NEED HELP and IDEAS There was a meeting today about the library and the reconstruction of the downtown library. Starts at 2:30 pm at the meeting room. You can send suggestions to the library committe or Earl Gates. The meeting was for one hour but lasted two hours, I talked for one hour. I finally met with the director of the library system and told her that we need help in the genealogy section. Need the microfile reader fixed, new genealogy books about genealogy from other states bordering Louisiana, MS, ALA, GA, NC, SC, and Virginia. We need to buy genealogy magazines for the library. Buy How to Genealogy books, genealogy programs like Heritage Quest, godfrey.com, etc. Have another meeting room for 50 people or less. A couple of computers in the genealogy section for Father Hebert's books, AntiMap program, and more. We need a private room with a glass enclosure to keep out the noisy kids and adults with cell phones. We had a group of Friends of the Library there and they offered to help the society by buying genealogy books, Heritage Quest for the library and more. They meet this Saturday at noon in the meeting room and I plan to be there. They will discuss the Genealogy Society and how they can help us. I need your suggestions for the Friends of the Library group that I can pass on. Also I need you to email the library www.lafayette.lib.La.us and fill out the survey on how they can help the genealogy section. http://www.lafayette.lib.la.us/upcoming_events.htm What Would You Like to See Happen at the Main Library Downtown? -- Public Charrette Wednesday, April 12 2:30 pm & 6:30 pm A complete renovation of the Main Library is on the drawing board and the library wants your input. Have you thought the current building needed more meeting spaces or more computers? Did you ever wish for a drive-up book pick-up window, longer library hours, more books or DVDs? Give us your dreams and ideas. There are two ways to submit your ideas. The first way is to attend one of two public charrettes scheduled for Wednesday, April 12. The first session begins at 2:30; another session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Library Design Specialist Denelle Wrightson, of PSA-Dewberry, will conduct the one-hour sessions. Both discussion sessions will be held in the first floor meeting room at the Lafayette Public Library downtown. For those unable to attend one of these sessions, a second way to submit your ideas is to fill in the on-line survey form on the library web site, www.lafayette.lib.la.us . "Several generations of the Lafayette community have used our Main Library in downtown Lafayette. This facilty has served us well for over 33 years, but it was planned before computers, before videos and DVDs, and before the need for multiple meeting spaces," reports Sona J. Dombourian, Director of Lafayette Public Libraries. Dombourian continues, "Today's libraries are about providing information and access to that information, as well as reading and audio-video materials for educational and recreational pursuits. We are planning, not only for today's needs, but for the future needs of library users." The planning and design process is expected to take two years. Construction is expected to begin within the next four years, pending completion of the North and South Regional Libraries. Earl Gates