Even Bill Gates needs help sometimes… and the Section of Labor & Employment Law intends to come through, especially to help rebuild the New Orleans Public Library (“NOPL”). As part of its Gulf Coast Libraries Project, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is setting up six temporary libraries in New Orleans to serve people in the city’s flooded neighborhoods. Each temporary library is intended to help fill the void in the city’s public library network for three years while permanent branches are rebuilt. These six modular buildings, plus furniture, computers, and staff support, represent a generous donation of $2.4 million. But the $150,000 in the NOPL’s budget for books won’t begin to fill all the empty shelf space in these temporary facilities.

Continuing its commitment to provide $100,000 in funds for the NOPL Foundation, a completely private 501(c)(3) not for profit foundation, the Labor & Employment Section intends to help put more books in the hands of New Orleans families by raising another $25,000 for book purchases. This money will buy at least 1250 books to help fill the shelves of New Orleans’ first temporary branch, located on the Canal Street streetcar line in Mid-City. As its name implies, Mid-City is located in the center of New Orleans, roughly between Esplanade Avenue and the Interstate 10 expressway. Canal Street streetcars rumble through the middle of this urban neighborhood of single-family homes, four-plexes, commercial districts, and light industrial areas. Like so much of New Orleans, the neighborhood is diverse, with large white, African-American, and Hispanic populations that range from poor to moderate middle-class.

Even before Katrina, Mid-City residents had been pressing the City to establish a branch library in their neighborhood. The temporary branch is a means to gauge residents’ interest, and may lead to construction of a permanent branch nearby. The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is determined to support the new branch, and has held a benefit party and used-book sale to raise funds for additional furniture. “This branch library, along with the reopening of three nearby schools, will be key to encouraging residents to return home and to reviving our neighborhood,” said Jeanette Thompson, chair of the neighborhood organization’s Library Committee.

Since early 2006, members of the Section of Labor & Employment Law have given generously to help rebuild the New Orleans Public Library. The Section’s first gift of $25,000 put books on the shelves of the Children’s Resource Center, newly renovated with volunteer labor and donations from library furniture vendors. The second $25,000 went to update NOPL’s Business & Science Division collection. Our third $25,000 helped fill shelves in the Bywater neighborhood’s Alvar Street Branch, a flooded library renovated with support from library vendor companies. Section leaders are keen to bring total support to the $100,000 mark by year’s end.

And you can continue to help the NOPL Foundation’s effort to make the NOPL a vital factor in the rebuilding of one of this Country’s most historic cities by sending contributions to the Section office using the form online ( pdf version | word version ).Section members making a contribution of $20 or more will receive a wonderful “Rebuild the new Orleans Public Library” tee shirt to wear proudly during the summer months. These tee shirts, which would make a great gift to your spouse, children and/or grandchildren, come in small, medium, large, X-large, and 2X-large and will be sent to you from the NOPL Foundation upon the Section’s receipt of your contribution. Please help the Section make good on its commitment by contributing generously and bring learning and assistance to thousands of New Orleanians.

If you need or desire more information, contact Chris Hexter at 314-621-2626.