SummerFest

(news release, click here)

Come help us celebrate the 90th. anniversary of the Ouachita Parish Public Library when OPPL will hold its first ever SummerFest on May 20, 2006 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. The event kicks off the summer reading season and introduces the River Reads program, the Summer Reading Kick-Off and the Teen Summer Reading Kick-Off. Many of our Mid-Town Merchants are sponsoring food and prizes, such as hot dogs, corn dogs, drinks, TCBY snacks, coupons, and more.

We will have special guest appearances by Ali the Alligator, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the Boogie Woogie Barkers, dancing dogs

Some of the festivities include:

• Band provided by Matt's Music
• Birthday cake provided by Brookshire's
• Book Sale in the Louis Lock Room, sponsored by The Friends of the Library
• A silent auction in the garage, sponsored by OPPL
• An Ugly Dog contest

Each of the branches will have a booth. Some of their activities include:

• West Monroe: cake walk
• Ouachita Valley: puppets, storytelling and a wheel of fortune game
• Carver: basketball goal game, marbles, balloon animals, and a hula-hoop contest
• Louise Williams: a treasure hunt and horseshoes
• Anna Meyer: "Dog Gone Good" pie eating contest
• West Ouachita: Black History trivial pursuit game
• Bookmobile: plink game
• Main Branch: crossword contest, horse/pony rides, petting zoo, a balloon launch and face painting

Some of the booths are sponsored by:

• Windows, a Book Shop
• Barbizon
• Dee Scallon
• PBS
• Paws Therapy Dogs
• Dancing Dogs
• Cindy Foust - Story telling, alligator, and ballon launch
• Finger Printing, Crime Lab

Mid-City Merchants donating or furnishing items:

• Women's Shop/Kid's Corner - Stuffed Dog Raffle
• Alex George - popcorn machine and tent
• Testa Brewing Company - Grill Cooker
• TCBY

Agenda

Questions? Call 318-327-1490.

Ouachita Parish Public Library Celebrates 90 th Anniversary with "SummerFest"

Monroe, La.-

The Ouachita Parish Public Library today announced it will celebrate its 90 th anniversary on Saturday, May 20, 2006 with a free event called "SummerFest". The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both inside and outside the Main Branch, and will utilize the library's property at the corner of North 19 th and Hudson Lane in Monroe. Activities have been planned for all ages, and will include the kickoff of River Reads adult summer reading program, the children's summer reading program, and the young adult summer reading program. The Mid Town Merchants Association will co-sponsor the event, and Matt's Music will sponsor the main entertainment stage.

"This is a momentous event in the history of Ouachita Parish. It seemed only fitting to celebrate with a free party for all our patrons and supporters," said Cheryl Cooper Mouliere, Library Director. "Every branch in the parish is participating, including the Bookmobile. There will truly be something for everyone. "

There will be no admission fee for SummerFest,, and games and activities will be free. Among the many events planned for the day is a discount book sale by the Friends of the Ouachita Public Library, a cake walk, a pie eating contest, pony rides, face painting, arts and crafts, games for all ages, a silent auction, and special photo opportunities. The Matt's Music Main Stage will be the site for the unveiling of the River Reads summer reading selection, the Boogie Woogie dancing dogs, a special dog show and trick contest, and will feature live music from Five Mile Slew. Louisiana Public Broadcasting will bring Clifford, the Big Red Dog, Barbizon will provide make-overs for teenagers, and the Mid Town Merchants will have booths for refreshments, and will provide prizes for special drawings and contests. The celebration will culminate at 1:30 p.m. when Brookshire's honors the Ouachita Parish Public Library with a 90 th Birthday Cake to be shared among those present.

"This is the first time we have ever kicked off all three of our summer reading programs in one big event," Mouliere continued. "The 90 th anniversary is a major milestone, and we invite everyone to join in the fun."

Other activities for the day are still in the planning stages and will be announced as the event nears. For more information on SummerFest, River Reads, the children's and young adults summer reading programs, or any of the other many activities at the Ouachita Parish Public Library, visit www.oplib.org , or call 327-1490.

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