Sunday, September 25. 2005
As a follow-up to my previous post on what you can do to help libraries affected by Hurricane Katrina (and presumably Rita, as well), this info came over my state listserv a few days back: The Texas Library Association is accepting book donations (can be from anywhere) to help the Gulf libraries prepare to re-open for business. The Association is accepting book collections to help libraries fill their shelves.
TLA will ship the donated materials to Gulf Coast states as soon as libraries are ready to receive the materials. To make a book donation, you can ship materials to Braker Self Storage, ATTN: Katrina Book Drive, 2607 West Braker Lane, Austin, Texas 78758.
State library officials in the Gulf Coast report that many libraries have been completely demolished. Those facilities will have to be completely rebuilt and re-equipped. The items most needed include new or very lightly used children's books, adult fiction and nonfiction, reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, almanacs), and Gulf Coast-area collections. They ask that materials have recent publication dates.
Since it will likely be several months-perhaps even a year or two-before libraries are able to take these collections, the Association has partnered with the Texas Mini Storage Association (TMSA) to collect the books and store them in climate-controlled facilities until area libraries are able to receive collections.
Ginny Sutton, executive director of the TMSA, said "We are thrilled to help in any way we can. We want to let our Gulf Coast neighbors know that we are here for them over the long term. We want library officials to know that our member facilities, led by Braker Self Storage in Austin, are very happy to help in this noble effort to replenish the libraries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama."
Additional information, including information about local relief programs in the affected states, can be found at www.txla.org. In a similar vein, but library-to-library: ALA Creates 'Adopt a Library' Program to assist Gulf region libraries recover and rebuild
September 14, 2005
(CHICAGO) While cleanup efforts begin in Louisiana and Mississippi, the American Library Association (ALA) continues its mission to lend support to devastated libraries in the Gulf Coast region. The ALA's Chapter Relations Office has established an "Adopt a Library" program to provide assistance to libraries damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
The program will provide an opportunity for U.S. libraries of all types to adopt a library in the Gulf Coast. The ALA will collect information from libraries that need assistance, and will connect those libraries with others that can provide relief. Contributing libraries are asked to lend support in the way of books, computers, fundraising and volunteers.
Libraries interested in adopting a library may visit ALA's Chapter Relations Office Web site at http://www.ala.org/katrina/adopt and complete a participation form.
ALA's Chapter Relations Office serves as the lead unit in ALA that gathers information on library disasters in the United States, and has been in constant contact with ALA chapters in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, and continues to gather information on damage to libraries in the region. .
Information inquires should be directed to Michael Dowling, director of ALA Chapter Relations Office at 312-280-3200 or mdowling [at] ala.org.
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