Status Report for What's Happening at Hurricane-Damaged Libraries august 2011
	Lon Dickerson, Library Director
	Like many institutions in the area, Jefferson Parish Library sustained extensive damage from both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.  We lost over 15% of our 1 million books and other materials, and 89 or 33% of our staff positions are currently vacant.  Damage from Hurricane Gustav on September 1, 2008, was minimal.  The status of our libraries is as follows:
	Libraries Currently Open
	East Bank Regional (Metairie) – reopened October 3, 2005; sheetrock and other large repairs were completed by the library’s maintenance crew in September 2006; replacement carpet was installed in October 2006.
	The remaining, largely cosmetic repairs will be completed as soon as possible, and the library will be physically reconfigured. A Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant will be used for lights, furnishings, and other enhancements.
	West Bank Regional (Harvey) – reopened October 3, 2005;  the library’s maintenance crew made numerous repairs, but construction firms were required for repairs to the badly damaged east wall and totally gutted meeting room and to replace the roof (work completed in late 2009 along with installation of new carpet).  The library was physically reconfigured and additional computers were added.  Funds from the Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant were used for new furniture.
	Belle Terre (Marrero) - reopened on August 29, 2008; the library has all new furnishings and a totally new collection.
	Gretna – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation graciously provided a modular structure that was placed in the library’s parking lot for two years (October 2007 – December 2009).  It also provided new materials, computers, furnishings, and funds for salaries.  The damaged building was razed and a new and larger library was built on the same site.  On March 17, 2010, the new 5,835 sq. ft. library opened with new furnishings and a new collection.   It includes a meeting room.
	Harahan – reopened mid-October 2005; sheetrock and other significant repairs were completed by the library’s maintenance crew in spring of 2007 along with the installation of replacement carpet.  Library closed briefly again in October 2009 for renovations, physical reconfigurations and installation of new furnishings, carpet and other enhancements, funded by a Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant.
	Lafitte –This facility received extensive damage during both storms and was totally gutted; most of the children’s materials were destroyed.  The Parish Council transferred the facility in 2007 to the Town of Lafitte. On March 4, 2010, the new and larger 4,574 square foot library opened with new furnishings and library materials.  The new library is part of a new multipurpose building in the Town of Jean Lafitte which includes a fisheries & oilfields museum (including an educational theater) and an assembly hall.
	Live Oak (Waggaman) – reopened November 20, 2006, after extensive repairs by the library’s maintenance crew and carpet installation; books damaged during Katrina have been replaced.
	Remaining repairs will be completed as soon as possible, and library will be physically reconfigured again.  A Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant will be used for windows, lights, furnishings, and other enhancements.
	North Kenner (Kenner) – reopened May 1, 2006 after extensive repairs by the library’s maintenance crew and carpet installation; library physically reconfigured at that time.
	Additional adjustments will be made in the library’s physical layout. A Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant is being used for furnishings and other enhancements.
	Old Metairie (Metairie) – reopened mid-October 2005; closed briefly in April of 2006 for significant interior repairs by the library’s maintenance crew and carpet installation; Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful created a stunning Glendale Oak literary park adjacent to the library in the fall of 2007.  Library closed briefly again in September 2009 for physical reconfigurations and installation of new furnishings and other enhancements, funded by a Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant.   The new configuration includes an area for older children.
	River Ridge e-Branch (River Ridge) – reopened October 3, 2005; virtually no damage.
	Rosedale (Old Jefferson) – reopened October 3, 2005; virtually no damage.
	Terrytown – reopened mid-October 2005; landscaping changes were made during the summer of 2006; all the windows were replaced in September; replacement carpet was installed in January 2007.  The library closed in December 2009 for renovations and reopened September 8, 2010.   Funds from the Riverboat Gaming provided by Councilman Chris Roberts were used for the renovations.  The newly renovated library has all new furnishings.
	Wagner (Metairie) - reopened October 15, 2008; library has been physically reconfigured. The library closed briefly in March 2010 for installation of new furniture and equipment. Funds from throughout the country were funneled through Louisiana Library Assosiation were used for these enhancements.
	Westwego – reopened mid-October 2005; sheetrock and other extensive repairs were completed by the library’s maintenance crew in spring of 2007 along with installation of replacement carpet; books damaged during Katrina have been replaced; repairs have been completed; library has been physically reconfigured; grants from Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund and Capital One Bank have been used for furnishings and other enhancements.
	Library Facilities Currently Closed
	Grand Isle – A bookmobile from Muncie Public Library (Indiana) and equipped with Internet access computers opened on the library site February 1, 2006. A bookmobile from Waukegan Public Library (Illinois) and stocked with new library books and DVDs opened June 7, 2006.
	Gustav damages include the roof being blown off the old building. The bookmobiles have been moved to the Grand Isle Port Authority and Tourist Office. The library will relocate to a new building designed by Anthony J. Gendusa, Jr. AIA Architect, Inc. Catco General Contractors is building the new 3,172 sq. ft. library. It is expected to open January 2012.
	Lakeshore – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation graciously provided a modular structure that was placed in the library’s parking lot for up to 3 years. It also provided the new materials, computers, furnishings, and funds for staff salaries. This temporary library opened for business on December 11, 2007.
	The damaged building has been razed and a new library designed by Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects is currently being built on the same site. Renderings of the new library are posted in the temporary library. Sherlock's Construction, Inc. started construction in March 2010. The new library is expected to open in 2011.
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	FEMA has committed very little support thus far, and we anticipate our share of the costs associated with building back to be substantial. Our goal, however, is not to build back, but to build better. That’s an even more challenging task financially, but quality libraries are an essential element in enhancing the quality of life in Jefferson Parish and in fostering economic development and improved educational opportunities.
	We are also committed to providing library services to everyone in the greater New Orleans area who wants to freely utilize them. We have a regional focus post-Katrina, and we have established new partnerships with a variety of community agencies.
	Every effort is being made to expedite the restoration and reopening process. We will post updates on the status of all our facilities as needed. Thank you for your patience.
	If you would like to be a part of our building better by making a donation through our Friends organization, contributions to help with our recovery efforts can be sent to:
	Friends of Jefferson Public Library P.O. Box 9391 Metairie, LA 70055
	Donations to Friends may also be made directly through PayPal to friendsjpl@yahoo.com