EBRP Libraries Transform Lives
While libraries are known as a hub for community programming and resources, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library (EBRPL) has made strides to ensure that we go far beyond the old expectations of your grandfather’s library. For more than 75 years, EBRPL has served the community, working to offer quality experiences at every age and stage of life.
This time of year, the focus is often on students as they return to school. It’s an exciting time for them, but EBRPL has not forgotten about our more seasoned patrons. We’ve got amazing free programs, events and resources for adults all year long. The driving force behind our efforts is to be valuable, impactful and transformative in the lives of our patrons.
Tasked to serve the community as a catalyst for the development of a career-resilient, self-reliant workforce, the Career Center is one of the ways the EBRPL helps to transform lives. Head of the Career Center Anne Nowak has witnessed many stories of transformation. “The Career Center exists to transform lives by changing a person’s perspective, helping them find a fulfilling career and giving them hope,” she said.
The Career Center is not an employment agency or a job-training agency. It is a free public service offering trained and professional help and extensive resources to identify a client’s needs while planning a career path and conducting job searches. At the Career Center, patrons have free access to computers and WiFi, trained professionals to help with job search and applications, assistance with résumé and cover letter writing, extensive career coaching and active area job lists.
The Career Center also offers specific programming throughout the year to help jobseekers and those looking to make a career change succeed. These special programs include:
- Artist’s Way, a 13-week workshop to help participants become inspired to live out their creativity adventurously, whether personal or professional.
- Job Club, which offers a powerful combination networking, support and encouragement while job searching.
- Dependable Strengths, designed for those who are ready to take their job, career or life in a new and more fulfilling direction, but need help with the transition.
For more information about the Career Center and any of its free programs, events and resources, call (225) 231-3733, or visit careercenterbr.com.
The EBRPL Small Business Services offers a variety of free tools that can be helpful for budding or experienced entrepreneurs who are looking to start or improve a business. Established organizations can receive help finding new customers, and those who are new to business can get assistance for transforming an idea into a solid business plan. We also offer free consultations with a business librarian who will guide entrepreneurs through the Library’s resources. Staff can meet with business owners and entrepreneurs to customize what we have to match their unique needs. Visit the Small Business Services InfoGuide at ebrpl.libguides.com/smallbusiness. For more information or to set up a consultation, email smallbusiness@ebrpl.com or call (225) 231-3750.
Our collection of digital resources continues to grow, with several major new online additions including the Gale Small Business Builder for business planning, Lexis Nexis Legal for in-house legal content, Mergent Intellect which is a business research directory and Kanopy for streaming films and documentaries, including the Great Courses. Learn new skills or sharpen existing ones by using Gale Courses for online learning in accounting and finance, computer applications, writing and publishing and more. Learning Express and Lynda.com resources offer more online learning for workforce development, business and high-quality teaching for colleges and universities.
With 14 convenient locations across the parish including the Main Library at Goodwood, EBRPL is open to serve you seven days per week, and 24/7 online at ebrpl.com, and in the Digital Library at www.ebrpl.com/DigitalLibrary. Get access to computers and Wi-Fi, computer classes, online databases, books and magazines, downloads and e-media, programs, concerts, book talks, game nights, various workshops and storytimes, business tools and seminars, career and technology resources and much more – all free with your Library card! Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/ebrpl, and tell us how your Library has transformed your life!
Kayla Perkins is the Public Relations Director at the East Baton Rouge Public Library. A native of Baton Rouge, Perkins holds a Master of Art in Mass Communications from Southern University. Perkins has worked for the library for over six hears and is responsible for composing, editing, and producing the monthly newsletter, The Source, which has distribution of more than 8,000 monthly. Perkins also serves as the in-house reporter for “Beyond the Stacks” in the Library’s monthly television show, The Library Road Show.
