The staff and volunteers at the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library have the best job in the world. They help make public librarians’ dreams come true!
An early-literacy librarian wanted to offer a sensory-friendly storytime to families of neurodivergent children. The Friends helped her secure funding for professional training and supplies to make the series an ongoing success. One parent participant said, “Letting the kids do their own thing, (letting) them be themselves and settle into whatever was comfortable for them…that has a bigger impact than people realize.”
A youth librarian noticed that her teen patrons couldn’t come to the library if they didn’t have money for the bus. Thanks to the support of the Friends, the Teen Read and Ride program was born. Now, any teenager can receive a 24 hour RTA bus pass at any of the 15 branches of the New Orleans Public Library system.
Our librarians come up with so many great free programming ideas – seedling starter classes, prenatal yoga, PhotoWalks for adults, writing competitions, cooking classes for teens, and so much more. Friends raises the funds needed to elevate this library programming to new levels of excellence. We do this with the support of people across the community who donate funds and purchase used books at our stores in Algiers and Uptown New Orleans.
Public libraries matter now more than ever. The Friends are proud to support them.