With origins dating back to 1843, the New Orleans Public Library has grown from a single French Quarter house with a few volumes into a city-wide system serving all of Orleans Parish through 14 locations spread across the City. The New Orleans Public Library annually circulates well over one million books, e-books, audiobooks, downloadable music files, DVDs, and CDs as well as provides a wide range of free educational, informational, and recreational programs and activities to the public.
In addition to traditional library offerings, the Library is actively engaged in literacy, school readiness, workforce and business development, and access to new and emerging technologies.