March 18, 2008 14:08 MDT New Orleans City Business N.O. Public Library releases $650M master plan NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Public Library today unveiled a $650-million master plan to cover construction and operation costs for the next 25 years. Of that, $199 million will pay for construction of 12 new libraries and renovation of four existing buildings. And about $114 million of the $199 million will pay for construction of a new main library and archives building, slated to be finished by 2016; the main library site hasn't been selected yet. "This plan is essential for the recovery of New Orleans," said Irvin Mayfield, chairman of the NOPL board. "Hurricane Katrina ruined eight of our public libraries and damaged the remaining five. We must rebuild our libraries bigger and better than they were before. They will serve as community centers accessible to every neighborhood in the city. New computers will help us bridge the digital divide among our citizens. And cultural events will provide recreational enrichment as well as education." NOPL also announced that it will promote the city's jazz heritage. The first library to be built under the master plan will celebrate jazz music. The jazz branch - an 18,849-square-foot, roughly $9-million facility referred to in the master plan as Pontilly - will be built in Gentilly neighborhood, although the exact location has yet to be selected. "Like jazz, our new library system will celebrate ongoing improvement, nurture our cultural identity and encourage participation," Mayfield said. Other libraries will specialize in the things that make New Orleans unique. One will be devoted to culinary culture. Another will specialize in New Orleans architecture. One will specialize in wellness. Construction of a building to house the Louisiana Collection is scheduled to be under way by 2010. The building will be part of the new main library comple - a total of 203,544 square feet in two buildings.

Three cheers for the good news about the New Orleans Public Libraries. Thank you Peggy for sharing that good news to those of us who no longer live in New Orleans. Merle in Texas peggy wrote: > March 18, 2008 14:08 MDT > New Orleans City Business > > > > N.O. Public Library releases $650M master plan > > > NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Public Library today unveiled a $650-million master plan to cover construction and operation costs for the next 25 years. > > Of that, $199 million will pay for construction of 12 new libraries and renovation of four existing buildings. And about $114 million of the $199 million will pay for construction of a new main library and archives building, slated to be finished by 2016; the main library site hasn't been selected yet. > > "This plan is essential for the recovery of New Orleans," said Irvin Mayfield, chairman of the NOPL board. "Hurricane Katrina ruined eight of our public libraries and damaged the remaining five. We must rebuild our libraries bigger and better than they were before. They will serve as community centers accessible to every neighborhood in the city. New computers will help us bridge the digital divide among our citizens. And cultural events will provide recreational enrichment as well as education." > > NOPL also announced that it will promote the city's jazz heritage. The first library to be built under the master plan will celebrate jazz music. The jazz branch - an 18,849-square-foot, roughly $9-million facility referred to in the master plan as Pontilly - will be built in Gentilly neighborhood, although the exact location has yet to be selected. > > "Like jazz, our new library system will celebrate ongoing improvement, nurture our cultural identity and encourage participation," Mayfield said. > > Other libraries will specialize in the things that make New Orleans unique. One will be devoted to culinary culture. Another will specialize in New Orleans architecture. One will specialize in wellness. > > Construction of a building to house the Louisiana Collection is scheduled to be under way by 2010. The building will be part of the new main library comple - a total of 203,544 square feet in two buildings. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LAORLEAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

How wonderful for NO, what a great plan Jan S - Orlando, FL -------Original Message------- From: Merle Date: 3/19/2008 12:29:50 PM To: peggy; laorlean@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [LAORLEAN] NOPL Releases Master Plan Three cheers for the good news about the New Orleans Public Libraries. Thank you Peggy for sharing that good news to those of us who no longer live in New Orleans. Merle in Texas peggy wrote: > March 18, 2008 14:08 MDT > New Orleans City Business > > > > N.O. Public Library releases $650M master plan > > > NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Public Library today unveiled a $650-million master plan to cover construction and operation costs for the next 25 years. > >