Louisiana Library Status Blog

Our thanks go out to all contributors to this blog. We have now closed posting and commenting until such time as this resource is again needed.

Our other hurricane resources are still available at:

http://prepare.lib.la.us/

All library branches have been assessed for the Terrebonne Parish Library System. By some miracle, rural branch libraries were not flooded during Hurricane Ike.  The parish is still experiencing power outages; therefore, three branches are not open.  The North Terrebonne Branch will be treated for mold removal.  The library system has limited Internet access with only the main library having service.

Five employees did suffer water in their homes from 4 inches to 5 feet.

Mary Cosper LeBoeuf

Here is the update from Charlotte Trosclair:

The Cameron Branch has been completely destroyed.  She plans to use the Creole bookmobile as the library in Cameron.

The Hackberry Branch had 5 feet of water, so the branch will need major repair.  She plans to use the Johnson Bayou bookmobile here. 

The Lowry Branch had some wind damage.

The Grand Lake and Grand Chenier Libraries had high water in the area, but it did not get into the libraries.

The bookmobiles were in safe places.

All libraries remain closed until power is restored.

Beauregard Parish Library is fine … although it is getting hard to keep track of which roof leaks are new and which are still dripping after being fixed from earlier hurricanes. Additional information on our library and on Beaurgard Parish is at http://library.beau.org/storm/2008 - there are links at the bottom of the page to earlier years.

Although there was severe flooding in parts of Calcasieu parish, none of the libraries were flooded.  Only minimal damage at 3 branches.  Staff will report to work at all locations tomorrow, Sept. 16 and the libraries will open to the public at noon.

We are open to the public.  Some of the branches have phone and computer issues.  The Main Library has abbreviated hours;  closing at 8pm instead of 10 pm.  The Main Library has sections cordoned off due to water damage but staff can retrieve particular titles from these areas;  no patron browsing.

We feel like we are reliving Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita here in Terrebonne.  We sustained minimal damage during Hurricane Gustav, but we are having severe flooding in the rural bayou communities of Terrebonne for Hurricane Ike.  I do not have any information on 4 bayou branches because the levees were breached or broke in these communities.  Some of the structures have over 5 feet of water.  I know of two staff members who have over 2 feet of water in their homes and have more employees in the bayou communites that I have not heard from yet. 

We will open the main library on Monday, Sept. 15 pending the sustainability of electricity.  There is no Internet service at any of the libraries because the service company lost towers and some of our satellites were either bent or flew off to other places.  We are working with an alternative service provider because we know people will desperately need Internet access after the devastation of Hurricane Ike.

Mary Cosper LeBoeuf

REOPENINGS FOR SUNDAY: The Main Library and the Southside Branch Library in Time Plaza will be OPEN for regular hours on Sunday, September 14th.  These locations will open at 1:00 pm and close at 5:00 pm.  North Regional Library in Carencro will remain closed this Sunday only.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE EXTENDED: The Friends of the Library will hold over their book sale for one day.  The sale will be open from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 14th.  The sale is open to the public and is located in the Main Library meeting room at 301 W. Congress St.

REOPENINGS - MONDAY: All Library locations will reopen at their regular time on Monday, September 15th.

EMPLOYEES: All employees scheduled to work on Sunday, September 14th at Main and Southside should report for work as scheduled.  All employees are to report for their regular shift on Monday, September 15th.

LIBRARY PATRONS: All items due during the days we closed are now due September 15th.  Items on hold waiting for pickup have been extended to September 16th.  All library remote online services (web page, catalog, databases) remain available 24/7.

-Posted by Sona.

All branches of the St. Martin Parish Library will be closed on Saturday, September 13th due to Hurricane Ike.  All branches will reopen on Monday, September 15th with normal library hours.

The State Library will be closing early Friday 9/12 at 1pm as part of general government office closures in EBR Parish due to storm winds from Hurricane Ike.  If any public libraries need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebecca Hamilton, Diane Brown or Dorothy White. Contact us on our blackberries or send an email to our @state.lib.la.us accounts.