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Calcasieu Parish Public Library logo featuring a stylized teal and navy book design beside the words “Calcasieu Parish Public Library.”
News from the Calcasieu Parish Public Library
November, 2026
Decorative fall-themed graphic with pumpkins, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, and pears on a cream background. A white decorative label in the center displays the text “hello NOVEMBER” in orange and brown lettering.
Upcoming Programs
Colorful abstract acrylic paint background in pink, orange, teal, and blue with the text “Fall Acrylic Art” and “Hayes Branch” on a textured paper banner.
Fall Acrylic Art
Thursday, November 12
11:00am - 12:00pm
Hayes Branch
Registration required
For Adults: Welcome the season with a little creativity! Join us for a relaxing fall-themed painting session and create your own seasonal masterpiece on canvas using acrylic paints. No experience is needed; just bring your creativity and enjoy the fun! Registration is required.

Colorful Diwali-themed graphic featuring a decorated purple elephant balancing a lit oil lamp on its trunk, with the text “Diwali Elephant Craft” and “Epps Memorial Branch” on a dark blue background with festive floral and lantern decorations.
Diwali Elephant Craft
Thursday, November 12
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Epps Memorial Branch
Registration required
For Children: Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, by creating a colorful elephant ornament! Learn about the traditions and significance of this joyful holiday while decorating your own festive elephant with vibrant colors and designs. All supplies are provided. Registration is required.

Promotional graphic for a “Pokémon Crash Course” presented by LVL 1 Gaming, featuring a Poké Ball, a cartoon fire-breathing Pokémon-like character, and a blue dinosaur-like character on a dark blue background.
Pokémon Crash Course
Thursday, November 12
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Iowa Branch
Registration required
For Young Adults: Join us for a beginner's guide session on everything Pokémon! This event is presented by the staff of LVL 1 Gaming in Lake Charles. You will learn how to play, compete, and receive cards to take home! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the pros. Registration is required. 

Promotional graphic for “Online Safety & Parental Controls 101” at Central Branch, featuring hands typing on a laptop with glasses and office supplies on a desk.
Online Safety & Parental Controls 101
Thursday, November 12
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Central Branch
More Information
For Adults: Navigating the digital world with children can feel overwhelming! Join us for an introductory tech talk designed for parents, guardians, and caregivers, where we'll explore practical tips for creating a safer and healthier online experience for kids across devices and platforms. If you have any questions about the program or need more information, please call (337) 721-7116.

Promotional graphic for a Mario Kart Tournament at Carnegie Memorial Branch, featuring a mobile gamer on a smartphone screen, a green pipe, a red mushroom, and a go-kart on a gray gaming-themed background.
It's Game Time-
Mario Kart Tournament
Monday, November 16
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Carnegie Memorial Branch
Registration required
For Young Adults: Calling all teen gamers! Ready to race? Join us for a fun and friendly Mario Kart Tournament! Compete against fellow gamers, show off your skills, and enjoy an exciting afternoon of racing. Registration is required.

Promotional graphic for an “MTG Crash Course” at DeQuincy Branch, featuring fantasy trading cards and multi-sided game dice, presented by the staff of LVL 1 Gaming.
MTG Crash Course
Monday, November 16
4:30pm - 5:30pm
DeQuincy Branch
Registration required
For Young Adults: Join us for a beginner's guide session to all things Magic: The Gathering! This event is presented by the staff of LVL 1 Gaming in Lake Charles. You will learn how to play, compete, and receive cards to take home! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the pros. Registration is required. 

Promotional graphic for a “String Art Project” at Westlake Branch, featuring three colorful balls of yarn on a green background.
String Art Project
Tuesday, November 17
4:00pm - 5:15pm
Westlake Branch
Registration required
For Children: Join us for a fun fall crafting adventure! Children will use craft materials to create a whimsical string house with colorful pom-pom balloons floating from the top. This creative, hands-on program is designed for students in 3rd through 5th grade. Registration is required.

Check out our online calendar for
more programs!
Children/Early Literacy
All Ages/Families
Young Adults
Adults
New on Our Shelves
Book cover for The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman, featuring neon green title text, a black cat wearing sunglasses in a spotlight, pink stars, skull icons, and a colorful figure floating against a black background.
The Butcher's Masquerade
By: Matt Dinniman
Check It Out
Book cover for Are You Mad at Me? by Meg Josephson, featuring large black title text inside an orange speech bubble and the subtitle, “How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You.”
Are You Mad
at Me?
By: Meg Josephson
Check It Out
Book cover for The Brothers McKay by Craig Johnson, featuring a lone figure with a rifle standing on rocky terrain overlooking a wildfire-lit landscape at sunset.
The Brothers McKay
By: Craig Johnson
Check It Out
Book cover for Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman, featuring a young detective holding a flashlight, accompanied by a white cat and a friend in front of neighborhood buildings at sunset.
Opal Watson: Private Eye
By: Brittany J. Thurman.
Check It Out
Book cover for A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin and Fred Fordham, featuring a lone figure with a staff standing on a narrow rocky spire surrounded by crashing ocean waves.
A Wizard of Earthsea
By: Ursula K. Le Guin
Check It Out
Online Resource of the Month
This month we’re highlighting our genealogy resource: 
Heritage Quest
Explore a wide range of genealogy resources, including census, immigration, vital, military, and city records, family histories, and more.
 
Discover specialized collections such as the U.S. Indian Census Rolls, Freedman's Bank Records, Agricultural and Mortality Schedules, and historical census maps.

The Basics:
 
Required: Library Card for access outside the library

Availability: Desktop browsers 
What’s Offered: Access census information| Search city directories, military, and immigration records | Flexible search options | Browse historical maps
Try It Out!
Get Started: Heritage Quest makes it easy to jump right in and start searching for your ancestors and family members. Click Show More Options to narrow your search with additional details, such as other family members. You can also use the Estimate option if you’re unsure of someone’s Birth Year.
Useful Tips: Need some pointers on better searching? Click on Research Aids in the top menu for tips and advice for both new and more experienced researchers, including Ancestry Anne’s Top 10 Search Tips and Creating Timelines that Produce Answers. 

Map It: Regional boundaries have changed a lot over time, and that can make genealogy research a little tricky.  Use the link in the top menu to go to the Maps section. Click on Louisiana either in the list at the top or on the map below. View each decade listed to see how territories and parish lines looked for each Census.
Watch a Tutorial
Check Out Heritage Quest
Promotional graphic for Heritage Quest featuring a large tree illustration on a navy blue patterned background with the tagline, “Multiple generations, one story. Find out where your roots begin.”
Upcoming Holiday Closures
Wednesday, November 11
Veterans Day
 
November 26 - November 27
Thanksgiving Holiday
 
December 24 - December 26
Christmas Holiday
 
December 31 - January 1
New Year's Holiday
Up close photo of a calendar
Thank-you graphic from Calcasieu Parish Public Library featuring autumn leaves, pumpkins, apples, and harvest baskets, with the message “Thank You for being a patron of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library.”

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Calcasieu Parish Public Library
301 W. Claude St. Lake Charles, LA 70605
Phone: (337) 721-7116
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