This July, library patrons are invited to take a journey through local history and time with interactive programs featuring Twin Blends, Robert Trudeau and Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site (SHS). The local history programs are part of the library’s “Adventure Begins at Your Library” Summer Reading Program and will be held at numerous Shreve Memorial Library branches throughout the month of July. All programs are free and open to the public.
Twin brothers, Mike and Mark Mangham, of Twin Blends will continue presenting their Northwest Louisiana History Hunters Summer Lagniappe Presentations at several Shreve Memorial Library branches in July. Patrons are invited to visit the library as Twin Blends shares a selection of historical and current photographs and videos of Shreveport and other Northwest Louisiana locations, presenting a “then” and “now” comparison. Patrons are also encouraged to bring their own historically significant photographs and stories to share during the interactive program. Library patrons can participate in the Twin Blends Northwest Louisiana History Hunters Summer Lagniappe Presentations at the following Shreve Memorial Library branches.
· Monday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive
· Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the Wallette Branch, 363 Hearne Avenue
· Tuesday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Belcher-Wyche Branch, 409 Charles Street, Belcher
· Saturday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Atkins Branch, 3704 Greenwood Road
Local historian, Robert Trudeau, will share the history of Northwest Louisiana trail rides at several Shreve Memorial Library branches. Beginning with a history of Vaqueros, Trudeau will explore the significance of trail rides in Northwest Louisiana, including a discussion of black cowboys, white trail rides, and an overview of America’s cowboy history and of its horses and saddles. The programs will be held July 8 through July 17 at the following Shreve Memorial Library branches.
· Monday, July 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the North Shreveport Branch, 4844 North Market Street
· Thursday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, 8303 Line Avenue
· Wednesday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the North Caddo Branch, 615 North Pine Street, Vivian
Representatives from Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS will visit Shreve Memorial Library branches July 18 through July 26, sharing various aspects of colonial life at the French Louisiane outpost. Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS is a replica of the original Fort St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches, which was founded in 1716 and evolved into a primary French trade center in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Programs will cover colonial life and games, the fur trade, 18th century fairy tales, and wampum (beading) demonstrations. Programs are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, July 18
· 10:00 a.m. Colonial Life at the North Shreveport Branch
· 1:00 p.m. The Fur Trade at the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, 2105 Hollywood Avenue
Friday, July 19
· 10:00 a.m. Colonial Games at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch
· 2:00 p.m. 18th Century Fairy Tales at the Means Branch, 7016 E. Magnolia Lane, Ida
Friday, July 26
· 12:00 p.m. Trade Talk at the Blanchard Branch, 344 Alexander Street, Blanchard
· 2:00 p.m. Wampum Demonstration at the Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop
All programs are free and open to the public. These local history programs are just a few of the many programs planned as part of Shreve Memorial Library’s “Adventure Begins at Your Library” Summer Reading Program. Library patrons will also enjoy musical performances by Lady Chops and The TMM Project, magical adventures with Geebo the Clown and DAT the Magician, as well as art workshops with Eric Francis, Karen LaBeau, Lynn Laird, and Marci Hicks, among others.
For more information and a complete lineup of Summer Reading Program activities at Shreve Memorial Library, please visit www.shreve-lib.org.
About Shreve Memorial Library
Shreve Memorial Library transforms Caddo Parish lives with resources, services and support to create a better world by focusing on developing young readers, sparking imaginations, encouraging curiosity, fostering connection, and providing comfortable places. Shreve Memorial Library’s 21-branch system is maintained by a parish-wide property tax millage to support the informational, educational and recreational needs of its constituents. For more information, visit www.shreve-lib.org, and like, follow and subscribe on social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube. Dream, discover, do – Shreve Memorial Library and you!