Quick Answer: The West Baton Rouge Parish Library system has three branches: the Main Branch at 830 N Alexander Ave in Port Allen, the Brusly Branch at 190 S Vaughan St in Brusly, and the Addis Branch at 7233 Hwy 1 South in Addis. A library card is free for WBR residents. The library offers children's story time, summer reading programs, computer and internet access, digital book lending (Libby/OverDrive), printing and copying, meeting rooms, and adult programs including book clubs and technology classes.

The WBR Parish Library System

The West Baton Rouge Parish Library is one of those community resources that delivers far more value than most people realize. For the cost of a free library card, WBR residents get access to thousands of physical books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers, plus digital resources including e-books, streaming services, and online databases. The library also provides free internet access, public computers, printing services, meeting rooms, and programming that ranges from toddler story time to adult technology classes.

The three-branch system ensures that no matter where you live in the parish -- Port Allen, Brusly, or Addis -- there is a library within a few minutes' drive. The branches are connected through a shared catalog, so if a book is checked out at one branch, you can request it from another and pick it up when it arrives. The staff across all three branches is helpful and approachable, which matters more than you might think in a library -- nobody wants to feel judged for not knowing how to navigate the system.

The library is funded through a dedicated property tax millage, which means WBR residents are already paying for it. If you are not using your library, you are leaving value on the table.

Main Branch (Port Allen)

830 N Alexander Ave, Port Allen, LA 70767

Phone: (225) 342-7920

The Main Branch is the largest of the three WBR Parish Library locations, situated on North Alexander Avenue in Port Allen, near the courthouse and the WBR Museum. The building houses the library's primary collection, including the most extensive selection of adult fiction, non-fiction, and reference materials in the system. The children's section is spacious and well-stocked, with picture books, early readers, chapter books, and young adult titles.

The Main Branch has a dedicated computer lab with multiple public-access computers, all with internet access and basic office software. Printing (black and white and color) and copying services are available for a small per-page fee. Free Wi-Fi covers the entire building, so you can bring your own laptop and work from the library if you need a quiet space outside your home.

A meeting room is available for community groups, organizations, and study groups. Reservations can be made through the library staff.

Typical hours:

(Verify current hours by calling or checking the library website, as hours may vary seasonally.)

Brusly Branch

190 S Vaughan St, Brusly, LA 70719

Phone: (225) 749-3232

The Brusly Branch is located on South Vaughan Street in the heart of Brusly, walking distance from Brusly Elementary School and the Brusly Town Hall. The branch is smaller than the Main Branch but maintains a solid collection of popular titles, children's books, and reference materials. What the Brusly Branch lacks in size, it makes up for in community feel -- this is a neighborhood library where the staff knows the regulars, and the atmosphere is welcoming and warm.

The children's section is particularly active, with the Brusly Branch hosting its own story time sessions and summer reading program activities. The proximity to Brusly Elementary makes the branch a natural after-school destination for students who need a place to do homework or wait for pickup.

Public computers, internet access, printing, and copying are available at the Brusly Branch, though the number of computer stations is smaller than at the Main Branch. During peak afternoon hours, you may need to wait for a computer. Bringing your own device and using the free Wi-Fi is usually the better option.

Typical hours:

Addis Branch

7233 Hwy 1 South, Addis, LA 70710

Phone: (225) 687-2520

The Addis Branch serves the southern portion of the parish from its location on Highway 1 South. Like the Brusly Branch, it is a smaller facility with a focused collection. The Addis Branch is particularly important for the Addis community because it provides internet access and computer resources in an area that might otherwise require a drive to Port Allen for those services.

The branch offers children's programming, computer access, and the full range of library services including interlibrary loans and holds from the shared catalog. The staff is friendly and helpful, particularly with patrons who may not be comfortable with technology -- they will walk you through setting up an email account, accessing digital books, or printing a document without making you feel rushed.

