Katrina and the subsequent flood ruined eight out of twelve branches of the New Orleans Public Library. In each case mud and mold covered the floors, walls, books, furniture and equipment. The only way to clean and start over was simply to gut the buildings, followed by replacement of the walls, flooring, wiring, and contents of each building. In addition the loss of tax revenues in the city led to a 90 percent staff reduction of library staff. Estimates for total damage to the system exceeded $21 million. The New Orleans Public Library System has begun to rise from the mud. The main library and five branches are once again open, although on a limited schedule. Two branches have been completely renovated (see later), and other temporary branches have been donated and set up at two branches. In addition, two bookmobiles are going to be used. The library staff is still far below the 216 of pre-Katrina, but it is within sight of 50 percent. Other developments are continuing to show that the system again has a heartbeat and is on the path to recovering. Ron Biava recently explained that the first branch renovated was the Alvar Street branch in Bywater. This came out of a challenge set up by the Library Journal for an article. The renovation went from conception to completion in four months with the help of more than 100 volunteers from the ALA. Ron also noted that in addition to Alvar, a small childrens' library branch Uptown has also been renovated. Ron did note that they goal of the Rebuild program is not simply to rebuild the system as it was; rather, it is "to make a better library system."? He added that they want to “create a better-funded system that would play a more central role in the recovery of New Orleans."? He explained that "libraries will be a more integral part of the economic and community redevelopment"? where libraries would be shared with other public facilities. It would put libraries more central to redevelopment,? he said. He added that the program has really gotten a boost from Charter Schools. "Half the kids are now in Charter Schools,"? he said, noting that there is currently a "great experiment in Charter Schools"? in New Orleans. The focuses of the experiment, though, are teachers and classrooms, and not necessarily libraries. "Public libraries will bear a greater responsibility in our education of kids than it did in the past, and this will be more important in the years ahead." The immediate needs for the Rebuild effort, according to Ron, are books and cash donations. The Bookbinders' Guild drive would focus primarily on books. The focus there should be on recently published books (2006 - 2007), children's books, home repair / home improvement, art books, travel, New Orleans history, culture, and literature, music, and Spanish language, all subjects and children's. In the coming weeks and months further details of the needs for the Rebuild effort and the Guild's participation will be focused and announced. One goal for the Guild would be to assist in an organized effort to fill the shelves of the six temporary branches. Because of the staff shortages in New Orleans, a volunteer effort may be undertaken for some Guild members to go to New Orleans to spend some time cataloguing the book donations and helping put them where they need to be-on the shelves and in the hands of the people who need them. Books and cash donations should be sent to Ronald Biava, Bookbinders Campaign, New Orleans Public Library Foundation, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112. Any checks should be made out to New Orleans Public Library Foundation. Any additional campaign updates will be posted as soon as they are available on the guild website. - Steve Bedney |