WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• George W. Bush library opening to public

  May 1, 2013 7:58 AM

  DALLAS - The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is set to open to the public following a brief ceremony. It opens to the public Wednesday morning. The library and museum, along with the 43rd president's policy institute, are housed in the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The... more »

• George W. Bush library dedication begins in Dallas

  April 25, 2013 10:37 AM

  DALLAS - The dedication ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center has begun. After a performance of "God Bless America," former Commerce Secretary Don Evans gave welcoming remarks. He chairs the George W. Bush Foundation. Bush and President Barack Obama, along with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and... more »

• Talk of new library tabled Thursday night

  February 21, 2013 11:21 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A decision about building a library in the Rouzan development in the Southdowns community was tabled Thursday night at the Library Board meeting. A city attorney was not satisfied with how the deal was written. A library has been planned as part of the project. ... more »

• Library branches closing for new floors

  January 4, 2013 4:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two branches of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library announced they would close for a few weeks for maintenance. Both the Bluebonnet Regional Branch and Delmont Gardens Branch are getting new flooring installed throughout the library. The Bluebonnet Regional Branch closed Jan. 3 and should... more »

• Library of Congress has amassed 170 billion tweets

  January 4, 2013 3:25 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Library of Congress says it's amassed about 170 billion tweets since it began collecting an archive of all Twitter messages in 2010. Twitter is donating its archive to the library, going back to the first one posted in 2006. Library Director of Communications Gayle Osterberg wrote in... more »

• Humanities endowment gives $1M for digital library

  July 26, 2012 3:04 PM

  WASHINGTON - The National Endowment for the Humanities is providing a $1 million grant to launch a new nonprofit effort to digitize the nation's libraries and create a Digital Public Library of America. Endowment chairman Jim Leach announced the grant Thursday to help create the infrastructure for a national... more »

• NM mom jailed for overdue 'Twilight' book, DVD

  June 29, 2012 12:47 PM

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A New Mexico woman was arrested and spent a night in jail for not returning the book "Twilight" and two-DVD set "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" back to the library on time. The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/MY6rJW ) Lori Teel was arrested and handcuffed at her... more »

• Bond sale bid approved for library

  June 21, 2012 7:37 AM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE- The West Feliciana Parish Police Jury accepted a better-than-expected bid for $3.5 million in construction bonds for a new library. Parish voters approved the bond issue on March 24. Bond attorney Alan Offner said during this week's police jury meeting he used a conservative estimate of... more »

• Libraries cut from state budget

  June 12, 2012 10:37 PM

  If reading is fundamental, then libraries are essential, but they're not in the budget. The governor didn't include a spending-plan for libraries. Now, branches across the state have to decide where to get funding. Lieutenant Governor Jay Darden expressed his concern saying, "They've used [the funding] to provide Internet access... more »

• Metro Council to consider library contract

  May 21, 2012 8:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The $19 million Baton Rouge downtown library faces yet another hurdle when the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council meets this week. The Advocate reports the council is set to consider on Wednesday whether to approve a contract for the project's architect. The library project won council... more »

• Baton Rouge library architect contract in limbo

  May 21, 2012 7:19 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The $19 million Baton Rouge downtown library faces yet another hurdle when the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council meets this week. The council is set to consider on Wednesday whether to approve a contract for the project's architect. The library project won council approval twice in... more »

• Power restored

  February 10, 2012 12:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library has reopened now that power has been restored. The library closed immediately this morning after a sudden power failure. Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library has returned to regular business hours. The library is located at 9200 Bluebonnet Boulevard. more »

• Library closed

  February 10, 2012 10:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A power failure has forced the Bluebonnet Regional Library Branch to close temporarily. The library will reopen during regular business hours once power is restored. Bluebonnet Regional Library is located at 9200 Bluebonnet Boulevard. more »

• W. Feliciana library funds on March ballot

  January 30, 2012 8:00 AM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - The West Feliciana Parish Library's board will ask voters in March to approve funding for a new library on property donated four years ago. The March 24 propositions include a $3.5 million construction bond issue that bond attorney Alan Offner estimated will require levying about 1.15... more »

• Library Intruder had Feathers

  January 24, 2012 7:40 PM

  An intruder at a library in Deadwood City, South Dakota turned out to be a 20-pound turkey. The library director says she was called to work Sunday after police told her there was an apparent a break-in. Police told her they didn't see footprints in the snow near a broken... more »

• Library destroyed in Katrina reopens Tuesday

  December 27, 2011 5:40 AM

  METAIRIE, La. (AP) - The Lakeshore branch library reopens Tuesday to the public, with a grand opening celebration set for Jan. 7. The rebuilt 7,700-square-foot library in Metairie will house more than 28,000 new items, including books, digital video discs, magazines and reference materials. The new facility replaces the library... more »

