Facing building loss

With the St. Patrick’s Building being a candidate for purchase by the federal government, the New Orleans City Council was facing a search for a new home to house the library.   No one knew for sure what was going to happen, however, so no permanent plans could be made.  Fundraising did start as did some searching for land or potential buildings that could be renovated if needed.  It was then, in 1902, that a grant from Andrew Carnegie in the amount of $250,000 was awarded for a new main library and three branch libraries (NOPL Centennial).  This allowed the fundraising to move forward without worries and in 1908 the Main Library on Lee Street plus the first three branches in Algiers, Napoleon and Royal were open.