June 5, 2026
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Homer A. Plessy Day was established on June 7, 2005, to honor the trailblazing Civil Rights activist who stood up against segregation in 1892.
Children’s Resource Center Library to Close for Capital Project, New Early Literacy Center
The New Orleans Public Library’s Children’s Resource Center Library (CRC) will close on May 12, 2025, for a significant renovation and will reopen as a dedicated center for early literacy.
The renovation will be managed by the Capital Projects Administration and will include, but is not limited to, the following items:
- New plaster walls throughout the building
- Bathroom upgrade to ensure ADA compliance
- New flooring
- New gutters and downspouts
- Repairing damaged exterior masonry
- Repairs to HVAC with new ductwork
- Repair damage from past water infiltration
“This project has been in the works for a while, so we are excited to get it started,” said Emily Painton, city librarian and executive director of the New Orleans Public Library. “We know renovations are tough on the community, but we cannot wait to share what we’re bringing to the space when we reopen.”
When the Napoleon Avenue building reopens, it will be as an early literacy center.
“The CRC is synonymous with children’s and family activities; we knew that we wanted to keep the focus on young children in this reimagined space,” said Heather Riley, director of public services at the Library. “According to the Louisiana Department of Education, around 70.5 percent of LA kindergarten students were below reading level in 2023. This Center is a continuation of our efforts and a definite mark on where we stand – that early literacy is a priority and how dedicated we are to serving our little ones.”
When the center opens, it will feature the following and more:
- An interactive play area designed specifically for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
- A carefully curated collection of materials that supports the needs of early learners and their caregivers as they develop early literacy and school-readiness skills
- An intentional focus on a child’s early years of development, learning, social interactions
- A design that offers early literacy experiences in a nurturing and engaging learning environment
Renovations are expected to be completed by summer 2026. During the closure, the Children’s Resource Center Library will not be available for holds pick-up or returns. The book drop will be closed.
The closest Library locations are Central City Library (2020 Jackson Avenue, Suite 139), Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center (4300 S. Broad Street), Milton H. Latter Memorial Library (5120 St. Charles Avenue), and Nix Library (1401 S. Carrollton Avenue).
May 28, 2026
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Celebrate Pride Month with events, activities, and reading recommendations from the New Orleans Public Library.
May 8, 2026
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The New Orleans Public Library and Junior League of New Orleans partner to provide monthly period supply kits for free.
10 thoughts on “Children’s Resource Center Library to Close for Capital Project, New Early Literacy Center”
While I am happy to hear of the investment in our beloved branch, isn’t what is being described here already what the CRC provides? I wish the library could remain the same and close for a shorter period to do less extensive, but necessary, renovations. In my opinion, the library already provides early literacy support and more and just needs some structural/aesthetic renovations. Will this early literacy center still be a functioning library branch that includes a small collection of adult books and a large collection of YA And juvenile books? Will there still be tables to do homework and serve the needs of the community that are not toddlers? Is this open for public comment or has this decision already been made? Did I miss the public commenting period? Thank you very much.
Coming from a neighborhood resident with 3 kids here. Our kids 9 ,7 and 5 loved this library and hope when the reno is done it will still be place they can be welcomed and enjoy books. We are a bit worried the renovation will create a space that young kids and adolescents won’t really fit in. I wish there was a way to add some of the sorely needed early literacy features but still have spaces for kids big and small. Most families have a range of kids, so why would you create a space they can’t all use at the same time? This was the only library devote to young readers and the other libraries in the area just aren’t well geared to accommodate kids.
It also wouldn’t take much to have a few of the shelves with the tiny section curated for adults who need something to do while their kids are reading as another poster suggested.
We are hoping this doesn’t create a space that kids can’t use as the video sort of portrays. Hopefully it’s not too late to make a few small tweaks that would enable everyone in the neighbor to still use this space!
Thank you for your feedback. We are currently seeking input from families like yours via our Community Input Survey: https://nolalibrary.libwizard.com/f/crc_survey
Considering the fact that this is in a prime area of town less than a mile from two schools, I’m really disappointed that you’re mutilating the library into an early literacy center. What does that even mean, honestly? It sounds like you’re going to exclude most of the community that comes to this library. What a disappointment.
Ripping out the walls and floor of architecturally significant historic building is neither necessary nor an improvement.
Carter Hall – Explain the hate? They have said countless times that the building need significant updates to remain open, so an you provide proof otherwise? Are you seriously accusing the Public Library of deliberately closing just because it hates the people that visit the Library? I’m baffled by this zoomer generation and its need to put everything down that doesn’t fit their narrative while making up some fake narratives.
Mike Boyette–sorry for the late reply; I never thought to check this thread after commenting. I thought it was a place for the public to submit feedback to the library administration, not for people to argue and naysay others’ opinions. Why don’t YOU “explain the hate,” since you’re the one who used that word twice and I never used it at all. Neither did I accuse the Public Library of hating the people that visit it or accuse it of anything at all for that matter. What I did was raise concern for historic preservation, something geriatric locals with more money than taste too often have no regard for. They seem solely concerned with themselves and theirs, as you demonstrated with your remarks that the planned timeline would accommodate you and your granddaughter just perfectly so everyone who doesn’t like it can just go somewhere else. I don’t encounter a lot of concern for historic preservation among younger generations, either, unfortunately, which makes it hard to understand why you would conclude that I am one of them. You are actually off by several decades. As you said, you’re “baffled,” though addled might be a better word to describe it. Your baseless, self-serving assumptions about anyone who doesn’t agree with you are as ignorant as are. I have been to that branch dozens, if not hundreds, of times and while I don’t know the other commenter whose post you attacked, it seems ridiculous to think she doesn’t go to the library but has nothing better to do than comment on things that mean nothing to her. It seems that you are the one who has too much time on his hands.
Carter Hall, a perfect example of how blind rage and ignorance makes somebody so horrible they are impossible to talk to. There are literally THREE other libraries close by for adults to go to, including another ON THE SAME STREET!!! How lazy do you have to be to demand this one not be designed to teach children? wow. Im embarrassed by your level of ignorance, you really are a perfect example of what’s wrong with this city.
How arrogant do you have to be to think your needs are the only ones that need to be met? Or to shout down everyone with differing viewpoints with insults, misrepresentations, and fallacious arguments? I don’t think you should share “growing up in the NOPL” with anyone since A) you don’t know how to act like a grown up and B) the NOPL doesn’t benefit from being represented by people who don’t understand how to use the English language. Are there really “literally” 3 libraries close by? As opposed to figuratively? How can 3 be metaphoric? You know what’s a perfect example of everything wrong with this city? A crass, entitled, privileged loudmouth who thinks the entire city should cater to him, even though you actually live in Sulphur.
I have to laugh reading comments using phrases like “mutilating the library” by people who probably don’t even go to this library. Last I checked, its already a Children’s Library right? Not to mention there are 2, if not 3 other libraries not too far away. By the time its reopened, my granddaughter will be old enough to take and I’m excited to share what its like to grow up at the NOPL with her, just like I did. Cept’ when I was young we didn’t have people complaining about every little change and issue that probably doesn’t even affect their lives. Keep changing, keep growing and keep getting better NOPL!!!