How Bad Is It?
According to American Library Association (ALA) reports, a number of libraries in the New Orleans area sustained damage, from minor to total destruction. In Louisiana's Jefferson Parish, three library branches were destroyed or virtually destroyed, two sustained severe damage, and two, moderate damage. In Bayou La Batre, Alabama, the Mose Hudson Tapia Public Library was destroyed. At this point, Katrina damage reports are still incomplete.According to Katrina library damage reports submitted thus far to the Mississippi Library Commission, public libraries were hit hard in Mississippi. In Hancock County, libraries in Waveland and Pearlington were destroyed and the library in Shubuta condemned. In Harrison County, the library in Pass Christian was destroyed, and the “Director believes that the libraries in Gulfport and Biloxi will be condemned.” The Long Beach Public Library has been condemned. The Jackson-George Regional Library System reported, “System will pay employees for September & then close down. Funds to rebuild libraries low on the priority list.”
How You Can Help – Donate Money
Texas libraries have provided a tremendous amount of support to the people and the states affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Texas Library Association (TLA) has set up separate disaster relief funds for the three affected states as well as a fund to support the relief work Texas libraries are doing. You can visit the TLA website, make an online donation and designate it to go to any one of the relief funds. If you prefer, you can mail a check, made payable to the Texas Library Association, to Texas Library Association, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, TX 78746. To help Louisiana libraries, you can also mail checks directly to the Louisiana Library Association at 421 South 4th Street, Eunice, LA 70535. Please make checks payable to the LLA Disaster Relief Fund.In addition to donating funds and supplies to meet the basic needs of Katrina victims, I hope you will join me in helping to rebuild the libraries in the affected states.
