Important update: the American Association of Law Libraries has set up an active blog full of offers to help friends and colleagues at http://aallnet.typepad.com/katrina/ - found via Joe Hodnicki's Law Librarian Blog
9/6 added: New Orleans Public Library updates are at http://nopl.blogspot.com/
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Tony's Message:
I work at New Orleans Public Library and am safely in Lafayette LA. No idea what the status of our libraries are.
Our mailserver is gone, and staff evacuated in all directions. I am trying to locate their alternate email addresses to check their status and work towards towards our library's and city's future.
What I need: if you know (or are) anyone that works for NOPL AND know an alternate email for them, send it to me.
Our defunct mailserver address is @gno.lib.la.us
Please do NOT send me those. They are dead ends...Please: no sympathy messages for now to my email account; later but not now.
Thanks.....
Tony Barnes, New Orleans Public Library
tbarnes56@yahoo.com
As seen on Karen Schneider's Free Range Librarian, and reposting here, hoping that all are quickly found.
... and the best Katrina source I've seen is Cavan McCarthy's Hurricane Katrina Information Services (Louisiana State library school) that gives resources and more messages from Louisiana librarians...
"Evacuees & Libraries:
E-mail from Beverly E. Laughlin, Executive Director Louisiana Library Association, via the "LLA list": Aug. 31st., 3:49 p.m.:
"Reports continue to come in, including now comments on how the libraries are working to help the evacuees:Linda Fox reports: West Feliciana library is A-OK and welcoming lots and lots of folks who have lost EVERYTHING in the NO area. We are giving away books, temp-loaning children's books, printing out FEMA and LA Works packets, offering crayons and coloring books,and running a quiet children's video for the little guys whose parents are on the Internet. We've set up one Library card to check out some materials temporarily...to lose a few books won't be much of a loss after what we've heard. We just try to keep thinking of things to do to help.
Loretta Gharst reports: Here in Calcasieu Parish we have had many hurricane evacuees coming to our libraries throughout the parish to use our internet computers. Yesterday we collected and dropped off donated books and magazines at the civic center Red Cross shelter and opened up a computer lab in our downtown meeting room for the exclusive use of evacuees (it is within walking distance of the civic center). Every branch is reporting waiting lines for using the public computers. Staff have created a webpage with links for the evacuees and are constantly updating it http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/Hurricane.htm Reference staff at the various libraries are gathering and distributing information to evacuees in their communities. Children's Librarians are setting up story programs with the Red Cross.
Beth Vandersteen reports: Central Louisiana is bursting with evacuees in every possible location with more streaming in even as I type. People are pouring into the libraries to use the computers; we've waived print fees for FEMA forms, etc, and stretched the time limits whenever possible. We contacted the Red Cross about doing storytimes in the shelters on Monday, but they've not responded as yet - I'm sure that's not first on their lists! Rapides Parish Library began delivering reading material to shelters yesterday, along with coloring sheets, crayons, library information flyers, etc. We've put out library information on flyers as well as through the local media, set up collection boxes for toiletries and items needed in the shelters, broadcast news and movies on our TVs, and issued temporary library cards for those who want to check out materials. The Coast Guard and other entities involved in the rescue efforts have set up coordination centers in this area. ABC News was in our Main Library this morning needing some of our resources, and we were pleased that we met their needs. All of us are doing what we can to provide information services, a book or two to help pass the time until things get better, and a bit of compassion - as are all of you! Many of our staff are hosting displaced families in their homes. Times like these make me proud to be in this profession!"
-- Beverly E. Laughlin, Executive Director, Louisiana Library Association, 421 South 4th St Eunice, LA 70535 337-550-7890 (phone) 337-550-7846 (fax). e-mail <office[at]llaonline[dot]org>
http://www.llaonline.org/ "