Media contact:
Beth Dempsey, 248.349.7810 or beth@bethdempsey.com
June 24, 2007 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) presented the Jefferson Parish (LA) Library (JPL) with a donation of $5,000 to fund continued renewal and recovery from the devastating 2005 hurricane season. JPL Director Lon Dickerson accepted the donation on behalf of the Library at ULC’s Annual Conference.
“We’re not building back, we’re building back better,” said Mr. Dickerson. “We are asking other libraries and organizations throughout the country to help us raise $8.5 million for physical enhancements at every location to make them state-of-the-art libraries which will be attractive destinations for everyone. Stronger libraries are desperately needed here to help our youngsters be more successful in school and to enhance our community’s quality of life and economic recovery.”
“ULC has a firm belief in the ability of libraries to restore communities,” said Martín Gómez, ULC president. “For that reason, we don’t view this as a donation; it’s an investment. We’re investing not only in the neighborhoods this great public institution serves, but in the entire gulf coast.”
Jefferson Parish borders New Orleans on both sides of the river, running from Lake Pontchartrain south to the Gulf of Mexico. Despite dramatic devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to its branches and materials, JPL has used the experience to build a new model for regional cooperation, breaking down barriers to library use. For example, in the early post-Katrina days it launched Katrina Cards – still in use today -- which provide anyone, including relief and construction workers, even visitors, full privileges to borrow and use JPL resources.
As they help others, JPL is diligently working to rebuild itself. The storms’ toll left only one branch undamaged. Everything else had some degree of structural damage and damage to the collections. Four libraries were totally destroyed and there was massive damage to three other branches and their contents. In all, 166,000 books and audiovisual materials were lost. The toll on staffing has been great, as well. To date, one-third of JPL’s positions remain vacant.
Both JPL and New Orleans Public Library are accepting donations to continue their rebuilding. To help, send contributions to Friends of Jefferson Public Library, P.O. Box 9391, Metairie, LA 70055 and New Orleans Public Library Foundation, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112.
To learn about ULC and its programs, visit urbanlibraries.org.
|
