Places of Greater Baton Rouge 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 six locations: Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Galvez, Dutchtown, St. Amant, a satellite library, the Study Commons at the Wag Center in Donaldsonville, and a bookmobile. Services provided: – Programs and Online learning – Storytimes – Adventure Passes – Seed Library – Board games – Crafts – Sidewalk Astronomy – Makerspaces – 1000 Books Before Kindergarten – Teaching Kitchen 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 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? Today’s libraries are evolving into dynamic spaces for learning, discovery, and growth—and Ascension Parish Library is commit- ted to creating environments where curiosity meets opportunity. Our newest location in St. Amant reflects that vision, featuring a teaching kitchen where community members can build culi- nary skills through hands-on classes and demonstrations, along with an audiovisual studio, a virtual reality room, woodworking equipment, makerspaces, and dedicated areas for children and teens. At our recently renovated Donaldsonville location, visitors can explore a historical display highlighting the area’s rich heritage, as well as access many of the same creative tools, including a 3D printer, laser cutter, Cricut, and more. Looking ahead, Ascension Parish Library plans to continue expanding these kinds of innovative offerings that go beyond traditional library services and reflect the evolving needs and interests of our community.
facesandplaces.com
Faces & Places ® | Summer 2026 77
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker