 |
| Architects rendering of the Walker Percy Serenity Circle at the St. Tammany Library, Madisonville |
The sun beamed on September 5, when and the incredibly beautiful St. Tammany
Public Library in Madisonville opened. The building is unique. Each side is
different; each is an aesthetic delight; each complements the unique atmosphere of
the town of Madisonville.
The library sits on 1.5 acres of beautiful ground across from the Maritime Museum.
Its vistas are beautiful and inside the settings are comfortable and inviting. Rows
of computer terminals, a large technological lab for classes and demonstrations, a
children's area with its own storybook and craft room and its own kid-sized entry
door, an inviting space for teens, and many quiet nooks for reading, thinking, and
contemplating for all library users.
 |
| The View from the Walk Percy Reading Room at the Madisonville Library |
No library of the 21st century can be without the technology we are need for
creative work, research and communication. The Madisonville Branch has banks
of computers for general use and a full technology lab for training classes in data
resources, Microsoft programs, genealogy, business and academic research.
President Pat Brister and Mayor of Madisonville Peter Gitz cut the large red ribbon
to open the doors to the public. Many other public dignitaries and the Director of the
State Library, Rebecca Hamilton, were there to celebrate with us.
On September 7 a Gala Opening followed and over 1600 people came! The large
meeting room was overfilled with children who delighted in the antics of Papillion
The teens enjoyed a pizza party with the best selling author Claudia Grey, and adults
had the opportunity to hear and meet the New York Times best selling author Erica
The Foundation had a welcoming table and raffled a framed and signed poster
by the artist Tammie Morris. The Junior League of Covington also contributed
a wonderful basket of goodies, and two books, one on the Bicentennial of St.
Tammany and a Roux-to-Do cookbook.
The Foundation has fantastic plans to enhance the aesthetic beauty of the library.
Under one of the oak trees on the side of the library, a patio, soon to be constructed,
will be dedicated as the “Walker Percy Serenity Circle,” named to memorialize our
acclaimed St. Tammany writer, Walker Percy.
The Foundation is offering all citizens an opportunity to create a lasting tribute
to their own loved ones or to any who have played important parts in their
own lives within the patio. We offer engraved bricks of various sizes for
engraving. We also hope that sponsors can be found for the benches and markers
featuring the names of Percy’s acclaimed novels. We are also planning a statue
of Percy, sitting on one of the benches in the patio. Go to our website - http://
www.sttammanylibraryfoundation.org on our home page to learn more and to
choose how you wish to play a part of this permanent and historic endeavor.
AND DON’T FORGET!
December 1 is the date to renew your membership in the Foundation. We have
accomplished much within one year – and we promise to continue to make a
mark for literacy in the future. Anyone joining after August 2013 will have their
membership automatically extended through December 2014.