In her introduction for the poetry anthology, You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World, editor Ada Limón writes, “[P]oetry and nature have a way of simply reminding us that we are not alone.”
East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s One Book One Community (OBOC) program, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, has always been about drawing readers out of isolation and into communion with one another around a shared “read.” This year, You Are Here extends an invitation for participants to engage with one another while exploring poetry, nature, and the ways these forces intertwine.
Through a dynamic slate of spring programming, the library draws the act of reading poetry from this anthology into the world, making it accessible to everyone—from children, to folks in love with the natural world, to our community’s most engaged literary critics.
“By bringing a diverse group of people together for these events to talk about a shared reading experience, One Book One Community puts you in situations where you can say, ‘Hey, I never thought of it that way,’” said librarian Brandon Reilly. “If you’re looking for that opportunity to have your perceptions and assumptions improved or sharpened by listening to the perspectives of others about the same literary subject, which this year happens to be about the universal subject of nature, well, that’s certainly a wonderful thing.”
Here are some highlights of the spring One Book One Community program schedule, with opportunities to explore the themes in You Are Here happening at library locations around the parish:
March 13
Grooves on Goodwood: Join New Orleans musical and poetic sensation Tarriona “Tank” Ball—who recently won a Grammy Award for her 2025 Spoken Word Poetry Album, The Heart, the Mind, The Soul—for an evening of discussions around art, creative workshops, and of course a one-of-a-kind performance. 6:30 pm–8:30 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood.
March 26
Blackout Poetry Workshop: Learn the art of blackout poetry, in which a writer uses pre-existing text (such as found in old books or newspapers) and obscures most of it with a black marker, leaving only certain words visible—often offering a totally unexpected message. 6:30 pm–8 pm at the Jones Creek Regional Branch Library.
March 28
Worm Composting 101: Master Naturalist Terry Kidd will present a workshop on how to transform your kitchen scraps into rich soil for the garden. 3 pm–4 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood.
March 30
OBOC Book Discussion: Join fellow readers for an opportunity to dig deep into this year’s OBOC selection, You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World. 5 pm–6 pm at the Zachary Branch Library.
After watching "Louisiana Grass Roots" on April 8, stick around for an open discussion with producer Dr. Phyllis Baudoin Griffard.
April 8
Screening of Louisiana Grass Roots: To set the scene, this evening program will begin with a guided tour of the Main Library’s new native plant garden, led by members of the Louisiana Wild Society. Then, all will gather to watch Louisiana Grass Roots, a short documentary on the state’s coastal prairie and efforts to conserve it. Producer Dr. Phyllis Baudoin Griffard will lead a discussion afterward. 6 pm–7:30 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood.
April 13
OBOC Book Discussion: Join fellow readers for an opportunity to dig deep into this year’s OBOC selection, You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World. Noon–1 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood.
April 19
Everyday Wild Author Talk with Kathryn Hunter: A beautifully illustrated guide to the backyard, Everyday Wild challenges us to engage in mindfulness and the practice of noticing, aiming to inspire readers to see—with new eyes—the wonders of the world around us. Author Kathryn Hunter, a local artist in Baton Rouge and the owner of Blackbird Letterpress, will share insights from her own creative journey. 3 pm–4:30 pm at the Main Library at Goodwood.
Explore the complete schedule of workshops, author visits, book talks, and more at ebrpl.libguides.com/youarehere.
