology resources in rural areas.

Because of Mel, I was part of the Parish's Emergency Response Team. We worked closely with the Sheriff Department and the National Weather Service in Lake Charles to provide up-to-date weather information and communications services to people. When Hurricane Katrina hit, MEL was set up to help the evacuees find their loved ones still in the New Orleans area along with other communications needs.

After Hurricane Rita hit, Mel retired. The unit then traveled to Cameron Parish to help replace their library branches lost in the hurricane. I miss travels with MEL and will always fondly remember the people and the places we visited together.

Beauregard Parish Library is pleased to offer Zinio for Libraries. Awarded Best New Database of 2012 by Library Journal, Zinio is the world’s largest newsstand, offering multi-user access to popular publications.

Through our website patrons have unlimited multi-user access to complete digital magazines, which can easily be viewed on most Internet-enabled devices inside or outside of the library. Zinio’s unique technology digitally recreates a magazine page for page, including full color pictures, intuitive navigation, key word article search and interactive elements such as audio and video. All of this is free for patrons with valid library cards.

We have selected 39 different titles for your enjoyment. American Patchwork & Quilting, Cosmopolitan, Field and Stream, Maxim and Rolling stone are just a few of the popular titles available.

Please click the Zinio digital library link or see a library staff member for more information on how to access this service.

Beauregard Parish Library is pleased to announce the introduction of Universal Class Library Edition, a powerful new online continuing education service designed specifically for use by the patrons of public libraries.

Universal Class offers patrons a unique online education experience. With a growing catalog of over 500 courses, Universal Class is committed to providing only the most affordable and highest quality online training. Over 300,000 students around the world have benefited from Universal Class’ unique instructional technologies. With real instructors guiding the learning, engaging video-based lessons, a collaborative learning environment, graded lesson tests, certificates of achievement and Continuing Education Units available for selected courses, students enjoy an engaging and measurable learning experience that helps them master and document their educational goals.

Universal Class offers courses in Exercise and Fitness, Entrepreneurship, Arts and Music, Home and Garden Care, Cooking, Computers and Technology, Health and Medicine, Homeschooling, Job Assistance, Law and Legal, Parenting and Family, Pet and Animal Care…plus 100s more.

Program features include:

• Universal Class courses are free to cardholders in good standing
• Users can be enrolled in up to 5 classes at one time
• 24/7 access to courses through the library’s website
• Certified instructors available to answer your questions and assess your performance
• Opportunities to connect with other students for an authentic classroom experience
• Accredited as an authorized provider by the Internation Association for Continuing Education Training (IACET), offering continuing education unites on all qualifying courses

Click the link at left to begin using Universal Class or ask at your local branch of the library today!

Beauregard Book of the Week

Our Beauregard Book of the Week for January 7, 2014 is Yoga XXL: A Journey to Health for Bigger People by Ingrid Kollak

Ingrid Kollak is a registered nurse and licensed yoga instructor. Through her easy to follow instructions and photographs, you can learn basic yoga poses that suit every body.

This helpful, common sense approach to flexibility exercises incorporates real world examples and offers alternatives for people of varying ability levels and sizes. If you are starting the year with a nod towards health, you can't miss this fantastic read!

Just a notice here for all those reading this who may not know. Laptops at the library are again ready for in-house checkout! We apologize for the short blip in our service but I can assure you that everything is back in full swing. So ask your friendly clerk today about how to check out a laptop for use inside the Beauregard Parish Library!

Story time lovers,

Miss Sandi will be bringing you and your family Story Time Tales at our Merryville branch today at 10:30 am! Drop in and listen. We hope to see you there!

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Merryville branch of the Beauregard Parish Library was closed on Monday, December 30th. The Merryville branch WILL open today, January 2nd, at its regularly scheduled time. As a reminder the Deridder and South Beauregard (Ragley) branches will also be open for all regularly scheduled hours today.

Thank you and have fun reading!