Typical hours:

Getting a Library Card

A library card is free for all West Baton Rouge Parish residents. To sign up, visit any of the three branches with a valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID) that shows your current WBR address. If your ID does not show your current address, bring a piece of mail (utility bill, bank statement) as proof of residency.

Cards are issued on the spot -- you walk in without a card and walk out with one, ready to check out materials immediately. Children can get their own library card with a parent or guardian present to sign the application.

Non-residents (including residents of East Baton Rouge, Iberville, and Pointe Coupee parishes) may be eligible for reciprocal borrowing privileges through Louisiana's statewide library card program. Ask at the front desk for details.

What you can borrow:

Loan periods: Typically 21 days for books, 7 days for DVDs, with the option to renew online or by phone if no one else has placed a hold.

Programs & Events

Children's Programs

Story Time: The WBR Parish Library offers weekly story time sessions for toddlers and preschoolers, typically held at the Main Branch and the Brusly Branch. Story time includes read-alouds, songs, finger plays, and a simple craft activity. It is free, no registration required, and a fantastic way to introduce young children to books and the library environment. Sessions are usually held on weekday mornings -- call your branch for the current schedule.

Summer Reading Program: The annual summer reading program runs from June through July and is the library's biggest event of the year. Children log their reading time or books read and earn prizes at milestones. The program includes special events throughout the summer -- author visits, science demonstrations, magic shows, movie screenings, and craft workshops. The summer reading program is designed to prevent "summer slide" -- the loss of reading skills that can occur when kids stop reading during the break -- and it works. Kids who participate maintain or improve their reading levels.

After-School Programs: During the school year, the Main and Brusly branches sometimes offer after-school programs including homework help, STEM activities, and reading groups. Check with your branch for current offerings.

Adult Programs

Book Clubs: The library hosts adult book club meetings at the Main Branch, typically monthly. The library provides copies of the selected book, making participation easy and free. Book clubs are open to all adult library card holders.

Technology Classes: Basic computer skills, internet navigation, and digital literacy classes are offered periodically, often targeting seniors who want to learn to use email, social media, or online government services. These classes are free and hands-on.

Tax Preparation Assistance: During tax season (January through April), the library sometimes partners with AARP Tax-Aide or VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) to offer free tax preparation services for qualifying residents. This is an enormous value for seniors and low-income families who would otherwise pay a preparer.

Digital Resources

Your WBR library card unlocks a suite of digital resources that you can use from home, on your phone, or on your tablet. These services are included with your card at no additional cost.

Libby / OverDrive

Libby is the library's digital lending platform for e-books and audiobooks. Download the Libby app (available for iOS and Android), sign in with your WBR library card number, and browse thousands of titles. You can check out digital books just like physical ones -- they download to your device and automatically return when the loan period expires. If a popular title has a waitlist, you can place a hold and the app will notify you when it is available.

This is arguably the single most valuable digital service the library offers. An avid reader who uses Libby instead of buying e-books from Amazon can save hundreds of dollars per year.

Online Databases

The library provides access to research databases including genealogy resources (valuable in a parish with deep historical roots), magazine and newspaper archives, and reference databases. Access these through the library's website with your card number.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

Some library systems lend portable Wi-Fi hotspots that provide internet access at home for patrons who do not have their own internet service. Check with the WBR Library to see if this program is currently available -- it is a game-changer for families and students who lack reliable home internet.

Other Services

Pro Tip: If you work from home or need a quiet space to study, the library is one of the best free coworking spaces in WBR. The Main Branch in particular has table space, Wi-Fi, and a quiet atmosphere that is more conducive to focused work than a coffee shop. Bring your laptop, grab a table, and get to work. The coffee is your responsibility, but everything else is covered.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Library is one of the most underutilized resources in the parish. For the price of a free card, you get books, movies, internet access, children's programs, digital lending, research databases, meeting space, and a quiet place to work or study. In an era when entertainment and information come with subscription fees attached to everything, the public library remains a genuinely free service that serves everyone in the community. Go get a card. Use it. Your property taxes are already paying for it.