News from 2007

  Nicolo Whimsey Juggles at Main Library
On November 8, Nicolo Whimsey, a nationally-known juggler and musician, will perform for free at the Main Library at 11 am.   [Read more . . . ]

  28-Minute Film about David Halberstam’s final book, The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War
On Wednesday, November 14, Garden District Book Shop and the popular neighborhood movie house, the Prytania Theater, will premiere a new film about the Pulitzer prize-winner's crowning achievement, a history the Korean War, America’s “forgotten war.” Admission to the event is free, but donations and proceeds from sales of The Coldest Winter will benefit the New Orleans Public Library’s Rebuild Campaign.   [Read more . . .]

  Library to Hold Program on Creole Literature and History
The Latter Branch of the New Orleans Public Library at 5120 St. Charles Avenue will host a six-week series of readings and discussions about the literary and historical significance of Louisiana’s Creole population. The program is entitled "The Creole Identity and Experience in Louisiana Literature and History.” It is funded by the State of Louisiana and sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Louisiana Library Association.   [Read more . . . ]

  Between the Lions® Ushers in its Seventh Season and a New School Year with Live Performances
Father and Daughter Lions Theo and Leona Tour Baltimore and New Orleans, September 4 - 8. Beginning Sept. 4, father of the pride, Theo, and cub Leona will be joined by executive producer Chris Cerf when they visit Baltimore and New Orleans as the second leg of the show’s road tour gets underway. In July, cast and crew visited Birmingham and Atlanta where they entertained enthusiastic audiences. The producers plan to continue the grass roots tours over the next three summers, providing opportunities for more children to meet the Lions up close, and to demonstrate directly to their families the value of using BETWEEN THE LIONS as a way to teach reading skills. According to independent studies, kindergarten students who watched BETWEEN THE LIONS improved their reading skills and outperformed students who didn’t watch by four to one.   [Read more . . . ]

  Hurricanes Won’t Stop New Orleans Public Library from Moving Forward with Technology
New Orleans Public Library was hit hard by the nation’s most devastating natural disaster. Much of their collection was destroyed by flood waters when the levies broke. In addition to rebuilding our collections and libraries, NOPL is stepping into the future of library services. Their newest service, funded by the New Orleans Public Library Foundation, includes downloadable eBooks and audiobooks from OverDrive, Inc of Cleveland, Ohio.   [Read more . . . ]

  Americans for Libraries Council Announces Grants to Gulf Coast Libraries
Americans for Libraries Council (ALC) today announced the first grants awards to repair and rebuild public libraries damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The specific commitments are: $1.6 million for New Orleans Public Library (Louisiana); $1.2 million for Jefferson Parish Library (Louisiana); $600,000 for Hancock County Libraries (Mississippi); and $600,000 for Harrison County Libraries (Mississippi). These grants are the first awards made by ALC with support from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund as part of a larger package of support to renew libraries – and communities – in the Gulf Coast.   [Read more . . . ]

  $2 Million Carnegie Corporation Grant Catalyzes Community Redevelopment Effort in Heart of New Orleans
Carnegie Corporation of New York announced today a $2 million grant to the Broadmoor Improvement Association for the reconstruction, restocking and refurnishing of the Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center, a building that serves as the historic Broadmoor neighborhood’s social and cultural hub.   [Read more . . . ]

  Library starts literacy program this spring
In the spring of 2007, the library system will begin a literacy program aimed at our youngest citizens. "A City of Readers: Infants and Parents" is a program financed by a $3,000 Target Community Giving Grant. Through this program, the library will provide literacy kits to 400 sets of new parents at New Orleans maternity wards.   [Read more . . . ]

  New Orleans Public Library receives a ton of library materials from YALSA’s Great Book Giveaway
New Orleans Public Library is the winner of the 11th annual Great Book Giveaway, and will receive literally a “ton” of young adult and adult books, CDs and audiocassettes. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), the fastest growing division of the American Library Association (ALA), sponsors the contest consisting of items publishers and producers donated to YALSA in 2006. The estimated value of the collection is approximately $30,000.   [Read more . . . ]

  New Orleans Public Library Begins Black History Celebration
The New Orleans Public Library kicks off its annual Black History Celebration at noon Thursday, January 11, with the celebration of the Martin Luther King Holiday. Keynote speaker for the King event is noted civil rights activist and culture keeper Jerome Smith. Musical selections will be performed by students of St. Augustine High School.   [Read more . . . ]

News from 2006

  Local Children Are Children's Book Week Bookmark Contest Winners
New Orleans young people, representing eleven different local schools – ranging from Orleans Parish School Board Chartered, Recovery School District and RSD-chartered, parochial, and private - contributed their time and talents to the New Orleans Public Library’s Bookmark Contest. The contest was one of the special activities that marked Children’s Book Week, held at the NOPL this past November 11 – 18.   [Read more . . . ]

  Children’s Book Week Activities
Author visits; special crafts; story times; LEGO sculpture unveiling; a bookmark contest; and commemorative wristbands, books, and “shoebox bookshelf” giveaways are all part of the New Orleans Public Library’s Children’s Book Week Activities.   [Read more . . . ]

  Teen Reed Week Activities, 2006
Enter a dance contest, Be part of a radio appearance, Learn origami, Experience Japanese pop culture, Get freebies, Attend an anime screening, Eat pizza, “Get Active @ Your Library,” READ!!   [Read more . . . ]

  During the last week in June, thanks to the joint efforts of the American Library Association and other generous donors, NOPL celebrated the return of a number of library services that Katrina took away.
Click on the links below to read (and see) more:

• The Alvar Branch Reopened
• The Algiers Temporary Library Opened
• The Children's Resource Center Had a Facelift
• The Smith Branch Got a Bookmobile
• The Main Library Received a Generous Donation
• The Nora Navra Branch Was Cleaned Out
• ALA Volunteers Helped Everywhere!

