From Keep Louisiana Beautiful's Blog
Partner Spotlight: Ouachita Parish Library
Keep Louisiana Beautiful is proud to spotlight one of our outstanding partners, the Ouachita Parish Public Library. As an active participant in our Get Down & Clean Up program, Ouachita Parish Public Library is a positive force in their community.
A Library That Goes Beyond Books
Increasingly, public libraries have become much more than places to borrow books. In a recent social media post highlighting their “Library of Things,” Ouachita Parish Public Library outlined the many non-book items available for checkout. Alongside crafting tools, tech gadgets, and fine art prints were litter clean up kits, available through KLB’s Get Down & Clean Up program. The kits include litter grabbers, safety vests, trash bags, and a carrying tote bag.
The library captioned this social media post in a way that captures the spirit of public libraries and the Get Down & Clean Up program alike:
“The Library is more than books! Patrons can borrow a variety of non-traditional items from our Library of Things. A Library of Things can inspire lifelong learning by offering hands-on experience and strengthen our community through collaborative consumption. Borrow before you buy, or let us help you with your next project!”
In promoting KLB’s litter clean up kits as part of their “Library of Things,” Ouachita Parish Public Library encourages patrons to take an active role in caring for their environment. This is an excellent example of how libraries can be hubs of resources for positive change and community engagement.
To date, the Ouachita Parish Public Library’s litter kits have been checked out 114 times. Each checkout makes a difference!
Applauding Community Care
In addition to informing the community of the litter kits’ availability, Ouachita Parish Public Library uses social media to celebrate those groups who use the kits to make a difference. They recently highlighted a group from the Greater Free Gift Young Male Ministry who checked out clean up kits to keep their neighborhood clean. Their dedication and community spirit is inspiring!
We want to extend our appreciation to the Greater Free Gift Young Male Ministry for picking up litter and to the Ouachita Parish Public Library for sharing this good news online. These stories promote community care and well-being, which can help to prevent litter from happening in the first place.
You Can Get Down & Clean Up Too!
Litter kits are currently available for checkout at 127 libraries across Louisiana. Find the list of participating libraries and more information about the program on our Get Down & Clean Up program page.
This program is perfect for:
- Students needing service hours for school
- Families looking for a fun and impactful activity
- Homeschool groups, youth groups, and scouts eager to make a difference
Looking for something meaningful to do this summer? Check out a litter cleanup kit from the Ouachita Parish Public Library or one of our other partner libraries, and spend a day making your community a cleaner, more beautiful place. It’s a rewarding activity that gets you outside, active, and connected with your neighbors.