Library Service Is Coming Back in Louisiana

-- Library Journal, 12/13/2005

Library services are slowly being reinstated in several areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, reports Louisiana associate state librarian Gretchen Fairbanks. State library staffers surveyed the 12 affected parishes, and libraries there welcome aid but don't want any more books. "They received all they can deal with," said Fairbanks. Laptops are welcome, as some locations have no space for PCs, and money is always appreciated. The Louisiana Library Foundation Hurricane Fund is accepting monetary contributions, which are distributed equitably, or they can be earmarked for specific locations. Make checks payable to: Louisiana Library Foundation, PO Box 2583, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821.

Cameron Parish Library, which earlier reported four out of five facilities destroyed, now offers bookmobile service at Hackberry, one of the devastated sites. Jefferson Parish Library, Metairie, now has eight out of 16 locations open. Four libraries are undergoing demolition and repair (Lafitte, Live Oak, North Kenner, Wagner) and another four (Belle Terre, Grand Isle, Gretna, and Lakeshore) absorbed major damage to their buildings and collections and will be closed indefinitely. Two bookmobiles have been donated. Lafourche Parish Public Library, Thibodaux, which lost its roof, will be open by Christmas. In New Orleans, patrons are now able to check out books at two locations, the Cita Dennis Hubbell branch in Algiers Point and the Nix branch in the Uptown neighborhood. These two branches plus the main library are offering Internet access and the main library's Louisiana Division is open limited hours. At the Plaquemines Parish Library, the main library in Buras lost its collection as water reached up to the roof. The building will be gutted and renovated. The Port Sulphur facility was similarly affected and will be rebuilt. All three libraries in the Saint Tammany Parish Library, Covington, are still closed with partial collections lost; the Pontchartrain facility won't reopen. The Erath branch of Vermillion Parish Library, Abbeville, is salvageable, but the Cow Island and Pecan Island facilities were totally destroyed; bookmobile service will be offered at both locations.