Hurricane Gustav Closes Louisiana Libraries, but No Reports Yet of Harm
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 9/2/2008
- Hurricane Gustav was no Katrina
- Evacuations, power loss spur library closings
- State Library blog tracks library status
While Hurricane Gustav did not do as much damage in the Gulf Coast region as feared, it led to major evacuations and cut off electrical power, forcing libraries to close and services to shut down. No major damage to libraries has been reported yet, according to the State Library's Louisiana Library Status Blog, which awaits updates.
The State Library has lost its main electrical power. Given that the State Library recently upgraded its computer room to generator power, "all services are now back online for as long as fuel remains," aqccording to the blog.
In New Orleans, it's unclear whether any buildings in the New Orleans Public Library have been damaged; the system's web site, however, is down and re-entry to the city, according to the Times-Picayune, is not expected until Wednesday. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library web site is down.
The Washington Parish Library is closed today and, according to the State Library blog, "will remain closed until weather conditions permit us to return." St. Bernard Parish, east of New Orleans, was hit hard by Katrina; the Parish web site states that there are no roads flooded and no streets flooded inside the levee system, but there are perhaps 100 power lines down.
According to the Lafayette Public Library blog, all Lafayette Public Library facilities are closed until further notice and all library services, including the online catalog, were shut down. All library employees are on Civil Leave through Wednesday, September 3.
University libraries react
Beth West, interim public services librarian at Loyola University in New Orleans, blogged Friday on ACRLog about preparations for Gustav: "Immediately, the library became a frantic place, full of students and faculty all clambering to make final arrangements before evacuating. Most of the problems related to getting Blackboard accounts and e-reserves up to date so that everyone could continue studies from remote locations."
At Tulane University in New Orleans, president Scott Cowen wrote yesterday on his blog, "It is evening on Monday, September 1 and I am breathing a sigh of relief. Even though we have not completed full campus assessments, the early evaluations are positive."