• EBR library director quits, board asks for investigation

  December 15, 2011 10:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE- David Farrar's resignation Thursday isn't the end of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control's troubles. It's actually asking for an investigation into its own practices because of the controversy surrounding the former library director. Farrar's issues started last month when the board began... more »

• EBR Library director resigns Play Video

  December 15, 2011 2:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The director for the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system abruptly resigned from his position earlier this afternoon, according to library board members. The board received an email around 2 p.m. from director David Farrar which stated he was resigning. In a copy of the email... more »

• Former library official pleads guilty to child porn charge Play Video

  December 13, 2011 6:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The former second-in-command at the East Baton Rouge Library faces up to 20 years in prison after he plead guilty to attempted receipt of child porn. Aaron Brian Fielder, 42, signed a plea agreement in Alabama admitting to soliciting sex from who he thought was a... more »

• Work to begin on Baton Rouge library

  October 17, 2011 8:59 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- After years of public debate and several design changes, construction of a new main library for East Baton Rouge Parish is about to get under way. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled Wednesday to mark the formal start of the $35.4 million project, which will see the... more »

• Mayor Pro Tem says more dialogue about new library

  October 5, 2011 5:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker says communication improved before the Metro Council's recent approval of a new downtown library. East Baton Rouge voters had already approved the money before the Metro Council voted last night to move the project forward. Walker says the library will be... more »

• New downtown library plan stays in place

  October 4, 2011 10:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Metro Council voted Wednesday night to leave the rebuild plans for the River Center Branch Library in place. It took two hours to come to the 8-2 decision. The council was revisiting the issue following a summer where attitudes about the new... more »

• Metro Council schedules special meeting

  September 29, 2011 4:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Metro Council scheduled a special meeting for next Tuesday to continue work left unfinished by a lack of a quorum during last night's meeting. The special meeting will be held Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The... more »

• Special council meeting to be held following abrupt end of Wednesday meeting

  September 28, 2011 10:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A special meeting of the Metro Council will be called to finish business leftover by a sudden end to Wednesday's council meeting because of a lack of a quorum. The council was just starting to address the million dollar Galvez Plaza project, and a deal discussed between... more »

• Council to consider bid for estimated $37 million Goodwood Library rebuild

  August 19, 2011 10:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Next week, the Metro Council considers bids for a new Main library. But some ask why it hasn't caught as much attention as the new Downtown library, even though it's twice the price. Controversy still swirls around the $19 million downtown Baton Rouge library. The debate... more »

• New downtown library project in limbo, again

  August 11, 2011 10:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A new downtown library could be off the table next week, due to flack about the project. The Library Board will vote on whether to put the work on hold, a complete 180-degrees after weeks of arguing over it last year. The project costs nearly $20... more »

• Library marks 50th anniversary of JFK inauguration

  January 9, 2011 11:16 AM

  It's been a half-century since the proverbial torch was passed to a new generation. The John F. Kennedy presidential library in Boston has added a special exhibit to mark the 50th anniversary of JFK's inauguration on Jan. 20, 1961. Retired Boston attorney and library trustee Richard Donahue was... more »

• Debate, arguments lead to changed budget for Baton Rouge

  December 8, 2010 10:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The budget for Baton Rouge got the Metro Council's approval, but not without some arguing. Dozens of people debated the $19 million downtown library plan, which survived an attempt to kill it by one vote. Metro Council members told the crowd they didn't appreciate being threatened throughout... more »

• Library in, Bayou Country money out of EBR budget

  December 8, 2010 8:17 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An action to remove the downtown library from the 2011 budget for East Baton Rouge Parish has failed, but moving money that was intended to help the Bayou Country Superfest has been approved by the Metro Council. Council members voted 7 to 5 in favor of... more »

• New library downtown likely to be voted down

  December 7, 2010 6:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Five of the Metro Council's twelve members tell News 2 they will likely vote "no" on a new, nearly $20 million downtown library in Baton Rouge. The building needs eight votes in favor to pass. People who work at the River Center branch, which was... more »

• Library project takes center stage at budget hearing

  November 16, 2010 10:31 PM

  Dozens of people from across Baton Rouge spent hours Tuesday evening weighing in on the city's proposed budget for libraries. At the heart of the debate, a $19 million project to tear down and rebuild the downtown library. TEA Party members, library-users and families from across the parish... more »

• Library supporters, opposers voice opinons at council meeting

  November 16, 2010 4:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE - About a dozen Baton Rouge residents attended the budget meeting held by the metro council to discuss what the fate of the downtown library. Davis Rhorer and a library board member have spoken in support of the 19 mill downtown library project. Those opposed have suggested... more »