  H.W. Wilson Gives $100,000 plus WilsonWeb Database Access, in Support of the New Orleans Community
The H.W. Wilson Foundation today announced a $100,000 donation to the main branch of the New Orleans Public Library System. A check will be presented to representatives of the New Orleans Public Library System on June 23, during the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. . . .   [Read more . . . ]

  New Yorker Poetry Editor Alice Quinn discusses Edgar Allan Poe & The Juke Box
As part of the activities surrounding the American Library Association Conference, Alice Quinn, The New Yorker magazine’s Poetry Editor, will discuss a book she recently edited, Edgar Allan Poe & The Juke Box, a compilation of the unpublished poems of Elizabeth Bishop. Ms. Quinn is offering the program as a show of support for the Library system and the City of New Orleans . . .   [Read more . . . ]

  Lakeview’s Smith Branch to get Bookmobile
A welcome sight greeting those celebrating Lakeview Fest this Saturday, June 3, will be a bookmobile that begins providing services to the community Monday June 5. An event to specifically welcome children to the New Orleans Public Library’s modular addition, with light refreshments and a storyteller, will be held that first day of service from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.   [Read more . . . ]   [See what it looks like!]

  Keller Branch Cleanup
On Saturday, May 13, more than fifty volunteers spent the morning cleaning up the grounds of the Rosa Keller branch library and the surrounding area. NOPL thanks the volunteers and the Broadmoor Improvement Association for this tremendous effort. The junction of South Broad and Napoleon Avenue looks great!.   [View the Broadmoor Improvement Associations gallery of photos from the event!]

  Borders Gift Helps NOPL's Recovery
Borders Group, Inc. has donated sixty-seven boxes of new books to New Orleans Public Library along with a pledge of ongoing donations of music CDs from their store in Metairie. Volunteers from the Metairie Borders also assisted in unpacking and sorting the gifts. The Borders donation is a welcome addition to our collection as we work to rebuild New Orleans Public Library. Many thanks to Borders Group, Inc. and their local staff for their efforts on our behalf and their fond wishes for our recovery.   [View the card from Borders' staff!]

  NOPL’s Summer Reading Program Continues
Beginning Saturday, May 20, kids of all ages are invited to stop by their nearest New Orleans Public Library branch to register for the 2006 Summer Reading Program. Presented by Shell Exploration & Production Company and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, this year's program invites kids to read for fun from May 20th to July 22nd.   [Read more . . . ]

  “Books to You” to Donate 5,000 Books to Young Women Affected by Hurricane Katrina With the Help of Wynton Marsalis
New York, NY. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans last fall, Dr. Ken Mask, President of the non-profit “Books to You” and Wynton Marsalis (Honorary Board Member) had a vision to build libraries in the homes of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Both still hold that vision, and will continue to hold book drives across the country. As a first step, next week “Books to You” will donate 5,000 books to St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, a private, Catholic college preparatory middle/secondary school for young women. . . . .
      Once in New Orleans, the books will be housed by the New Orleans Public Library until St. Mary’s Academy is ready to accept the books before the start of their new year in a new location.   [Read more . . . ]   [See a photograph . . . ]

  YMCA Learning Center @ the Library
Beginning Monday, April 10, NOPL and the YMCA Educational Services are partnering to offer free adult literacy services in the Main Library's third floor Learning Center. The YMCA Learning Center staff will work with adults who are reading at or below a 6th grade level. (Adults at a higher readiing level will be referred to the Hope House literacy program.) Potential students who are visiting the Main Library are invited to come to the Learning Center during our normal operational hours Mon. - Fri. 11am-4pm. For further imformation, call Manon Pavy or Sharon Phillips in the YMCA Learning Center at 596-3842.

  New Orleans Public Library Rebuilding Effort Boosted By Michigan-Based Masco Corporation
Rebuilding efforts for the New Orleans Public Library have received support from Michigan-based Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS). Masco Corporation is a global manufacturer of home improvement and building products as well as a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products. Masco Corporation is donating nearly 1,000 used books, collected by its employees, to the library.   [Read more . . . ]

  LJ to help restore NOPL's Alvar Branch
Library Journal is taking the lead in tandem with architect Jeffrey Scherer (Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle) and the New Orleans Public Library for the restoration of the Katrina-devastated Alvar Street branch.   [Read more . . . ]

  ALA, Highsmith, Bretford team up for library renovation in New Orleans
The American Library Association (ALA) today announced it will team with library vendors Highsmith, Inc., and Bretford to renovate the interior of an historic Carnegie library branch of the New Orleans Public Library (NOPL).
The restoration of the Children’s Resource Center branch (913 Napoleon Ave.) will take place during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans (June 22-28).   [Read more . . . ]

  NOPL is Partnering with Jefferson Parish Library
NOPL and Jefferson Parish Library have entered into a reciprocal borrowing agreement, which allows patrons from each system to use the services of both. [Read more . . . ]