THIBODAUX, La. — Ellender Memorial Library may not be the first place you think to go for live music, but sometimes the library can challenge previously held expectations.
The library is partnering with the Nicholls Department of Music for a live performance from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 in the first floor stairway.
“I love the idea of surprising students in the library by showing them that a library is more than books,” said Dr. Rob Stephens, research and instruction librarian and outreach coordinator. “We’re a place that offers new experiences to students, and this public performance is one example of that.”
The event includes three performances including a bass clarinet trio, a string quartet and a chamber choir.
“I think it’s an incredible opportunity to experience new music,” Dr. Stephens said. “I, for one, have never seen a performance by a bass clarinet trio, so I imagine that will be a new experience for many students.”
While a library is often thought of as a quiet place, the third floor is the library’s only quiet floor. The first floor provides a space for students to chat while in The Brew coffee shop or at a table near the displays.
“I hope that this performance helps change the perception that the library has to be quiet,” Stephens said. “I think music in unexpected places can bring joy, so I really hope that some student who came to the library for another reason is delighted by the music being here.”
