Status Report - March 1, 2010
Lon Dickerson, Library Director

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 Gustave 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 is in the final phases of being physically reconfigured. Funds from the Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant were used for new furniture which has been installed. A program celebrating the enhancements will be held in March.

Belle Terre (Marrero) - reopened on August 29, 2008; the library has all new furnishings and a totally new collection.

Harahan – reopened by 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.

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 a window, new 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.

Remaining repairs will be completed as soon as possible, and adjustments in the library’s physical layout will be made. 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 other enhancements, funded by a Bush-Clinton-Katrina Fund grant. The new configuration includes an area for older children.

Repairs on the Spanish tile roof have been completed; however, additional storm related roof work has been discovered and will be contracted out.

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.

Exterior and interior renovation plans were prepared by Richard C. Lambert Consultants, LLC; W.L. Wyman Construction, Inc. is renovating the library. The renovations will be completed and new furnishings will be installed in the spring of 2010. The library closed on December 17 and will reopen when the renovations have been completed.

Wagner (Metairie) - reopened October 15, 2008; library has been physically reconfigured. Donations are being used to provide enhancements in the furnishings and equipment.

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

Everything at 4 libraries was lost, and those facilities were totally gutted:

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 multipurpose building currently being planned by Anthony J. Gendusa, Jr., AIA Architect, Inc. An auction for the sale of the existing library facility is scheduled for March 6, 2010.

Gretna – 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 October 2, 2007 and closed on December 7, 2009.

The damaged building was razed and a new library is in the final phases of being built on the same site by Aegis Construction, Inc. The library will have all new furnishings and a totally new collection when it opens in March 2010.

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 will be built on the same site. Sizeler Thompson Brown is the designated architect for the design of the new library. Final drawings and a rendering of the new library are posted in the temporary library. Sherlock's Construction, Inc. will start construction in March. The new library is expected to open in 2011.

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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 building in 2007 to the Town of Lafitte to use for law enforcement purposes.

The library will be part of a new multipurpose building – library, fisheries & oilfields museum (including an educational theater) and an assembly hall. All of the library materials and furnishings are new. A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening will be held on March 4 at 10:00 a.m.

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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