Long-awaited library opens doors in Paradis

Climbing wall, magician set to visit

Michelle Stuckey/Herald Guide

Bryleigh Dufrene, 5, reads a book on Tuesday in the new Paradis Library. The library opened its doors on Monday and contains a children’s activity room, a small study room and a large meeting room. The library will host several fun activities for both tee

Residents in Paradis, Des Allemands and Bayou Gauche finally got the chance to walk into their own library on Monday when a new 6,200-square-foot branch opened on the corner of Audubon and Fonda streets.

The library was constructed on 1.18 acres of land that formerly housed the old Paradis Elementary School. The building cost about $1.2 million to complete.

The library contains a children's activity room, a small study room and a large meeting room. The library stands about 1,000 square feet bigger than the Hahnville branch and nearly 3,000 square feet smaller than the St. Rose branch.

The library is opening at the perfect time since children will be out of school next week and will be looking for fun ways to fill their time.

Marci Saucier, youth services librarian, said the Paradis branch already has lots of activities planned for children, tweens and teens.

In fact, many of the activities will start in a few weeks. The library will have a game day for children  and tweens between the ages of 8 and 12 on June 3 and will also host a craft day for the same age group on June 7.

Dance group Rhythm and Soul will put on an act for teens on June 16, and a climbing wall will visit on June 22.

“(The climbing wall) will be open to everyone ages 7 and up, but they must wear tennis shoes to climb,” Saucier said.

For younger children, magician David LeBoeuf promises to bring laughter, education and motivation  along with him when he visits on June 10. And at the end of the month, Audubon Institute’s Wetlands Express will offer an up-close experience with the wetlands’ most important inhabitants.

Students will learn about the wildlife that depends on the wetlands for their homes, meals and nurseries.

Wetlands Express comes to the library on June 30.

“There will also be some special story times and lapsit story times for little ones,” Saucier said. “We are still refining our schedule at Paradis.”

For upcoming events, residents can visit the library's events calendar at www.stcharles.lib.la.us.

“I'm sure we are going to be very busy and we are really excited to have a branch library to serve our Paradis, Des Allemands and Bayou Gauche patrons,” Saucier said.

Hours of operation are Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The grand opening of the library will be scheduled for a later date.