A Jefferson Parish Library stalwart — the Lego Club — is gradually returning after a hiatus due to Covid.
Staff now makes sure that all the Legos are sanitized after they are used.
The Lego Clubs are at the following libraries so far.
Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road: Meets one Saturday per month. Check the library’s activity calendar for more information.
Lakeshore Library, 1000 W. Esplanade, Metairie: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, beginning in April.
Rosedale Library, 4036 Jefferson Highway: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd.: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.
BOOK SALES RISING: Publishers and booksellers celebrated the news that print book sales were up 9.1% last year.
According to Publishers Weekly, booksellers sold 825.7 million books in 2021, up from 757.9 million in 2020. A huge increase in fiction books sold led the way, with young adult fiction sales jumping 30.7%, adult fiction up 25.5%, and children’s fiction up 9.6%.
All told, print book sales have risen more than 18% since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The percentage of Americans reading e-books rose 5% in the past two years, and the share of lower-income adults who listen to audiobooks increased 8% since 2019.
According to the Book Manufacturers Institute, more than 81% of commercial printers expect the book market to hold steady or continue to grow over the next one to two years.
START READING NOW: Meetings of the March book clubs are right around the corner. Here are the books that are to be read and discussed.
- Old Metairie Book Club: The group meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 15, at the Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road. The book up for discussion is “The Girl Next Door” by Ruth Rendell.
- Jefferson Highway Book Club: It meets from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 15 at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway. The book to be discussed is “Finding Dorothy” by Elizabeth Letts.
- Great Books Discussion Group: It meets at 7 p.m. March 15 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The book is “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” by Agatha Christie.
- BestBank Book Club: Meeting time is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16, at the Gretna Library, 102 Willow Drive, Gretna. The book is “The Consequence of Fear” by Jacqueline Winspear.
MINDFUL FUN HOUR: This event — geared for kids 6 and older — takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, in the courtyard of the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Being mindful is all about being kind and gentle in the present moment. Activities will include kid-friendly yoga and meditation and a fun exercise. Participants should bring their own mat.
Benefits of mindfulness for kids include reduced stress, greater ability to focus, and a more positive outlook on life.
SURPRISE BOXES: As many as 12 teens may sign up for a new program in which they pick up a box at the Teen Center in Metairie from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28.
The box includes one or two books hand-picked by Teen Center staff as well as some treats to enjoy while reading. After participants have read their books, they should be returned to the Teen Center, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Open to young people in sixth through 12th grades.
WWII DISCUSSION GROUP: Submarine expert Pat Doyle will speak on the USS Sculpin and the USS Sailfish at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway.
The Sculpin was awarded eight battle stars. She ended the war with a total of three confirmed ships sunk, totaling 9,835 tons, and is the subject of an episode of the syndicated television series “The Silent Service,” which aired 1957 — ’58. The Sailfish conducted numerous patrols in the Pacific War during World War II, earning nine battle stars.
COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, or at West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. Seating is limited, and online registration is required.
Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training and click “East Bank Regional Schedule” or “West Bank Regional Schedule.”
Upcoming Metairie classes include:
- Microsoft Word 2 — 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 23.
Upcoming Harvey classes include:
- Basic Computer Skills: 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 26
- Basic Computer Skills: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.
