ALA Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund tops $100,000 for Gulf Coast libraries

Contact: Michael Dowling


ALA Chapter Relations


312-280-3200

For Immediate Release


November 4, 2005

ALA Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund tops $100,000 for Gulf Coast libraries

(CHICAGO) The American Library Association (ALA) today announced it has raised more than $100,000 through its Hurricane Katrina Library Relief Fund to help rebuild libraries in the ravaged Gulf Coast region. A recent contribution of $10,000 from the Copyright Clearance Center helped bring the total over $100,000.

“It is wonderful that so many have contributed. The recovery costs in the Gulf region are great, and I know that ALA members will continue to contribute to help colleagues rebuild their libraries,” said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. More than 1,000 ALA individual and corporate members have contributed to the fund.

Beginning October 31, the main library and the Nix and Hubbel branches of the New Orleans Public Library reopened four hours a day to provide limited services. Patrons and visitors are able to access the Internet and software from designated computers, as well as return library books and use copiers and fax machines. Library employees are also working to get the other two branches that did not suffer water damage (the Children's Resource Center and the Latter branch) in shape for reopening.

Over 100 school libraries and 25 public libraries were damaged or destroyed beyond repair, and a number of academic libraries lost major portions of their collections. To make a tax-deductible donation to the ALA Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, or learn more about relief efforts, visit
http://www.ala.org/katrina.

The relief fund was kicked off by ALA President Michael Gorman on September 21, and Bowker, CSA, ProQuest, RefWorks and Brodart all have contributed $5,000 or more.