Opportunities Abound Through Library Community Partnerships

Natchitoches, LA, August 18, 2026 - The Natchitoches Parish Library's (NPL) summer Sprout program recently held its final session with a "Christmas in July" visit from the Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA). CRNHA representatives Jessica Mullican and Kacy Young led a Christmas-themed craft as part of a countdown heralding the centennial of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. CRNHA's current initiatives also include creating a Children's Discovery Center in Natchitoches and organizing Mighty Machines Day, a vehicular expo for children planned for November 14. 

As one of the NPL's many summertime programs, Sprout invites local community members to present information about their organization while offering lessons about topics releveant to children. Presenters such as FAUNA (Friends All United for natchitoches Animals), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site were joined by volunteers from the Natchitoches Lions Club, who offered free sack lunches at each program.

"We are incredibly grateful to all of our community partners for their generoisty in making programs like Sprout possible,: said NPL Children's Library Assistant Dianna Allen. "Their unique expertise really multiplies the range of programming we can offer to our patrons."

The Orchard Foundation's Read to Soar program also celebrated the final installment of its children's summer literacy workshop with delicious desserts and graduation-themed art for its young attendees. Read to Soar coincided with the NPL Main Branch's weekly Story Time during the summer months. Participating children learned valuable literacy skills while listening to stories and participate in songs, dances, and crafts. Throughout the program, each child was presented with free books to take home.

"One of our roles as a public library is to provide the children of our community with opportunities to thrive," said NPL Deputy Director Rosalind Parker, "and literacy attainment is a foundational step in education. Partnering with the Orchard Foundation extends the effects of both organizations, reaching more children in their earliest stages of learning."

The NPL invites families to keep building on their summer successes through its upcoming programs. Story Time continues on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Branch and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Northeast Branch in Campti, free and open to all with no registration required. The NPL will also welcome the LSU Ag Center for Beekeeping for Beginners, the first session in a four-part series, on Septembet 14 at 10 a.m. at the Main Branch.

About the Natchitoches Parish Library
Knowledge. Connection. Community. The Natchitoches Parish Library serves the public and community through its competent and friendly staff by providing services and programs aimed at meeting the informational, recreational, and educational needs of our patrons. We seek to provide a beneficial and usable collection of information and activities to connect Natchitoches Parish residents to the world.