• Debate continues over new downtown library

  November 15, 2010 5:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Rebuild, or remodel? That's what Metro Council members will be considering for the downtown Baton Rouge library as part of ongoing budget talks. The council will consider the mayor's plan to tear down and rebuild the library. Money for the work was already approved by voters... more »

• More debate expected over BR library

  November 15, 2010 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE- More debate is expected this week as the Metro Council considers plans for a new downtown library. It is part of ongoing city-parish budget talks. Some groups like the Baton Rouge Tea Party have mounted opposition saying the plan is a waste of taxpayer money. ... more »

• Library book returned 35 years late

  October 23, 2010 11:48 AM

  A novel checked out in 1975 from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. library is back in the stacks. The long-term lender is alumnus Pat Harkin, who found the book of Leon Uris' "QB VII" in a box. He says he planned to return it for... more »

• LSU Libraries 'digitize' old newspapers

  October 7, 2010 7:01 AM

  The LSU Libraries are making digital copies of editions of six historical Louisiana newspapers available online. An LSU news release says the project of digitizing the papers is being done through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The terms of the grant specified digitizing newspapers published between... more »

• Shhh! Arrest Under Way

  September 29, 2010 7:56 PM

  A man wanted for a traffic citation in Missoula, Montana fled police and sought refuge in a public library bathroom. The library was evacuated for about 30-minues while police made the arrest. It all started when the man refused to get out of his car during a traffic stop. He... more »

• Officials: University of Texas gunman was student, acted alone

  September 28, 2010 1:32 PM

  (AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Tamir Kalifa) A man wearing dark clothes and a ski mask opened fire with an assault rifle Tuesday morning inside a University of Texas library, then fatally shot himself in the head. Police said they believe the gunman was a student who acted alone,... more »

• Mixed reactions about new downtown library

  September 17, 2010 4:53 PM

  There are mixed emotions after yesterday's board meeting to approve the destruction of the downtown library and replace it with a new one. Some said there are plenty reasons to go. "[It’s a] good place to study and to catch up on news events and some good quiet... more »

• Library board votes to build new library in downtown Baton Rouge

  September 16, 2010 8:28 PM

  After two years of research and debate, people in downtown Baton Rouge are closer to seeing a new library. The Library Control Board voted 5-2 tonight to recommend building a new, 57,000 square foot library to replace the current one. Members Stan Bardwell and Don Browning were the only... more »

• Downtown library changes

  August 16, 2010 10:26 PM

  Changes are in store for the downtown library. Earlier this year, the library board allocated $19 million for the project. There are three options the board will choose from: renovate, renovate with expansion, or completly re-build. During Monday night's meeting, David Farrar outlined each of the three plans. To... more »

• Woman arrested for mayonnaise vandalism

  June 14, 2010 8:19 PM

  A woman in Idaho was arrested for pouring mayonnaise into a library drop box for books, and her arrest may solve a year-long condiment crime spree. Authorities say 74-year-old Joy Cassidy of Boise was arrested shortly after she pulled through the outside drive-through of the Ada County Library. Police... more »

• Cameron Parish library to reopen

  April 29, 2010 8:57 AM

  The twice-stormravaged Cameron Parish library will reopen on Monday. Since Hurricane Ike swamped the parish in 2008, the town's library consisted of two parked bookmobiles. Before that, Hurricane Rita destroyed four of the library system's branches and damaged another. The new library branch has been open for a couple of... more »

• Proposed GSU fee would go to library

  April 15, 2010 8:36 AM

  Grambling State University's Student Government Association Senate has approved a $12-per-semester fee for full-time students that would help finance renovation of the university's library or construction of a new library. Part-time students would pay $7.50 per semester under the proposed plan. The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors still... more »

• Katrina-damaged library to be demolished, rebuilt

  March 10, 2010 4:59 AM

  New Orleans' Algiers Regional Library will be torn down and rebuilt. The mayor's office says a $7.3 million new library is among five to be built at a total cost of more than $27 million. The others are the Robert E. Smith Library on Canal Boulevard; New Orleans East Regional... more »

• Record returned after 47 years

  December 17, 2009 8:38 PM

  Someone returned a vinyl record checked out of a library in Illinois 47 years late and quietly slipped out the door. The album by the 1950's pop singer Julius La Rosa was checked out in February of 1962 and was returned this month to the Fondulac Library in East Peoria... more »

• East Baton Rouge Parish Library branches close early

  October 22, 2009 3:16 PM

  The East Baton Rouge Parish Library closed the main library and all branches as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday. The closings came as a result of Mayor-President Kip Holden's request that all non-essential employees be sent home due to impending severe weather. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction... more »