The East Baton Rouge Parish Library prioritizes the health and safety of our patrons and staff. In response to updated information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), and new directives for increased closures and smaller gatherings, the Library will close all locations to public access beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, and remain temporarily closed until further notice.
Library Director Spencer Watts stated, “After careful review of the current public health landscape in our community, and based upon official information and guidance, we have decided that it would be in our citizens’ best interest to temporarily close our facilities to public access. This was an extremely difficult decision. We realize many people rely heavily on the Library and its services. We will be continually reassessing the public health situation as it evolves over the next several weeks. We will still deliver services by phone, remotely, and via the drive-through/pickup windows, and plan to develop new approaches to help our community during this difficult time.”
Your Digital Library is Always Open!
Browse and enjoy thousands of digital items like e-books, e-magazines and e-audiobooks, plus streaming media including music, films, documentaries, and concerts. Stay in the know with online newspapers, magazines; acquire a new skill or broaden your knowledge with a variety of learning tools and platforms. Learn a new language with Mango and Pronunciator, and discover many other options for adults including fun resources such as CreativeBug, AtoZ World Foods, BrainHQ and so more.
The Digital Library is open 24/7, and its robust collection of resources are all freely available to any patron with a current East Baton Rouge Parish Library card. Just visit https://www.ebrpl.com/digital.html to get started!
Don’t have a Library card? No problem! Temporary virtual cards allow access to most digital products; see the “Library Services” tab at www.ebrpl.com for more information. To obtain a Computer Use-Only Card, which does allow access to most digital resources including OverDrive and RBdigital, contact the Circulation Department at (225) 231-3740, or your local branch.
Need to renew your Library card? No problem! For your convenience, we have extended the expiration dates on all current Library cards. At this time, no cash payments for late fees or fines will be accepted, however, patrons can pay by credit card online.
Telephone reference and assistance with renewals and holds will be offered at each location, through 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and through 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit https://www.ebrpl.com/LocationsandHours/LocationsandHours.html for telephone numbers and hours.
Library staff are prepared to give assistance via telephone or email to eref@ebrpl.com, on operation of mobile devices and downloading of content such as e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and streaming media. The Library website also contains many Infoguides that describe how to access downloadable media on a variety of mobile devices.
Of course, Library cards may also be used to check out books, magazines, audiobooks, BluRays and DVDs, CDs, WonderBooks, Playaways, Playaway Views, Playaway LaunchPads, and Arduino Kits. Library due dates and renewals have been adjusted to allow patrons longer loan periods.
At this time, drive-through Pickup/Drop Off windows are available at the Main Library on Goodwood located at 7711 Goodwood Blvd., and the Fairwood Branch located at 12910 Old Hammond Hwy., with these hours:
Main Library at Goodwood
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday
2-6 p.m. Sunday
Fairwood Branch
9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday
2-6 p.m. Sunday
Announcements related to establishing temporary curbside service at the remaining 12 locations will be made on the Library’s website. Library administration will periodically reassess closures in accordance with governmental and healthcare guidelines.
All Library programs and events have been canceled. Tools and resources on the coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the Infoguide at http://ebrpl.libguides.com/coronavirus.
To learn more about the Library and any of its free programs, events and resources, call (225) 231-3750, or visit us online at www.ebrpl.com.