As a child, the highlight of my week was a trip to the public library where I could borrow all sorts of wonderful children's books. My children grew up with weekly trips to the public library. As an adult, I visit my public library several times a week. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be without a public library.
When hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, many school, public, and academic libraries were badly damaged or destroyed, particularly those in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana and in Mississippi.


How much progress has been made in the last year in restoring library services, with all of the other work that has had to be done?

How Bad Is It? Has Progress Been Made Since Katrina?

What is the status of the libraries in Louisiana, particularly the New Orleans area and in Mississippi that were damaged or destroyed by hurricane Katrina? The reports from the American Library Association on how the funds it has raised thus far have been disbursed show the magnitude of the problem. The Louisiana Disaster Relief Fund report and the Rebuild Mississippi Libraries Fund report, as well as other reports, make it clear that it will take years and huge sums of money to rebuild libraries and collections along the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Katrina is not the only hurricane that has inflicted severe damage on libraries. A State Library of Louisiana report after Katrina stated,

• "When Katrina hit Louisiana, the result for libraries was that 27 libraries were damaged, and 15 libraries were destroyed. When Rita hit Louisiana, 12 libraries were damaged, and 11 libraries were destroyed. Seven libraries have been close[d] permanently after both storms.

That said, it is encouraging that so many publishers, literacy groups, library groups, and other organizations and individuals have committed to helping to rebuild the libraries devastated by hurricanes, particularly Katrina."

How You Can Help?

At this point, with many mold issues to be dealt with and structural repairs still to be made, what's needed is money, not books. According to the ALA,

• The best advice we can give for now is for you to hold onto the books until such time as we are advised that libraries are ready to receive them. We will post information on our website when we know more.

The following organizations are among those accepting monetary donations:

• The American Library Association has established a fund to accept and distribute donations on behalf of the ALA Chapters (state library associations) in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. You can send a check made out to "ALA" with "Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund" on the memo line. Please send checks to: Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, ALA Chapter Relations Office, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611.
• The Louisiana Library Association (LLA) is accepting donations for the purpose of assisting school, public, and academic library restoration efforts in southern Louisiana. Send checks, payable to LLA-Disaster Relief, to: LLA-Disaster Relief, LLA, 421 South 4th St, Eunice, LA 70535.
• The Mississippi Library Association (MLA) reports that, "Friends of Mississippi Libraries, working with the Library Commission and MLA, has established a fund for donations to rebuild those MS libraries severely damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina." Donations, which are tax-deductible, should be sent to the Rebuild Mississippi Libraries Fund, c/o AmSouth Bank, 210 E. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201.

I hope you will join me in supporting all of the efforts to rebuild libraries along the Gulf Coast.