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Hurricane Katrina Library Update: September 8Here is today’s update on how Hurricane Katrina has affected libraries. See also AL’s coverage since August 31. Anyone with first-hand information on the situation of librarians, libraries, and collections in the affected region, please email Katrina Library News at American Libraries.New Orleans Public Library, September 8: Louisiana State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton writes: “The New Orleans City Archives at the Main Library are not underwater and are dry. The camera took pictures at a weird angle and made it look to staff like it was underwater but they are not. A company called Munter’s has been hired by the library to remove them and get them out of New Orleans. They are safe. Someone broke some windows and was living in the library but they did not hurt anything. I am in tears I am so happy. NOPL’s Geri Harris thought all was lost and we are all relieved to know that so much of Louisiana’s history has been spared.” Notre Dame Seminary Library, New Orleans, September 8: Library Director George Dansker writes: “Notre Dame Seminary was evacuated August 31 and September 1. I am in Thibodaux. Our rector, Fr. Pat, is in Baton Rouge. Technical Services Librarian Nobue Motley is in Jackson, Mississippi. We do not know the extent of damage to the library, but there was water in the building, especially at ground level. Fr. Pat was able to arrange for many books to be moved to higher levels in the building, especially those that are kept in the rare book vault. We do not know the extent of our flood damage as we have not yet been able to return to assess it. I have been volunteering at Nicholls State University to work with those persons who evacuated New Orleans, and also hope to work as a volunteer school librarian here at St. Genevieve School.” Ex Libris e-zine, no. 262, September 8: Marylaine Block makes this suggestion: “There’s one more thing I would love to see librarians do for the survivors. Have you noticed that they seem almost desperate to tell their stories to someone? I want us to listen to their stories. In fact, I’d like to see librarians and historical societies and volunteers collect those stories on tape, digitize them, and put them on the web where the whole world can hear them. This could even be a nation-wide project, with libraries across the country contributing the stories of the survivors who have reached their communities. It would be important for us, as keepers of the histories of our communities. It would be more important for the survivors, though, because to honor their stories is to say to them: Your life matters. And that may be the greatest possible service we could render to people whose experiences during the past terrible week have told them otherwise.” School openings, September 8: The Alabama Department of Education has this information on affected schools: Baldwin County schools were open as of September 1; Choctaw County and Mobile County schools are scheduled to resume classes on September 12. The Louisiana Department of Education reports that St. Bernard Parish schools will likely not reopen this school year; Orleans Parish schools will possibly not reopen this school year; St. John the Baptist Parish schools will reopen on September 12; St. Tammany Parish and Bogalusa city schools hope to resume classes October 3. The Mississippi Department of Education reports that Leake County schools opened September 6; Canton City and Madison County schools are scheduled to open September 8; Brookhaven schools are scheduled to open September 12. The U.S. Department of Education has started a website to connect schools and organizations wanting to help Katrina victims. National Endowment for the Humanities, September 7: NEH will make available at least $1 million for emergency grants to libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and other cultural and historical institutions in Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, NEH Chairman Bruce Cole announced. Affected institutions can apply immediately for emergency grants of up to $30,000 to preserve books, records, manuscripts, art, and cultural artifacts damaged by the hurricane and the flooding that followed. Application details will be available on the NEH website later this week. Canadian Library Association, September 8: Canadians who wish to help out afflicted libraries on the Gulf Coast can send their contributions to a Katrina Relief fund administered by CLA that will contribute to the Louisiana Library Disaster Relief Fund. Texas Library Association, September 8: TLA reports that online contributions can now be made to help the rebuilding efforts of libraries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The association will accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. You may designate which state you would like your donation to benefit, and 100% of your donation will be sent to either the state library agency or library association in that state. Mississippi Library Association, September 8: President Susan Cassagne writes: “The Executive Board of the Mississippi Library Association has made the difficult decision to cancel our Annual Conference, which had been scheduled for October 25–28 in Vicksburg. We sincerely hope to reschedule the Conference for a later date, but cannot begin to think about possible dates while so many of our fellow librarians and staff have lost homes, and possibly their employment.” Posted September 8, 2005. |
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