Updates to the New Orleans Public Library

New Orleans faced several hardships during the 20^th century and the libraries took some major hits.   The Main Library was closed in 1958 and replaced with the new location on Loyola Ave.  This library is bigger and more accessible for everyone.  Currently there are also 13 branch libraries throughout town as well to serve the different areas.  Unfortunately, occasional electrical problems, fires and such have caused temporary closures.  But the biggest problem for the library system happened in August 2005.

Hurricane Katrina is remembered for all the damage she caused throughout the Gulf Coast but in New Orleans proper, the biggest problem was the levies created to hold back the great Mississippi River.  After Katrina blew through, dropping rain, ripping roofs off and doing plenty of damage, the levies broke and released tons of water into the city.  For the library system, the damage resulted in the demolition of 3 branch libraries, only one of which is completely replaced.   Most of the libraries were closed for at least 4 to 6 weeks while minor flooding damage was repaired.  The magnitude of the disaster as a whole is almost unfathomable.  For most people the libraries were not a huge priority but looking through the history of the library as a whole, it was one more disaster that the system would need to overcome.  Fortunately, the city, and the world in general has come a long way with insurance, financing and donations that help when tragedies occur. 

The current New Orleans Main Library on Loyola Street courtesy of the libraries website.  Retrieved from http://nutrias.org/~nopl/info/info.htm