Trapped with zombies

Prayers because we care
October 13, 2015
Cinderella coming to NOW
October 13, 2015
Prayers because we care
October 13, 2015
Cinderella coming to NOW
October 13, 2015

The Terrebonne Parish North Branch Library will soon transform from a serene place to peruse novels to the spookiest spot in the city with the second annual Zombie Lock-In, a night that is sure to be a frightfully good time for local teens.

The library system toyed around with the idea of hosting a lock-in for some time because of its popularity among libraries and other community settings across the country, Adult Services and Public Relations Librarian Lauren Bordelon said.

“Lock-ins are a big thing right now in libraries,” she explained. “Our colleagues and friends over at St. Charles Parish do one that’s all night. A lot of schools do them, churches have them and finally we said, ‘Let’s do this.'”


North Branch Library Manager Brigid Laborie stepped forward last year to make the event happen, organizing activities and gathering volunteers to put together a Hallloween-themed extravaganza, which is set for Oct. 16.

“I was thinking of doing something for teens that would get them interested in coming to the library and feeling like the library was their space,” Laborie explained. “I thought that if we closed the library for a certain amount of time only for them that that would sort of get them more interested in seeing the library as a place they could come and that was still relevant to them.”

The night begins at 6 p.m. with a host of activities, including zombie makeup sessions, food, a room with board games for those who prefer to just hang out and a heart-pounding game that tests survival skills.


“We’re going to do hide-and-go-seek in the dark and it’ll be kind of like humans versus zombies,” Lomborie said.

The appeal of the event, Bordelon added, is all in the spooky perception of libraries and the ability to be in the building after hours, something many people don’t get to experience.

“What’s so great about a lock-in is it’s a small amount of people in a big space,” she explained. “It’s not like people are in the library studying or doing research. We utilize the library completely… Libraries are also kind of creepy at night. I think that’ll be fun.”


Having experienced last year’s event, Bordelon said she has no doubt participants will enjoy all a zombie lock-in has to offer.

“It was incredible. The teens that came really, really enjoyed it,” she said. “Our biggest feedback, though, actually came from the adult volunteers. They had almost more fun than the kids. They wanted to have their faces painted too and try some of the activities. That in itself is a nice anecdote to know that they were happy with what we were doing.”

The event is open to those ages 13 through high school-age. The event will be facilitated by adult volunteers and security will be provided by a Houma Police Officer to ensure the safety of participants throughout the evening.


Parents or guardians of attendees must sign a permission slip, which may be picked up and returned to the North Branch Library by Oct. 13. Parents have the option to drop teens off, Bordelon said, or stay and help out. The event is free and lasts until 10 p.m.

‘It was incredible. The teens that came really, really enjoyed it. Our biggest feedback though, actually came from the adult volunteers. They had almost more fun than the kids.’

Lauren Bordelon


Zombie Lock-In attendees show off their zombie makeovers during last year’s Terrebonne Parish Library System’s teen Halloween event.

COURTESY | THE TIMES