Places of Greater Baton Rouge Years in Business: 64 Years ASCENSION PARISH LIBRARY
A scension Parish Library is an award winning library system that strives to be a community cornerstone and dynamic center for personal development, where residents can nurture a lifelong love of reading, learning, and creativity. Residents of Gonzales and Donaldsonville believed a library system was necessary, so in 1960, approval was granted to es- tablish Ascension Parish Library (APL). Since then, the system has grown to five locations: Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Galvez, and Dutchtown, including a satellite library, the Study Commons at the Wag Center in Donaldsonville, and a bookmobile. A sixth branch, the St. Amant Library & Community Center, located at 12341 Hwy 431, is a joint effort between the library and the parish government. Services provided: •Programs and Online Learning • Storytimes • Adventure Passes • Seed Library • Board games • Crafts • Sidewalk Astronomy • Makerspaces• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten How do you make it a point to put families first? We put families first by offering free learning kits, attraction passes, and hobby resources through our Library of Things. Our programs support early literacy with engaging storytimes and
bilingual meet-ups, while our partnership with Ascension Parish Schools provides students with eCards for ebooks, homework help, and ACT prep. Plus, our summer reading program inspires young readers and prevents summer slide.
What do you enjoy the most about having the library in our area?
Ascension Parish Library is more than books—it’s a hub for learning, innovation, and community. From career growth to creative pursuits, it offers a welcoming space for all. We take pride in being a vital part of our community’s journey toward a brighter future. What’s next for the library? Our remodeled Donaldsonville Library includes a recording studio, virtual reality room, makerspaces with 3D printing and a laser cutter, expanded teen and children’s areas, and a historical display of Donaldsonville and the African American experience. The new St. Amant Library & Community Center, a 37,000-square-foot joint project with Ascension Parish Gov- ernment, will open in 2026. The 16,495-square-foot library will feature a teaching kitchen where community members can learn culinary skills through hands-on classes and demonstrations, an audiovisual studio, a virtual reality room, woodworking equip- ment, makerspaces, and dedicated spaces for kids and teens. For updates, visit myAPL.org under “Construction Updates.
58 Faces & Places ® | Winter 2026
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